PROVISIONAL REPORTS AND NOTICES. 293 
The Rey. Thomas Heath, who has just returned from the Navigators’ 
Islands, has prepared a set of answers relating to the inhabitants of those 
islands, which it is probable that he will himself lay before the Section; and 
he contemplates at an early period giving in a more detailed form the results 
of his inquiries concerning language, traditions, mythology and customs. 
His investigations tend to show that the peopling of the Pacific Islands must 
have proceeded in a westerly direction, contrary to preconceived opinions de- 
duced from the prevalence of winds and currents. It is a satisfactory con- 
firmation of this traveller's observations, to find that the same conclusion has 
been drawn from very careful investigations which have been made during 
several years in the Sandwich Islands, and which were communicated to Dr. 
Hodgkin, a member of the Committee, in the course of the present year. 
It must be gratifying to the members of the Association to learn that the 
subject of Ethnology, which on many accounts requires to be promptly and 
extensively cultivated, before numerous tribes now inhabiting the globe have 
ceased to exist, is not only studied with assiduity by our continental neigh- 
bours, but that an Ethnological Society has actually been formed in London 
since the last meeting of the British Association. The preliminary address, 
drawn up by a friend and countryman of the distinguished Humboldt, is well 
worthy the attention of the English ethnologist ; since it points out not merely 
the numerous objects of scientific interest embraced by this subject, but also 
its peculiar claims to the patronage and support of the eminently maritime and 
commercial inhabitants of the British empire. 
The expenses hitherto incurred in the distribution of questions and the re- 
ceipt of replies have engrossed the trifling sum of 5/. voted for this inquiry 
at the last meeting; and it is to be desired that the Association will re-appoint 
the Committee with such additions as it may think fit, and will place more 
adequate means at its disposal in order to effect a more extensive circulation, 
and to carry out other measures which the Committee has already had in con- 
templation ; such as translations into foreign languages and the co-operation 
of foreign agents. 
London, August 14, 1843. 
Meteorological Hourly Observations at Unst. 
THESE observations, which are not yet reduced, commenced on the 16th of 
May 1841, and terminated on the 16th of May 1842. 
By some inexplicable accident the observations with the Eivternal Ther- 
mometer were omitted, or, rather, the thermometrical observations were made 
within the apartment. 
The observations, which are very interesting and valuable in other respects, 
were under the superintendence of Dr. Edmonstone of Balta Sound. 
From the circumstance already mentioned, it will be necessary to have 
another year’s observations made at this station. 
D. BREWSTER. 
St. Leonard’s College, St. Andrew’s, 
August 12, 1843. —_———. 
On the Action of different Bodies on the Spectrum. 
THEsE observations have been carried on since the last meeting of the Asso- 
ciation, and the properties of various rare substances have been examined. 
Owing to the great want of sunshine in the locality of St. Andrew’s this 
year, my observations on the direct solar spectrum have been comparatively 
few. 
In a short communication to the Physical Section, I shall have occasion to 
mention a few of the results obtained during these investigations. 
