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ETHNOLOGICAL INQUIRY. 243 
dampness of the atmosphere many of them which rested against the sides of 
the glass germinated and shot forth leaves, in some instances 3°5 inches long, 
and radicles of 1 inch in length. Under the blue shade the plants grew very 
tall. No aphides appeared, but mouldiness was observed: In March both 
plants were straggling and unhealthy; the grass-seeds never germinated ; 
and any portion that died quickly suffered decomposition. The plants ex- 
posed to the red light were healthy at first, and the grass grew luxuriantly ; 
but aphides appeared on the pansy in the middle of December, and at the 
commencement of the succeeding month it became sickly and drooped. The 
grass-plant also lost its healthy appearance during the spring: some of its 
seeds germinated. Under the yellow glass neither of the plants increased in 
size at first, but in the spring they grew, the grass attaining a very great 
length ; they maintained a strong and healthy appearance ; no insects showed 
themselves on the pansy, and the grass-seeds gave little indications of germi- 
nating. Some changes in the colour of the pansy’s leaves were observed to 
take place, but the grass remained of its proper green tint. The plants 
under the darkened shade soon became sickly. On December 11th the 
grass was found to be dead ; the pansy had grown tall, and turned decidedly 
towards the least darkened part of the shade; it was mouldy and ill-favoured, 
and on January 6th it drooped. 
Researches connected with the growth of plants must necessarily stretch 
over a considerable space of time. My object in detailing these experiments 
now is not to draw any general conclusions from them; I regard them as 
far too few and uncertain for that; but offer them to the Association as a 
sample of my preliminary attempts in this inquiry,—attempts which may 
indicate a line of fruitful investigation in future seasons. 
A Manual of Ethnological Inquiry ; being a series of questions concern- 
ing the Human Race, prepared by a Sub-committee of the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science, appointed in 1851 (con- 
sisting of Dr. HopeKin and RicnHarp Cuut, Esq.), and adapted 
Jor the use of travellers and others in studying the Varieties of 
Man *. 
Tue late Dr. Prichard read a paper at the Meeting of the British Association 
held at Birmingham in 1839, “On the Extinction of some Varieties of the 
Human Race.” He cited instances in which total extinction has already 
taken place, and other instances in which a continually decreasing population 
threatens a total extinction. He pointed out the irretrievable loss to science 
if so many tribes of the human family are suffered to perish, before those 
highly important questions of a physiological, psychological, philological and 
historical character in relation to them, have been investigated. In order 
to direct inquiry rightly into the subject, a set of questions was drawn up by 
a Committee of the British Association, which was largely circulated by 
means of successive grants of money for that purpose. These questions were 
however adapted, not only to direct inquiry respecting those tribes which are 
threatened with extinction, but also to the rest of the human family. The 
object in publishing these questions is to induce Consuls, political and other 
* Copies of this Manual may be had on application to the Assistant General Secretary, 
iS York ; Messrs. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street ; and Richard Cull, Esq., 
_ 18 Tavistock Street, Russell Square. 
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