xvii SOCIETIES AND COLLECTIONS 253 



it numbers only 305 ordinary members, whose subscriptions 

 afford barely sufficient means to maintain the library and 

 journal in a state of efficiency. The kindred Geographical 

 and Zoological Societies have respectively 3775 and 2985 

 fellows, so far greater is the interest taken in the surface of 

 the earth itself, and in the animals which dwell upon it, than 

 in its human inhabitants ! 



Societies similar in their object to that the history of 

 which I have just sketched have sprung up, and are now in 

 a more or less flourishing condition, in every civilised country 

 of the world. But confining our retrospect to our own 

 country, we may take a glance at what has been done in 

 recent years to promote the organised study of Anthropology 

 otherwise than by means of this Association (to which I shall 

 refer again later) or the Society of which I have just spoken. 



One of the most potent means of registering facts, and 

 making them available for future study and reference, is to 

 be found in actual collections of tangible objects. To very 

 considerable branches of anthropological science this method 

 of fixing the evidence upon which our knowledge of the 

 subject is based is particularly applicable. These branches 

 are mainly two, very distinct from each other, and each 

 representing one of the principal sides in which Anthropology 

 presents itself. 



I. Collections illustrating the physical structure of man, 

 and its variations in the different races. 



II. Collections showing his characteristic customs and 

 methods of living, his arts, arms, and costumes, as developed 

 under different circumstances and also modified by different 

 racial conditions. 



It is very rarely that these two are combined in one 

 general arrangement, and they are almost always studied 

 apart, the characteristics of mind, the general education and 

 special training which are required for the successful cultiva- 

 tion of either being rarely combined in a single individual ; 

 and yet the complete history of any race of mankind, 

 especially with regard to its relation to other races, must 

 be based upon a knowledge both of its physical and psychical 

 characteristics, and customs, habits, language, and tradition 



