1204 REPORT—1885. 
Section H.—ANTHROPOLOGY. 
PRESIDENT OF THE SecTION—FrRancis Gatton, M.A., F.R.S., President of the 
Anthropological Institute. 
[For Mr. Galton’s Address, see p. 1,206.] 
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 
The following Papers were read :-— 
1. The Scope of Anthropology, and its relation to the Science of Mind.' 
By AuEXxanver Bain, LL.D. 
The author first reviewed the definition and scope of anthropology, as indicated 
by the leading authorities and by the usage of the British Association. He 
endeavoured to point out that the bringing together of the six departments—named, 
respectively, man’s place in nature, the origin of man, the classification of races, the 
antiquity of man, language, and the development of civilisation—does not contribute 
to the mutual elucidation of the several topics, but merely concentrates into one 
whole the subjects connected with the higher mysteries of man’s origin and destina- 
tion. 
The remainder of the paper was occupied with a survey of the researches con- 
ducted in the Section, haying in view precise measurements of the bodily and 
mental characteristics of human beings. The author indicated various lines wherein 
these researches may be carried out so as to reflect new lights on our intellectual 
constitution. The examination for delicacy in the sense of colour is not the only 
important determination relating to vision. Equally, if not more important, is the 
testing of the sensibility to visual form and magnitude. So in hearing, both 
musical quality and articulate delicacy are susceptible of exact measurement. 
Likewise muscular discrimination is an ascertainable quantity, and of great import- 
ance in assigning the aptitude for manual skill. 
The author also adverted to the research into the conditions and the measure 
of memory, as wholly within the means of accurate experimental determination ; 
also the important intellectual function of seeing similarity in the midst of diver- 
sity, which can be reduced to more or less precision of estimate by suitable means. 
Taking along with these results the inquiries into the faculties of the lower animals, 
the author put especial stress upon the number and the delicacy of their senses, as 
the foundation of every attempt to explain the higher aptitudes. Intelligence com- 
mences with the power of discrimination, and increases as that power increases. 
The record of marvellous feats of exceptional ingenuity is of very little aid in 
revealing the secrets of the animal mind. 
In conclusion, the author urged the admission of psychology, in a more ayowed 
and systematic form, into the Anthropological Section. He would exclude the 
topics of metaphysical and ethical controversy, and welcome all the experimental 
researches into the intellectual and emotional regions of the mind. 
* Printed in extenso in the Journal of the Anthropological Institute, vol. xv. No. 
3, February 1886. 
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