241 



teen; and that among them all there is but one unmixed Negro. 

 It will also be perceived, that the Austro-Egyptian conformation in- 

 creases in proportion as we ascend the Nile and enter Nubia. 



The author refers the blending of the Arcto-Egyptian, Austral- 

 Egyptian, and other communities, to three principal periods of Egyp- 

 tian history, viz : 



1. The conquest by the Hykshos or Shepherd kings, B. C. 2082, 

 when the Egyptians of all ranks were driven into Ethiopia for a pe- 

 riod of 260 years. 



2. The Ethiopian dynasty of three kings, which lasted 40 years, 

 beginning B. C. 719. 



3. The conquest by Cambyses, B. C. 525, when the distinctions of 

 caste and nation were comparatively disregarded for upwards of two 

 centuries, during which period the people of Asia, Europe and Ni- 

 gritia were freely admitted into Egypt. 



Dr. Morton's ethnographical researches, conjoined with the evi- 

 dence of history and the monuments, have led him to draw the fol- 

 lowing conclusions : 



1. That Egypt was originally peopled by the Caucasian race. 



2. That the great preponderance of heads conforming in all their 

 characters to those of the purer Caucasian nations, as seen in the Pe- 

 lasgic and Semitic tribes, suggests the inference that the valley of the 

 Nile derived its primitive civilized inhabitants from one of these 

 sources ; and the greater proportion of this series of crania in Lower 

 Egypt may, perhaps, serve to indicate the seats of early colonization. 



3. That the Austral-Egyptian or Meroite communities were in 

 great measure derived from the Indo-Arabian stock ; thus pointing to 

 a triple Caucasian source for the origin of the Egyptians, when re- 

 garded as one people extending from Meroe to the Delta. 



4. That the Negro race exists in the Catacombs in the mixed or 

 Negroloid character; that even in this modified type their presence 

 is comparatively unfrequent ; and that if Negroes, as is more than 

 probable, were numerous in Egypt, their social position was chiefly 

 in ancient times what it yet is, that of plebeians, servants and slaves. 



Mr. Lea read a continuation of his paper on fresh water 

 shells, which was referred to a Committee. 



In this paper Mr. Lea describes sixteen new species of the family 

 Melaniance, viz., 12 Melanice, and 4 Anculosa; and also, 2 Palu- 

 dince. Mr. Lea's catalogue of Melania embraces 266 species, 44 

 fossil and 222 recent; of which latter 161 are indigenous and 61 



