REVIEWS — INUIGEKOUS R/VCES OE THE EARTH. 215 



honest candour, as a correction of previous speculations in a similar 

 line of inquiry. The essay is replete with interest, copiously 

 illustrated, and embodies the fruits of a varied familiarity with 

 ancient works of art, which has been fully appreciated by those who 

 have had the privilege of listening to the lectures delivered by him 

 in England on cognate themes. Nevertheless, in hi3 Ethnological 

 deductions, we see once more how far we are yet from any certain 

 terra firma. Who, for example, shall determine the ethnic character 

 of the Etruscans, when he must decide between Niebuhr, Donaldson, 

 fi,aoul Rochette, Pritchard, Latham, and Pulszky ? Here, however, 

 is an accumulation of valuable materials, accompanied with highly 

 sxiggestive hints as to the mode of using them, by the historical 

 ethnographer, to whom such data will not be the less appreciated, 

 even when he may claim the right to exercise his own judgement in 

 determining their bearing on the general questions to which they are 

 here applied, and the legitimate conclusions which flow from them. 



Of Dr. Meigs' paper devoted to " The cranial characteristics of 

 the Races of Men," it is sufficient to say that it is a valuable resume 

 of the labours of Morton, enlarged by many independent observations; 

 with a cautious and discriminating effort to indicate the legitimate 

 deductions which appear to its author to follow from the facts he has 

 established. 



Finally, it only remains for us to notice Dr. Nott's discussion of 

 the important subject of " Acclimation ; or the comparative influence 

 of climate, endemic and epidemic diseases, on the races of men." 

 Many of the questions discussed are of the highest interest. 

 The nature and extent of acclimation for example, is curiously illus- 

 trated. So also, the effects of race, hybridity, various admixtures of 

 blood, climate, &c, in reference to disease, as set forth from the 

 results of observations extending over a course of twenty years 

 professional experience, cannot but be studied with earnest attention, 

 by all who have learned to appreciate the difficulties which gather 

 around the great ethnological problem. The field of this author's 

 observations, moreover, lies in that southern region of this continent 

 where the meeting together of the white, red, and black races, under 

 such peculiar circumstances, affords remarkable facilities for the 

 accumulation of facts of the widest significance and value. Dr. JNTott 

 has his own special point of view,and he accordingly discusses those of 

 Pritchard, and others who differ from him, with all the advantage of 

 his practical experience, and command of authenticated personal 

 observations. But besides his own data, he has accumulated much 



