372 Scientific Intelligence—Meteorology. 
Right Hon. the Earl of Harrowby’s Address to the British Asso- 
ciation at Liverpool.) 
ETHNOLOGY. 
12. Agassiz on the Specific Difference of the Human Races.— 
Professor Agassiz’s researches in embryology possess most important 
bearings on the natural history of mankind. He states, for instance 
that during the foetal state, it is in most cases impossible to distin- 
guish between the species of a genus; but that, after birth, animals 
being governed by specific laws, advance each in diverging lines, 
The dog, wolf, fox, and jackal, for example, the different species of 
ducks, and even ducks and geese, in the fotal state cannot be dis- 
tinguished from each other ; but their distinctive characters begin to 
develop themselves soon after birth. So with the races of men, In 
the foetal state there is no criterion whereby to distinguish even the 
Negro’s from the Teuton’s anatomical structure; but after birth, 
they develop their respective characteristics in diverging lines, 
irrespectively of climatic influences. This he conceives to be a most 
important law ; and it points strongly to specific difference. 
METEOROLOGY. 
13. The importance of correct Scientific Instruments at Sea.— 
I would take the liberty of quoting further :—“ There are risks at 
sea against which no foresight can provide; but loss from defective 
compasses, or ill-regulated chronometers, should be treated as a 
crime, since common sense and common care will secure the efficacy 
of both these instruments. It is to be feared that life and property 
to a large amount are yearly sacrificed for want of a little elemen- 
tary knowledge, and a small amount of precaution on the part of our 
seamen, who neglect the safeguards furnished by modern science.” 
You will perhaps forgive me for taking the liberty of urging upon 
you the importance of continuing to them an unabated if not an en- 
larged support. By giving accuracy to the various instruments of 
observation, the thermometer, the barometer, and the standard 
weights and measures, they are doing a work of incalculable benefit 
to science in general in this and in other countries. At this mo- 
ment they have in their hands for verification and adjustment one 
thousand thermometers and fifty barometers for the navy of the 
United States, as well as five hundred thermometers and sixty baro- 
meters for our own Board of Trade, the instruments which are sup- 
plied in ordinary commerce being found to be subject to error to an 
extraordinary degree. At the suggestion of Sir John Herschell, 
they have also undertaken, by the photographic process, to secure a 
daily record of the appearance of the sun’s disc, with a view of as- 
certaining, by a comparison of the spots upon its surface, their 
