i§79*J Notices of Books. 569 
Whilst, however, holding that the author has fallen into not a 
few errors of detail, for want of a closer knowledge of animal 
life, and that he has omitted certain considerations which might 
have been usefully brought forward, we fully admit that he has 
made good his main point, and has done useful service in drawing 
attention to the baseless assumptions of modern “ somatism.” 
We feel it a pleasant duty to acknowledge the spirit of candour 
which pervades the book, and its freedom from the odium 
theologicum and that kindred and equally bitter weed odium phi - 
losophicum. 
The Aborigines of Victoria. With Notes relating to the Habits 
of the Natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania. 
Compiled from various sources for the Government of 
Victoria, by R. Brough Smyth. InTwoVols. Melbourne: 
J. Ferres, Government Printer. London : Triibnerand Co. 
G. Robertson. 
We have here a most valuable contribution to the fashionable 
science of ethnology. The author, having been for sixteen 
years Secretary to the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines, 
has enjoyed exceptional facilities for obtaining information on 
the customs and peculiarities of the “ black fellows.” In addi- 
tion to the results of his own personal observation, he has placed 
himself in communication with magistrates, missionaries, sur- 
veyors, frontier settlers — with all, in short, who, either from 
their position or their predilections, were able to throw light 
upon his subject. The outcome of this prolonged labour is a 
work which in another half century it would be impossible to 
produce. Mr. Smyth, indeed, modestly characterises his pro- 
duction rather as a “ series of sketches ” than as a “ scientific 
work pretending to completeness.” Still it will be found that he 
has proceeded in a systematic manner. He describes the phy- 
sical and mental character of the natives, their numbers and 
distribution, the education and training of the young, their 
marriage laws, the disposal of the dead, their daily life, their 
food, diseases, dress, weapons, tools, and canoes. He then 
passes over to an account of their legends and mythology. The 
second volume is dovoted to the languages of the Australian 
tribes, and embraces a series of appendices by various contri- 
butors and an account of the extinCt natives of Tasmania. 
The principal shortcomings which we perceive are a proneness 
to needless repetitions, and a manifest tendency to defend, and 
even to eulogise, the “ black fellows,” which the faCts and inci- 
dents brought forward scarcely warrant. Thus after adducing 
abundant testimony as to the generality of infanticide among the 
natives, and stating — on the authority of Mr. W. E. Stanbridge 
