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    "Now the physical condition of our continent makes the intermixture of blood , and the diffusion of ideas easy ; and , I believe , that the effects of both are more no table in Europe than elsewhere . " The result of Dr . Latham ' s analysis of European Ethnology , unequivocally is to discredit the popular notions about the influence of liace , understanding by Race , a specific variety of physical organization , and leaving " circumstances" out of view . ] Nay , as to " purity of Race , " Dr . Latham shows that pedigree and nationality by no means coincide , and that the " blood" is very considerably " mixed . " The most powerful nations are the most heterogeneous ; yet he cautions us against the inference that mixture favours social development ; an inference as unsafe as the exaggeration of the effects of purity .

    " The conditions which are least favourable for a prominent place in the world ' s history , ore the best for the preservation of old characters . The purest populations of E urope are the Basques , the Lapps , the Poles , and the Frisians ; yet who can predicate any important character common to them all ? "To attribute national aptitudes and inaptitudes or national predilection rand antipathies to the unknown influences of blood , as long as the patent facts of history and external circumstances remain unexhausted , is to cut the Gordian Knot rather than to untie it . That there is something in pedigree is probable ; but , in the mind of the analytical ethnologist , this something is much nearer to nothing than to everything . " We refer to the first of these volumes for the evidence ; and as a sample of the incidental remarks , we select this on the much-mooted

    question—HAVE WE DEGENERATED IN SIZE ? " It is now time to consider the physical and moral characters of the ancient Kelts . It is just possible that , from the admixture of German and other blood , the average . stature of the Italians may have increased ; so that the difference between a Gaul and an Italian may have been greater in the time of Caesar than now . That the stature of the French and Germans has decreased is improbable . Ee this , however , as it may , the evidence not only of the second-hand authorities amongst the classics , but of Ccesar himself , is to the effect that the Gauls , when compared with the soldiers that were led ag-ainst them , were taller and stouter . '

    The generality despise our men for their shortness , being themselves so tall . ' Thus writes Caesar . A good series of measurements from ancient graves , would either confirm or overthrow this and similar testimonies . For my own part , I am dissatisfied with them . The habit of magnifying the thews and sinews of the conquered , is a common habit with conquerors , and Ca 3 Sar had every motive for giving their full value to his Gallic conquests , great as they really were . Again , —we may easily believe that both the slaves who were bought and sold , and the individual captives who ornamented the triumph were picked men ; as also would be those who were ' butchered to make a Roman holiday' in the amphitheatres .

    "Again , —differences of dress and armour have generally a tendency to exaggerate the size of the wearers ; and hence it is that the Scotch Highlanders , amongst ourselves , arc often considered as larger men than they really are . All who have investigated the debated question as to the stature of the Patagonians , have recognised in the bulky , baggy dress , a serious source of error in all measurements taken by the eye only . " Nevertheless , the external evidence is to the great stature of the ancient Gauls evidence which the present size of the French slightly invalidates . As far , too , as my knowledge extends , the exhumations of the older skeletons do the same . "

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    THE HABITS OF BIRDS . A irislon / of lirliish Birds , Indigenous and Migratory . By William Mncgillivray . 5 vols . " ' ' Oit and Co . [ bkcond aiittolh . ] 1 ^ k"Qukstion " ahlr as it is that we must educate our eyes to observe , and that it , is ( he mind after all which observes , thereby often seeing , through the spectacles of prejudice , that which does not strike upon the retina , "lid overseeing that which does—unquestionable as it is that ; we are tuugh | , by . 1 'oetry and Philosophy to look at Nature with increased Kil g ; icity , and to delight in details which would not otherwise have ' " Hracted us , no less ( rue i . s it that the study of JNature in turn intensifies our delight in Art . M r . Maegillivray gives us an example in reference < o so common a bird as the house-sparrow : —¦ It is curious to observe how its mode of progression and attitudes an ; modified I ) . V flic condition of the ;/ rouiid ; for , when the latter is dry , it moves about with * ' til'io-far . snl joints much bent , and ( he tail depressed , whereas , when it is wet , it k « 'fps ( lie leg extended , flie body . stretched up , and fhe tail elcviifed . This eir-< "instance brings to my recollect ion the pleasure I experienced on seeing n celc-> i . i < rd painting , representing some cows in a , meadow , by Cuyp , in which a magpie 1 : 1 ( 1 I )( ' > figured walking-iibout with its fail elevated to keep if . from contact with he rnoisf , grass , —a fact which probably would have escaped the notice of at least Miiie-le ndis of ( hose who undertake to represent nature on canvas . "

    fill , p "c dlccl , of prejudice , just hinted at , is singularly misleading . One s l ( Va f source of error in , ( hat unconscious I endency to interpret ( lie actions 01 'iiumals b y ( he human standard ,- that is to ' say , attributing to llieni ! || l ] ve . s similar to Uio . su which would actuate us . Kven our author falls ' , ° ¦''<¦ < " <> niiuo ) i mistake of supposing that birds " know the distance at , 11 . ? . ls H ! l' ' ' for them to be from a , man armed wilh a . gun , " assuming 1 . 11 ' , ' ! ' '" r < ' who has never seen a , gun , knows " l > v instinct . " ( hat it will j - ( '" " ' < a certain distance . Again , the raven , like I he eagle , often in •¦ "e atliep , Roars to an immense height ., and . Naturalists observing _^ f ' " . nave imagined them to be searching for their food , and hence have ( Its ' - '" ' " "" vellous accounts of Ihe distances at which the eagle can ''Pal ' ' ' I ' Hl ; : | S 'M 'lcgillivray properly remarks , "had they . ' . - walclied , they niivht have found I hat I he . se quiet soarings have Th ,. T' "'" '' li > l ' . ' . V- "' <> I ) m > ' ' " 1 ' ln < v ''' ° '" " ' volumes consists in I heir aid hor having really of U X < hiniselfj ; lnd ( bus , among many other things , he can tell us " ¦ 'e raven : — N |)( , . ,. - '"^ <' 1 | . I . V < ' ( I ample opportunities of cultivating an acquaintance with ( . his tlios . V" ° " ( er Helirides , I shall describe if s manners us observed by me in i ,, ^ , . ' , [ '" - ^ " '' '" tlui luiturnliHt highly interesting i . slund . H . There , tho lUvcn , ( k *> 1 food , may lie neon , cither winery or in pairs , in . all aorta of situations ,

    along the rocky shores , on the sand fords , the sides of the hills , the inland moors , and the mountain tops . It flies at a moderate height , proceeding rather slowly , deviating to either side , sailing at intervals , and seldom uttering any sound . When it has discovered a dead sheep , it alights on a stone , a peat bank , or other eminence , folds up its wings , looks around , and croaks . It then advances nearer , eyes its prey with attention , leaps upon it , and in , a half-crouching attitude examines it . Finding matters as it wished , it croaks aloud , picks out an eye , devours part of the tongue if that organ be protruded , and lastly attacks the subcaudal region . By this time another raven has usually come up . They perforate the abdomen , drag out and swallow portions of the intestines , and continue to feast until satiated or disturbed . Sometimes , especially should it be winter , they are joined by a Great Black-backed Gull , or even a Herring Gull , which , although at first shy , are

    allowed to come in for a share of the plunder ; but should an eagle arrive , both they and the gulls retire to a short distance , the former waiting patiently , the latter walking backwards and forwards uttering plaintive cries , until the intruder departs . When the carcase is that of a larger animal than a sheep , they do not however fly off , although an eagle or even a dog should arrive . ' Feris convivialis ' observes Linnaeus , and the fact is proverbial in the Hebrides , where this bird is named Biadhtach , and where biadhtachd , which etymologically is analogous to ravening , signifies associating for the purpose of eating and making merry . These observations I have made while lying in wait in little huts constructed for the purpose of shooting eagles and ravens from them . The latter I have allowed to remain unmolested for hours , that they might attract the former to the carrion ; and in this manner I have been enabled to watch their actions when they were perfectly unrestrained . "

    The whole of this chapter on the Raven , is of unusual interest . We malce one more extract relative to the raven population : — " It has seemed to me strange that in a country where , under ordinary circumstances , few ravens are seen , so many as from twenty to two hundred or more should collect in a few days . In perambulating these islands , one scarcely meets with more than a pair in the space of a mile or so ; and in Harris , where their breeding places were pretty generally known to me , I could not count a dozen pairs along a coast-line of as many miles . In Pabbay , as mentioned above , several hundreds had come together , so that the people naturally marvelled whence they

    had arrived . If along a coast-line of ten miles there are ten pairs of ravens , with five young birds to each , or seventy in all , on one of a hundred and forty there might be nearly a thousand . Pabbay is two miles distant from Berneray , and six from Harris . Even should the wind blow in the latter direction , it is not likely that a raven should smell carrion six miles distant , and in Berneray , which the effluvia might read ) , there are not usually more than three or four resident pairs . The birds of the west coast of Lewis , South Uist , and Barray , could not be guided a distance of fifty miles or more by the smell . How then did they arrive in Pabbay ? It seems to me that the phenomenon may be explained thus .

    " The two pairs of ravens residing in Pabbay itself , would , with their broods , first perceive the carcases . Those of Berneray might stroll over , as they often do , or they might see the prey , as might those on the Harris coast . Havens have character in their flight , as men have in their walk . A poet sauntering bv a river , a conchologist or iisli-woman looking for shells along the shore , a sportsman searching the fields , a footman going on a message , a lady running home from a shower , or a gentleman retreating from a mad bull , move each in a different manner , suiting the action to the occasion . . Ravens do the same , as well : is other birds ; and so , those at the next station , perhaps a mile distant , judging by the flight of their neighbours that they had a prize in view , might naturally follow . In this manner , the intelligence might be communicated over a large extent of country , and in a single day a great number might assemble . We know from observation that ravens can perceive an object at a grout distance , but that they can smell food a quarter of a mile oil'we have no proof whatever ; and as we can account for the phenomenon by their sight , it i . s unnecessary to have recourse to their other faculties . " The Crow also comes in for his share of attention , and deserves it . What think you of THK CHOW ' S JOCOSITY ? " The Carrion Crow i . s very easily tamed , and is strongly attached to tho person who brings him up . I kept one ; for two years and a half . It flew round about the neighbourhood , and roo . sfod every night on the trees of my shrubbery . At whatever distance he was as soon as lie heard inv voice he immediately e ; inie to inc . He was very fond of being caressed , but should any one except myself stroke him 011 the head or back , be was . sure to make the blood spring from their lingers . I In seemed to lake , a , very great delight in pecking the heels of l > : uvfoot , ed vouths . The more terrified they were , the more did his joy seem t . o increase . "

    1 he allection of birds for their young is variously illustrated in these ! volumes ; and the follow ing extract will not only be aplensing illustration of parental solicitude , but also < ff the minute observation which given such value to this work :- ¦ - , '" On Saturday morning the 10 l . li of June , Itt : l 7 , at half-past two o ' clock , I went into u house nuule of the branches of 1 recs , to watch fhci blackbirds whilst they woro feeding their brood . It wat ; within nine feet of I hoir ncsf , which was built in Ihe hole of an old wall . It , is si , situation for which they : md the thrushes seem to lmve had si strong predilection , for it has boon occupied by one or other-of them for a number of years succennivel y . The , morning was so cold , with 11 . heavy rain and si . : ;( roi , g breeze from the east , that I was obliged to wrap myself up in a warm cloak and u mackintosh waterproof .

    '" At a ( piartcr-pa . sf , three o ' clock in the morning , they bctfiiii to i \ i'd theii young , which were four in number . From that time until four o ' clock , the male fed flu in only once , sind sang almost incessant ly , whilst ( ho ltMiuile . fed them six times . I'Yom four to five o ' clock the male i \ ii them six , and tin ; female three linns ; from five to six . o ' clock i \ u \ mule fed ( hem four , and ( he Ceiusde live times ; from six to seven o ' clock the male fed them three , and ( he female live times ; and from seven to ei ^ ht o ' clock the male fed ( hem throe times . For the lust four bourn he wing most delightfully , except when he was feeding his fender offspring . As he bad induced one oi them to Hy out . after him , 1 was under the . necessity of fixing it into its nest , smd Ibis caused some interruption to ( heir feeding . I'Yom eight to nine o ' clock the male fed them six , and the female seven limes ; mill from nine to fen o ' clock ( ho male fed thorn four , and the femalo three times . In keeping both the inside anil outsido of their ne . st clciin ( bey art ) very particular . A dropping of one oi tlio young birds having lallou to the ground , the male immediately curried

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    October 16 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER , 999

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 16, 1852, page 999, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1956/page/19/