size, particularly in the development or elevation of the frontal region. These birds are susceptible of education to a trifling extent: I tried the experiment on the rook. I procured a young rook from the nest before it was fledged, fed and regularly attended it. The bird became very familiar, and when three months old, would accompany me in the garden, as well as short distances from home. In vain I endeavoured to teach it to pronounce a plain short word; it never evinced a great degree of sagacity. At length, it was shot by one of my neighbours, I believe unintentionally.

I tried a similar experiment on a jackdaw. This bird learned to pronounce several words distinctly, was very sagacious as well as very mischievous; was as fond of thieving as the raven, and testified an inveterate antipathy to children, whose legs it would bite most severely. Ultimately it was drowned in a well, into which it had accidentally fallen.

If we compare the rook or the carrion crow with the jackdaw, we shall find, that, although to superficial observation they appear much the same (except in size), the shape and size of the head present a striking variation, particularly in that part to which phrenologists ascribe the seat of intellect-the elevation of the jackdaw's frontal, as well as the superior size of his head, is remarkable.

I have repeatedly tried the experiment on the magpie, followed by similar results, for similar reasons. The jay is equally susceptible of education, its head being formed much in the same manner.

The starling offers a striking illustration of the truth of my hypothesis. The head of this well-known bird

is remarkably large, the frontal very much elevated. The starling becomes very familiar, and is easily taught to pronounce words and even short sentences. "I can't get out," said the starling, has been immortally recorded in the 'Sentimental Journey.' I have had several starlings which evinced much sagacity: one of them, in addition to pronouncing several words, would come when he was called as readily as a dog. The signal word was Jacob, to which he always flew with alacrity, if within hearing. But I could never teach either the blackbird or the thrush to articulate a single word, for reasons already given.

If we descend to the yet smaller classes of the feathered race, we shall find the same rule or test equally applicable. The goldfinch is not remarkable for its powers of song; but, if placed by the side of a canary, the superior size of its head, and the greater elevation of its frontal, become conspicuous. There are few persons but have witnessed exhibitions of the feats of birds, and if such persons will recollect, they will find that the feathered performers were principally goldfinches. Some years ago, the Sieur Roman exhibited in this country the wonderful performances of his birds; these were principally, if not wholly, goldfinches. One appeared dead, and was held up by the foot without exhibiting any signs of life. A second stood on its head with its feet in the air. A third imitated a Dutch milk-maid going to market, with pails on its shoulders. A fourth mimicked a Venetian girl looking out at a window. A fifth appeared as a soldier, and mounted guard as a sentinel. The sixth was a cannonier, with a cap on its head, and a match in its claw with which it discharged a

small cannon; the same also acted as if it had been wounded. The seventh turned a kind of mill. The last bird stood in the midst of some fire-works, which were discharged all round it.

A goldfinch caught by bird-lime, apparently about two years old, became familiar in a few days, and in the course of two or three weeks was taught to draw up its water, and all that variety of ordinary tricks for which these birds are distinguished. The same experiment was tried on a canary, without success.

It appears quite unnecessary to multiply examples further, or to descend to the yet lower orders of animated nature, for the purpose of elucidating what must already appear sufficiently clear; or to add confirmation to a system, the truth of which can only be dogmatically called in question, but which calm investigation, upon the principles of reason and common sense, cannot fail to demonstrate and establish.

ELUCIDATORY DISQUISITION.

In those parts of the preceding pages where the varieties of the human race are mentioned, let it be borne in mind, that the object has been not so much exact classification as to show, that mental manifestation is, and must be, the result of cerebral development, and that superior intellectual capacity results from pre-eminent animal or physical conformation ; yet the divisions of the genus Homo by the most eminent physiologists have been noticed, and have indeed formed the bases of my gradatory observations. And although those writers to whom I have referred do not exactly agree as to the absolute correctness of

each other's classification, that circumstance, trivial in every point of view, amounts to nothing as far as the object of this publication is concerned: for instance, if we include under the Mongolian variety of the human race the Calmucs, the Tartars (or Tatars), &c., a deviation may be traced, which merits attention no further than to prevent misconception. I am inclined to think that the original Chinese, though always referable to the Mongolian class, differed in some degree from the present race of these people. When the Tartars conquered China, they settled in the country, and hence, by a commixture with what may be called the aborigines, produced the trifling alteration to which I allude. The Tartars are included in the Mongolian variety; and it may therefore easily be perceived, that, although the various tribes of mankind are clearly susceptible of classification, shades of difference may become observable, though not in the least affecting the leading distinctions of each well-defined variety.

That division of man which has been designated the Malay variety, is remarkable for its diversification. It includes not only the inhabitants of the peninsula of Malacca, of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, and the adjacent Asiatic Islands, but also those of New Holland, Van Diemen's Land, New Guinea, and the islands scattered through the whole of the South Sea. However, the former (those of the Asiatic islands) may be regarded as improved Malays, owing to their long connexion with the whites; while the latter (the South Sea Islanders) are perhaps the most degraded race to be met with on the surface of the globe. Having already noticed the treatment by

these monsters of Mrs. Guard, and the crew of the Harriet, I will quote a few words from Mrs. Frazer's harrowing account of the same people. "The stories which we have read in our childhood, and the repre- . sentations we have seen in theatres of savage life, are mere trifles compared with the real facts. When first I heard their frightful yell, I looked for nothing but destruction; but I never expected to witness anything like what I have seen. There is no difference between these savages and the beasts of the forest, except that the savages are ingenious in their cruelty. All that the race of man can conceive falls short of what I have witnessed."-Mrs. Frazer (the reader will recollect) was one of those who unfortunately fell into the hands of the savages from the wreck of the Stirling Castle, in May, 1836. She and three men only escaped death, the remainder of the crew were inhumanly butchered, and even devoured.

A doubt has been insinuated as to Mrs. Frazer's veracity; but the truth of her statement was corroborated by several of the crew of the Stirling Castle, who were fortunate enough to escape also: above all, Lieutenant Otter, by whom Mrs. Frazer was rescued, and whose, account is beyond the reach of suspicion, confirmed her story; it runs thus :

"Moreton Bay, Sept., 1836. "I got a week's leave of absence to go down to the bay for the purpose of amusing myself with catching turtle. The wind proved favourable for the sport when we had got to the pilot's station, and after remaining a few days there, I thought I would take a day's shooting at a place called Brisby's Island, which is situated on the north side of the bay. I accord