Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits

Abstract

IN his short preface to this second, volume of the Cambridge anthropological reports, Dr. Haddon remarks that no investigation of a race of people can be considered as complete unless it embraces observations on such psychological phenomena as admit of definite determination. In order to carry this into practice, he appears to have resolved that such branches of study should be efficiently dealt with in the second expedition to Torres Straits. Dr. Haddon is to be congratulated on having framed this, comprehensive and truly scientific conception of ethnographical study, and he is further to be congratulated on having secured the services of such efficient psychological representatives as Dr. Rivers, Dr. Myers, and Dr. McDougall. The psychometric observations carried out by these gentlemen have, as was to be expected, been conducted on thoroughly sound lines, and the results described in the reports thus form not only an extremely valuable addition to anthropological knowledge, but an almost unique contribution to the physiology of the special senses. To Dr. Rivers in particular, special praise is due for the thoughtful care which he has bestowed upon the conduct of the inquiry, and for the way in which he has collated and presented the results.

Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits.

Vol. ii., Physiology and Psychology. Part i., Vision. Pp. vi + 140. By W. H. R. Rivers., with an appendix by C. G. Seligmann. Part ii., Hearing, Smell, Taste, Cutaneous Sensations, Muscular Sense, Reaction-Times. By C. S. Myers and W. McDougall. Pp. 141–223. (Cambridge: University Press, 1901, 1903.)