New-York tribune., 1875-12-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

AN Hfn'9S n D is%o i ps 5S5 f'SfwooS ssoSss
The fruits of Summer vacation devoted TO
rescarchos in loeandc e,hnology and natural history
hy the Professor Of Zoology the Massachusetts Ieeh
sological Institute presented IN this agreeao"
volume. Dr. Kueeland member OF the party con
sasting OF DR. Hayes Bayard Taylor Mr. C. W. Feio MI,
Nurat Halstead and others, who chartered smaH
steamer Edinburgh for the northern voyage on wmch
they embarked about the middle of July. 1874 Aiter
visiting orkney. shetland and Faroe islands, the tx
pediton arrived at Reykavk, the capital Of Iceland
before tho end the month In for the ceremonies
of the milenni celebration, which commenced on 'he
I'd OF August The attention of the author was at once
directed the habits u the people They presented
singular compound of energy and Indifference hke theH
native country, combining the eoldness ana s'l'-
mess Of snow with the 6ery flashes OF the
volcano The society. the whole, exhib-
tied considerable refinement, and the balls Were
remarkable for the display ci personal besuty ana ee
CANT dresses The university attracts students rom AL
parts the island ana OF its professors are iaed
for their learning especially in Scandinavian history ana
antiquities DR. Knecand notes the physical seagfa
phy Of Iceland are among the most interesting features
An his Volume He carefully explored the great natutu
eurioses for which the country is celebrated His WISH
20 the GeyseTs disappointment The wafer az uie
surface was boiling hot, and finger could be punged
n for time without breaking the skin The scene
In the valley is quite unlike what is generally repre-
sented bv travellers II green and fertile breadth
of several miles stretching in direction to the noun
tsins above which towers Heca. covered with snow as
low as the eye reach. Behind Is steep volcanic
region the south the Geyser could be seen heahei
Ing between s green banks, till lost in the purple maze
while on the NORTH the ley okus stand in Their dazzling
whteness like grim sennels on the border OF the mys-
terous Ieeaudc desert The wonderful landscape shows
Greenland on ore side the fiery tropics beneath the feet
aud boundles- cXpanse of vcrdure on tue other The
author has embodied IN h.s narrative several important
facts relating TO the cthnOOgy of Iceland The private
life OF the Mortimer, in primitive times, was entirely
dereut from of their descendant in the nineteenth
century The changes in domestic habits are no doubt
mainly due to the sOfening influences OF Christianity
During the pagan age child was born, 1t was
the custom or tie father decide whether 1t should be
exposed death. or brought up. The newborn babe
laid the ground and there remained untouched
till its pronounced by the father or The nearest
male relative II live 1t taken TO the father,
who by placing it bis made himself responsible
for support II usual to expose the babe IN some
lonely spot where il would not be likely TO be found by
wild animals but after its acceptance by the father,
such exposure counted as murder. Even
after the Introduction Of Christianity, the expos
ure was permitted in of extreme deformity,
although the prevailing motive was the inability "i the
pareuts 10 maintain the child. According 10 Mr. Oar
wins principle of natural selection tLis custom must
have greatly contributed 20 the physical visor and
courage which Characteristic OF the Scandinavian
race the preparation Of this volume DR. Kneeland
has not only made the results OF his own personal
observations but diligently studied the accounts Of
previous Travellers combining the whole i'm coherent
and very informing narrative. His style is that OF
praeticed and skful writer He brings familiar ac-
nuantancc with physical science To TIE Illustration 0i
natural phenomena. while his power OF description en-
sbes him 10 present the fruits Of his researches in vivid
light The mllennial anniversary Of Iceland has pro
dueed no monograph Oi lively interest or with
richer store of important facts in small space.