Eighteenth century Scottish views on primitive societies: Adam Ferguson, John Millar and William Robertson

This paper will examine eighteenth- century Scottish views on primitive societies from the standpoint of the following three works:1. Adam Ferguson. An Essay on the History of Civil Society 1767, ed. Duncan Forbes. Edinburgh, 1966.2. John Millar. The Origin of the Distinction of Ranks: or, An Inquiry into the Circumstances which give Use to Influence and Authority, in the Different Members of Society, 4th ed. London, 1805.3. William Robertson. The History of America, Bks. I -VIII, 1st ed. 2 vols. London, 1777. The History of America, Bks. IX -X, 1st ed. London, 1796.These works reflect widely different attitudes and approaches toward primitive societies, and thus represent a broad range of eighteenth-century Scottish Opinion. Ferguson's appraisal of primitive societies is sympathetic, Millar's is unsympathetic, while Robertson is considerably more objective.Each work will be discussed in a separate chapter. The chapters will be arranged in chronological sequence according to each work's date of first publication (1767, 1771, and 1777, respectively). And the orks will be compared with one another as the paper advances.Within each chapter, the author's evaluation of primitive societies will be carefully examined in the light of his more general outlook and prejudices (as expressed in the work under consideration). Thus, each chapter will consider:I. The author's intentions. II. His methods and prejudices. III. His analyses of primitive societies. IV. His evaluations of primitive societies in the light of his own culture.Throughout the paper, an effort will be made to allow each author to speak for himself, insofar as possible under the format outlined above. Wherever a striking relationship may be drawn between the thought of Ferguson, Millar,or Robertson and another eighteenth- century Scottish writer, it will be presented, in an effort to reconstruct some of the issues regarding primitive societies which were most actively debated in eighteenth- century Scotland.An Introduction will be included to provide some insight into the historical and biographical aspects of the works and authors under discussion, and a Conclusion will be appended which will attempt to summarise some of their many arguments

Farmers' bulletin (United States. Dept. of Agriculture); no. 493

"The English sparrow has many objectionable habits and few redeeming qualities and, as its general extermination is out of the question because of the necessary expense, its numbers should be reduced so far as possible. The chief aim of this bulletin is to describe the best methods of effecting this reduction of numbers. Trapping, wherever practicable, is recommended above all other methods, more particularly as English sparrows form an excellent and nutritious article of diet." -- p.

Farmers' bulletin (United States. Dept. of Agriculture); no. 493 (rev.)

Revised edition. "The English sparrow defiles private and public property, fights and dispossesses useful native birds, replaces their songs with discordant sounds, and destroys fruit, grain, and garden truck.... The methods of ridding premises of English sparrows advocated in this bulletin have been used with success and can be relied upon if followed carefully and persistently. No one should undertake to kill these birds, however, unless able to distinguish them from native sparrows with absolute certainty. Otherwise some of the most valued songsters surely will be destroyed." -- p.

Dearborn on Birds from British East Africa

Volume: 26Start Page: 327End Page: 32

Dearborn on a Collection of Guatemalan Birds

Volume: 25Start Page: 240End Page: 24

Farmers' bulletin (United States. Dept. of Agriculture); no. 795

"In the following pages are considered facts relative to the development of silver fox farming; the precautions necessary to be taken with the animals in breeding and in sickness and health; the construction of inclosures and nesting dens; the expenses of the business as well as its profits; and, in general, how and where fox farming may be undertaken with the promise of any degree of success. The distinction between red, cross, silveer, and black foxes is explained and the relative values of the pelts discussed." -- p.

Dearborn\u27s Birds of Belknap and Merrimac Counties, New Hampshire

Volume: 16Start Page: 204End Page: 20

Farmers' bulletin (United States. Dept. of Agriculture); no. 609

"A few years ago only four species were commonly regarded as house birds -- the house wren, the bluebird, the tree swallow, and the martin. Since the movement to protect birds and make neighbors of them began, however, their natures and needs have become better understood, and it is now known that many other species will avail themselves of houses constructed for them by their human friends. The practice of erecting bird houses in this country, while now nation-wide, is not so common and uniformly distributed as it should be, and more extended provisions of this nature can not fail to result in a largely increased number of house birds." -- p.

Catalogue of a collection of birds from Guatemala,

v.1:no.3 (1907