i860 1 882] DESCENT OF MAN 55 



is one of the earliest faculties developed in young children, Letter 424 

 and as this power would probably be exercised in an equal 

 degree by the children of educated and uneducated persons, 

 it seems not impossible that any transmitted effect from 

 education could be displayed only at a somewhat advanced 

 age. It would be desirable to test statistically, in a similar 

 manner, the truth of the oft-repeated statement that coloured 

 children at first learn as quickly as white children, but that 

 they afterwards fall off in progress. If it could be proved 

 that education acts not only on the individual, but, by trans- 

 mission, on the race, this would be a great encouragement to 

 all working on this all-important subject. It is well known 

 that children sometimes exhibit, at a very early age, strong 

 special tastes, for which no cause can be assigned, although 

 occasionally they may be accounted for by reversion to the 

 taste or occupation of some progenitor ; and it would be 

 interesting to learn how far such early tastes are persistent 

 and influence the future career of the individual. In some 

 instances such tastes die away without apparently leaving any 

 after effect, but it would be desirable to know how far this is 

 commonly the case, as we should then know whether it were 

 important to direct as far as this is possible the early tastes of 

 our children. It may be more beneficial that a child should 

 follow energetically some pursuit, of however trifling a nature, 

 and thus acquire perseverance, than that he should be turned 

 from it because of no future advantage to him. I will mention 

 one other small point of inquiry in relation to very young 

 children, which may possibly prove important with respect to 

 the origin of language ; but it could be investigated only by 

 persons possessing an accurate musical ear. Children, even 

 before they can articulate, express some of their feelings and 

 desires by noises uttered in different notes. For instance, 

 they make an interrogative noise, and others of assent and 

 dissent, in different tones ; and it would, I think, be worth 

 while to ascertain whether there is any uniformity in different 

 children in the pitch of their voices under various frames of 

 mind. 



I fear that this letter can be of no use to you, but it will 

 serve to show my sympathy and good wishes in your 

 researches. 



