THE CROSSING OF THE HUMAN RACES. 169 



have only a few details concerning the mulattoes of the Southern 

 States ; and Dr. Nott has strangely contradicted himself in the few 

 generalities he has written on this subject. Travelers sometimes speak 

 of mongrels whom they have met on the confines of the Union or of 

 Canada. But, on the whole, I know nothing precise on the result of 

 the mixture of races in the vast region which extends from the fron- 

 tiers of Mexico to beyond the Arctic Circle. The work of Mr. Daniel 

 Wilson,* without entirely filling this gap, furnishes some really inter- 

 esting statements bearing on this subject. It makes known some 

 facts which, although they are presented in a little too general manner 

 and without statistical details, are nevertheless of great value ; and it 

 states some others with more detail. Incidentally, it adds its testi- 

 mony to the evidence which had already been gathered against the 

 common errors which are daily repeated. By these features it merits 

 the attention of anthropologists, and an analysis of some of its details 

 is of interest. 



[As Mr. Wilson's book is easily accessible to American readers, we will not 

 repeat in detail tbe citations which M. de Quatrefages makes from it, but will only 

 give a summary of the argument which he deduces from them. Editor Popular 

 Science Monthly.] 



Mr. Wilson does not dwell at much length on the history of the 

 mulattoes. Having mentioned the opinion of Dr. Nott, who believes 

 that they are infertile, sickly, and destined to extinction, and having re- 

 ferred rapidly to a few local circumstances which seem to support this 

 opinion, he concludes by saying that nothing justifies the conclusion 

 of that anthropologist. His figures seem to be decisive. Carefully 

 compiled statistics show that the number of negroes imported into the 

 United States can not have exceeded four hundred thousand, while the 

 colored race in the country now comprises about five million persons, 

 and is largely composed of mulattoes. Dr. Nott admitted that his 

 statements concerning the debility of the mulattoes applied only to 

 those of South Carolina, and that in Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama, 

 the children of the negro and white were well-formed and prolific. 

 He explained the difference by saying that the Englishman is the only 

 true white, and can not produce a robust offspring with the negro, 

 while the Spaniard and Frenchman, already mixed, are more allied to 

 him, and will cross fruitfully with him. This strange theory is easily 

 refuted by historical arguments. So Dr. Nott's testimony confirms 

 our theory, at least for the three more Southern States. It is shown, 

 then, that the mixed race of black and white is increasing in the south- 

 ern part of the Union as well as in South America. We can not 

 doubt that, in a future the remoteness of which is dependent on the 

 disappearance of existing prejudices, a fusion will take place between 

 the men of color and the whites. 



* " Some American Illustrations of the Evolution of New Varieties of Man," by 

 Daniel Wilson, LL. D., F. R. S. E., University College, Toronto. 



