CiiAP. IV. MANNER OF DEVELOPMENT. 115 



forts of life. This latter conclusion is directly opposed 

 to that arrived at by Yillerme from the statistics of the 

 height of the conscripts in different parts of France. 

 When we compare the differences in stature between the 

 Polynesian chiefs and the lower orders within the same 

 islands, or between the inhabitants of the fertile volcanic 

 and low barren coral islands of the same ocean, 17 or 

 again between the Fuegians on the eastern and western 

 shores of their country, where the means of subsistence 

 are very different, it is scarcely possible to avoid the 

 conclusion that better food and greater comfort do in- 

 fluence stature. But the preceding statements shew 

 how difficult it is to arrive at any precise result. Dr. 

 Beddoe has lately proved that, with the inhabitants of 

 Britain, residence in towns and certain occupations have 

 a deteriorating influence on height ; and he infers that 

 the result is to a certain extent inherited, as is likewise 

 the case in the United States. Dr. Beddoe further 

 believes that wherever a " race attains its maximum of 

 " physical development, it rises highest in energy and 

 " moral vigour." 18 



Whether external conditions produce any other 

 direct effect on man is not known. It might have been 

 expected that differences of climate would have had a 

 marked influence, as the lungs and kidneys are brought 

 into fuller activity under a low temperature, and the 

 liver and skin under a high one. 19 It was former! v 

 thought that the colour of the skin and the character 



17 For the Polynesians, see Pricharcl's ' Physical Hist, of Mankind,' 

 vol. v. 1847, p. 145, 283. Also Godron, < De "l'Espece,' torn. ii. p. 289. 

 There is also a remarkable difference in appearance between the closely- 

 allied Hindoos inhabiting the Upper Ganges and Bengal ; see Elphin- 

 stone's ' History of India,' vol. i. p. 324. 



18 * Memoirs, Anthropolog. Soc.' vol. id. 1867-69, p. 561, 565, 567. 



10 Dr. Brakenridge, ' Theory of Diathesis,' ' Medical Times,' June 19 

 and July 17, 1869. 



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