72 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



one supposes, would not require to use their teeth as weapons 

 to anything Hke the same extent, and from this distinction 

 has possibly grown the admiration of less powerfully developed 

 masticatory organs in the " weaker sex." 



We have so far considered facial beauty as the outward 

 and visible sign of respiratory, alimentary, and other organic 

 efficiency, as an indicator of character, and as a medium of 

 worthy expression. 



Beauty of this class, or anatomical beauty, as it may be 

 termed, may be as faultless as is possible, and yet fall short 

 of many particular instances which will readily occur to any- 

 one — is, in fact, on a different plane from the beauty that 

 makes a special appeal, the beauty that thrills. 



In considering this higher quality of beauty, or " loveliness," 

 we feel that these explanations are inadequate, that even when 

 the conditions demanded are fulfilled, the fundamental biological 

 significance of such beauty is yet to be sought. As ordinary 

 beauty has its significance, so surely there is an even deeper 

 meaning in transcendent beauty. 



We may suppose the idea of the handsome or lovely face 

 to be arrived at by enhancement of the lines and contours 

 suggestive of anatomical perfection or organic efficiency — a 

 progressive accentuation of the differences between the face 

 with ill-formed and badly balanced features and the well- 

 constructed and properly proportioned face : and we may 

 imagine this evolution of the ordinarily beautiful face on 

 enhanced lines being brought about by sexual selection, and 

 helping to mould, as well as being moulded by, the human ideal. 



Darwin has pointed out that the appreciation of ordinary 

 female beauty by the men of various races tends to accentuate 

 the racial type, but he cites Sir Richard Burton as believing 

 that a woman whom Europeans consider exceptionally beautiful 

 is admired throughout the world. 



The contemplation of beauty of this kind, involving certain 

 intensifications of well-formed and well-balanced features, cer- 

 tain delicate modelling and especially graceful contours, strongly 

 appealing to both aesthetic and sexual emotions, naturally tends 

 to impress one of the opposite sex with the eminent desirableness 

 of the being exhibiting it. Entrancing beauty, or " loveliness," 

 however, does not often characterise the hypersensual or wanton 

 physiognomy. There is always an element of purity, even 

 something sacred, in extreme beauty. 



In modern communities the workings of sexual selection 

 must necessarily be intricate, and the development of any 

 particular type continually swamped. This fact may be held 

 to account for the unfortunate rarity of beautiful persons. But 



