614 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



this Quaternary race differs from the Neolithic race which succeeded 

 it, but the Neolithic dolichocephals of the north of Europe frequently- 

 present atavistic characteristics which recall their neanderthaloid 

 origin, as will be seen below. 



It has been observed that certain animals underwent modifications 

 during the Quaternary epoch through the influence of temperature, 

 showing themselves now as cold and then as warm fauna. Why 

 should not particular modifications of the organism have taken place 

 in the human species also under the influence of climate? Why 

 should not one blond variety have become so by the cold, and another 

 brown have become such by a more clement temperature? What, 

 then, was the physiological process in virtue of which the primitive 

 blond races acquired their characteristics ? 



I think that under the influence of the cold climate of the epoch the 

 production of cutaneous and capillary pigment in the human organ- 

 ism was so weak that the skin bleached, and the hair and beard became 

 lighter so as to assume the coloring of red or blond, for the different 

 colorings of the capillary system depend on the greater or less quan- 

 tity of pigment resident therein. Hence it results that the iris also is 

 less pigmented and consequently of a bright color. 



But when an anthropological characteristic becomes modified, other 

 characteristics vary simultaneously by virtue of the phenomenon of 

 correlative variation. Thus the skeleton underwent certain modifi- 

 cations as regards its height and other dimensions; but besides the 

 influence of the climate upon the organism, account should also be 

 taken of the manner of life of the Germans (and doubtless also of their 

 ancestors), and the care they took to stimulate growth in the entire 

 race. 



Thus their whole life was passed in the chase and the exercises of 

 war. They hardened themselves from infancy by work and fatigue. 

 It was a kind of sport very conducive to bodUy development. 



They lived chiefly on milk, cheese, and meat, for they devoted 

 themselves but little to agriculture, and, in fact, of vegetation they 

 had only wUd fruit to consume. 



Each mother nursed her child herself, never intrusting it to a 

 servant or nurse, and it was allowed to grow up entirely naked. The 

 Germans paid much attention to the period of puberty of the young 

 people, and Julius Csesar said that it was considered a disgrace with 

 them to have known a woman before the age of 20. They favored a 

 retarded puberty in the conviction that this was conducive to a robust 

 body and strong nerves. Tacitus adds that they were no more hasty 

 in marrying off their daughters, so that the wives, being the men's 

 equal in size, health, and vigor, transmitted their strength to their 

 offspring. Finall}^, the Germans frequently took warm baths in 

 winter and cold ones in summer, in the rivers. It seems that they 



