48 THE VARIETIES OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 



The same relation is found in the animal kingdom between 

 genera and species, or between species and varieties; in the first 

 place, the universal characteristics of the genus are limited by 

 those of the species; in the second, those of the species are 

 restricted by those of the varieties, and those of the variety by the 

 subvarieties. I have above stated that while in my opinion the 

 name of variety is general in its meaning, and therefore also 

 provisional, it may remain definitive by further study and assume 

 a fixed signification. Different results may be reached, but the 

 classification will remain unaltered, because the characteristics 

 will continue stable and the method unchanged. 



In determining the characteristics of numerous series of crania, 

 and in arranging groups of one variety, another plan occurred to 

 me, that of finding characteristics which separate a subvariety 

 into groups of a third order, meaning by a group of the ist order 

 the variety; then we shall have a plan like the following: 



1st. Variety: A. 



2d. Subvariety : A -j- a, A -}- b, A + c, etc. 



3d. Sub-subvariety : A + a-j-a, A-|-a + /5, A + a + y'. 



The characteristics «, /5, y are not transitory; they are stable, and, 

 on this account, of the same type as those which distinguish the 

 subvarieties a, b, c, etc. 



It is easy to answer an inquiry as to the manner of distinguish- 

 ing these characteristics: individual variations are not repeated, 

 and they therefore do not occur in many individuals, unless acci- 

 dentally; not only do they cause little divergence from the typical 

 forms, they constitute oscillations of the same form recognizable 

 as such. It is not so with the characteristics of subgroups of the 

 2d or 3d order; they alter the fundamental form in some part, and 

 are repeated in groups composed of several individual elements. 



We have seen how we may determine varieties, which in a great 

 measure assume geometrical forms and receive corresponding 

 names, because of their approximation to bodies with well-known 

 geometrical characters. We have also seen that we can determine 

 the form of this irregular body, the brain, either by the vertical or 

 lateral nornit, or in some cases by the anterior or posterior aspect. 

 Besides the normae which determine the variety, there remain 

 other normae which have various characters, and can therefore 

 complete the craniological type or show its variations beyond the 



