A REMARKABLE ANTICIPATION, ETC. 295 



cation of a genus into a variety of species. It has been 

 further continued, and the same end promoted, by the rami- 

 fication of a species into several varieties." 



The seventh and last section (p. 575) of this part of the 

 work treats " Of the Relation of Particular Varieties of the 

 Human Species to Climates". 



Prichard evidently thought that adaptation of races to 

 climate is especially characteristic of the human species, and 

 must be admitted to hold in certain instances whatever be 

 thought of his hypothesis that " the varieties in the species 

 of animals proceed from a principle in nature, modifying 

 the structure and constitution of races, and adapting them 

 to the physical circumstances under which these races may 

 be destined to exist . . . ". He considers that the dis- 

 tribution of the races of men bears "a certain relation to 

 climates," and gives a broad sketch of the geographical 

 arrangement of races in support of this opinion. At the 

 conclusion, after inquiring how it is that "these varieties 

 are developed and preserved in connection with particular 

 climates and differences of local situation," he gives the 

 following very significant answer : " One cause which tends 

 to maintain this relation is obvious. Individuals and families, 

 and even whole colonies, perish and disappear in climates 

 for which they are, by peculiarity of constitution, not 

 adapted. Of this fact proofs have been already mentioned." 

 We have here the undoubted recognition of natural selec- 

 tion, and it is remarkable that a man of such penetration 

 who recognised fully that domestic breeds are due to man's 

 selection, should not have seen in this principle a larger 

 importance and have extended it to the relations of species 

 to each other as well as to their physical environment. 

 Great as Prichard was he did not appreciate the most 

 pressing part of the " struggle for existence". 



Prichard furthermore considers it probable that there 

 are local influences which "promote the appearance of 

 those varieties which are best suited to them, or tend to 

 give rise to their production in the breed". He freely 

 admits that this conclusion conflicts with his contention in 

 section ii., that the colour of a race is not permanently 



