252 



The Journal of Heredity 



NORWEGIAN-POLYNESIAN (;IKL 



Unions between European men and native women are eommon in the Soutli Seas, and aeeord- 

 ing to the missionary, (k-orjje Brown, they are, in Samoa at least, more fertile than those 

 between natives. The offspring is eharaeterized by exeeptional vigor, in aeeordance with 

 the law of hybridizing so familiar to those who work with plants and animals ; there 

 seems to be insuflfieient evidence as to the value of succeeding generations. The cross 

 in this case is not a very "wide" one, according to De Quatrefagcs' analysis of the Poly- 

 nesian race, but it appears that most of the noticeable Polynesian traits are dominant 

 over those of the Norwegian father. (Fig. 4.) 



pretty K<^'nerally a^Tced that the race 

 is of Malayan origin, although it reveals 

 traces of other strains of blood, not now 

 found in the Malay archipelago. 



"This is evident in their physical 

 appearance", says Daniel (j. Brintcm. 

 in "Races and Peoi^les." "The\- arc 

 uncommonly tall, symmetrical and hand- 

 some, a stature over six feet not being 



unusual among them. Their feattires 

 are regtilar, their color a liglU l)ro\vn. 

 Their hair is black, smooth and glossy, 

 sometimes with a crisp or curl in it, 

 which betrays a touch of Papuan 

 blood." 



This Pa])uan blood was i^robably 

 gained while the race inhabited the 

 small island of Buru or Boru, between 



