By John. Beddoc, M.D., LL.D., F.RS., &c. 27 



the most vigorous and enterprising element of our country-folk. 

 Some of these, however, have gone to help to increase the growing 

 population of Swindon, the one large and really flourishing town 

 in the county, whither also immigration continues from other 

 sources, introducing especially darker haired types. It must 

 always be remembered that, though we look upon the county as 

 mainly agricultural and pastoral, a large part of the population is 

 only quite remotely of rural ancestry, its progenitors having been 

 eiuployed in the weaving, dyeing, and other such industries, for 

 many generations. The decline of the local industries, and the 

 consequent loss of an outlet for the natural increase of the rural 

 population, caused great impoverishment in the early part of the 

 19th century; and apparently left a mark on the physique and 

 morale of the people not yet entirely obliterated. 



I will now present, in tabular form, such facts as I have been 

 able to observe, bearing on the complexional colours, the head-forms, 

 and the stature and bulk of Wiltshiremen, and will thereafter 

 endeavour to deduce from these and from the history of the county 

 some conclusions or probabilities as to the ethnical constitution of 

 the people. If I lay great stress on the complexional colours, it 

 must be remembered that, though there was certainly a considerable 

 blond element mixed with the pre-Saxon population, the Saxons 

 were so generally blond as to make the predominance of light 

 colours a pretty sure test of their presence in great force. 



