234 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



each other in other particulars of their physical or mental 

 disposition. Mr. Galton has ingeniously suggested that by 

 an arrangement of mirrors, four views of a person's head 

 might be taken at once, and would thus afford an ordinary 

 photographic portrait, a portrait of a three-quarter face, a 

 profile view, and a figure of the top of the head respectively. 

 Such a series of views would present all the aspects required 

 for a comparison of the general as well as special contour of 

 the head of the individual with the heads of others photo- 

 graphed in like manner. 



Our author, whose researches on the heredity of men of 

 genius and the transmission from one generation to another 

 of qualities belonging to the highest development of man's 

 estate, are well known, turned his attention to the opposite 

 phase of. human life and character, and investigated in an 

 avowedly casual, but still important manner, the likenesses 

 and differences between members of the criminal classes of 

 England. The social and practical importance of a study 

 such as the present may be readily estimated. There are 

 few persons who have not considered the bearings and influ- 

 ence of criminal antecedents upon the offenders of the pre- 

 sent day. Although to a certain extent our temperaments 

 and dispositions are of our own making, and are susceptible 

 of the favouring influences of education and moral training, 

 there can be no doubt of the truth of the converse remark, 

 that to a very great extent the traits of character we inherit 

 from our parents exercise an undeniable influence over us 

 for weal or for woe. If, therefore, through research in the 

 direction we have indicated, it can be shown that criminality 

 runs in types, our notions of criminal responsibility, and our 

 ideas regarding the punishment, deterrent and otherwise, of 

 the criminal classes, must be affected and ameliorated 

 thereby. 



That criminality, like moral greatness, "runs in the blood," 

 there can be no doubt. l,t would, in fact, be a most unwonted 

 violation of heredity and of the commonest law of nature, 

 were we to find the children of criminals free from the moral 



