THE DECLINE OF FAMILIES 115 



the third group alone were able to maintain and 

 extend their position and their influence. 



For any one who is really anxious to understand the 

 issues at stake in these problems, there is no more 

 certain way of accomplishing that object than by care- 

 fully plotting in the symbolic form the descent of 

 special characteristics, either in their own constituent 



PEDIGREE IV. Variation of Ability 



I I 



-e 



sp 



r 



'9 '9 * 



2 *o * 



'O 3Q 



><g> 



^ = marked ability. r^ = ability above the average. 



(| = unsoundness. Q = average ability. 



families or in other families with whom they are inti- 

 mately connected. The impressiveness of such pedigrees 

 as those given above turns largely on a personal know- 

 ledge of the factors involved, of their effect on family 

 and social life, of the intensity of their manifestation in 

 the various cases ; and one such record conscientiously 

 compiled from notes and observation is far more 

 instructive than the study of half a dozen records put 

 together by other people. 



