INFLUENCES OF ENVIRONMENT 129 



as to the absolute effect of environment, and until we have 

 made more comprehensive investigations it is best to 

 leave the matter open. 



A study of the direct influence of environment upon 

 the bodily form of man was made in 1908 and 1909 by 

 Professor Boas. 12 Four groups of people were investi- 

 gated; the south Italians, representing the Mediterra- 

 nean type of Europe, characterized by short stature, 

 elongated head, dark complexion and hair; the central 

 European type, characterized by medium stature, short 

 head, light hair and lighter complexion; the northwest 

 European type, characterized by tall stature, elongated 

 head, light complexion, and blond hair ; and in addition, 

 an extended series of east European Hebrews, who re- 

 semble in some respects the central European group. 

 The traits selected for examination were head measure- 

 ment, stature, weight, and hair-color. The result of the 

 inquiry was to show that the American-born descendants 

 of these types differ from their parents ; and that these 

 differences develop in early childhood and persist 

 throughout life. It was found that head form, which 

 has always been considered as one of the most stable and 

 permanent characteristics of human races, undergoes 

 far-reaching changes due to the transfer of the races of 

 Europe to American soil. The east European Hebrew, 

 who has a very round head, becomes more long-headed 

 in the first generation born in America ; the south Italian, 

 who in Italy has an exceedingly long head, becomes 

 more short-headed in the first generation born in Amer- 

 ica ; so that both approach a uniform type in this country, 



12 Changes in Bodily Form of the Descendants of Immigrants, The Im- 

 migration Commission, 61st. Cong., 2d Session, Doc. no. 208; see also 

 The Mind of Primitive Man, ch. ii, for discussion. 



