ENVIRONMENT cy 



they differ conspicuously from the men of all 

 other races seen by him in the circumference and 

 length of their bodies. In his table of measure- 

 ments, the stature of each man is taken at one 

 thousand, and the other measurements are re- 

 duced to this standard. It is here seen that the 

 extended arms of the Aymaras are shorter than 

 those of Europeans, and much shorter than 

 those of the negroes. The legs are likewise 

 shorter." ^ Those huge lungs developed at the 

 expense of other parts led Mr. Darwin to con- 

 clude that there can be " no doubt but that resi- 

 dence during many generations at a great elevation 

 tends, both directly and indirectly, to induce in- 

 herited modifications in the proportions of the 

 body." 2 It is well known that Europeans and 

 Americans cannot long live in many parts of 

 Africa where the natives thrive. Among all 

 examples of climatic influence few are more im- 

 pressive than the following, concerning those 

 whose days are passed among salt marshes : 

 "Visiting the village of Hiers," says M. Melier, 

 "we saw children of twelve years of age who 

 appeared but six or eight, so puny and undevel- 

 oped were they. Their dirty gray colour is not 

 only pale, but, as it were, tarnished. Meagre 



1 Descent of Man, Darwin, p. 34. 2 /^^^ p_ ^^ 



