572 



TRANSMISSION 



The averages of coefficients of variability for all " long-bone " 

 determinations are as follows : l 



Though these are human, not animal data, yet they involve 

 skeletal measurements which are among the most fundamental 

 of all organic parts, and they scarcely warrant the sweeping 

 assertion that males are decidedly more variable than females. 

 Pearson is entirely justified in his protest against what he calls 

 this " pseudo-scientific superstition" and the sweeping conclu- 

 sions involving " social and practical consequences " affecting 

 " the whole of our civilization." 2 



In body weight, both among English (men, 10.37; women, 

 13.37) an d among Germans (men, 20.67 '> women, 25.07), women 

 are decidedly more variable than men. 3 



In weight at birth, both among English (boys, 15.65 ; girls, 

 14.44) and among Germans (boys, 13.567; girls, 13.278), the 

 males are more variable ; but among the Belgians the reverse 

 is true (boys, 14.66; girls, 17.62). 



Data of this sort are full, but unfortunately confined mostly 

 to humans. From all sources it seems that men are more vari- 

 able in "height when sitting" and in " swiftness of blow," but 

 that women are more variable in " stature " (height when stand- 

 ing), " span," "body weight," "breathing capacity," "strength 

 of pull," "squeeze of hand," and "keenness of sight." 



As Pearson points out, some of these variants would disappear 

 if women were subjected to the same conditions of life as are 

 men, and we need to be cautious when applying these data to 

 races in general, for which future researches are sorely needed. 

 We certainly are not warranted in assuming sweeping and funda- 

 mental differences in variability between the sexes. Here again 



1 Pearson, Chances of Death, I, 305. a Ibid. I, 256 and 376. 



3 Incidentally, the same data warrant our conclusion that the German race, 

 both men and women, are more variable than the English as to body weight. 



