STATURE HEIGHT OF EOKEIGNKRS. 17 



that the reason assigned is clearly unsatisfactory. It lias also been argued that the 

 prevalence of" Ci-etaceous formation in the geolog}- of the West, by furnishing a more 

 Hberal supply of lime for the bones of the growing youth, accounts for the phenomenon 

 of his greater stature. Although a deficiency of this material may prevent hardening, 

 and result in curvature of the long bones, there is no proof that a superabundant 

 supply Avould increase their normal length. The natives of Maine, New Hampshire, 

 and Vermont, contiguous States, not ^■arying greatly in geological character, display 

 marked differences in mean stature. The suggestion has also been made that men 

 who leave their native soil to seek fortune in other lands are corporeally superior 

 specimens of their race; but it is vet to be shown that enterprise and ambition depend 

 upon stature, and not on qualities of mind. It would, however, be of great service to 

 this branch of statistics if a record were to be accurately kept of the height, weight, and 

 age of all male immigrants landing in New York. 



After all, the true explanation of this cnrious fact is jjrobably to be found in 

 the difference of age of the men examined. The height of soldiers in all European 

 countries, excepting in Great Britain, is recorded at the period of their conscription, and 

 this occurs from their eighteenth to their twentieth year. It is indisputabl}' established 

 that height continues to increase very p.erceptibly u}) t() the twenty -fifth year; full 

 growth, indeed, not being completed until later. Now, the loiv est wienn age to be found 

 in Tables Nos. 4 to 9, inclusive, is ■25.248 years, and the mean age of the six nativities 

 represented in them is 27.319 years. The comparisons, then, have all the time been 

 made of grown men, twenty-five years ohl and upward, with lads of nineteen. 

 According to Quetelet's tables of growth, the mean height at nineteen years is 1.655 

 metres, and at twenty-five years it is 1.(182 metres — a diftereiice of 2.7 centimetres, or 

 l.OGS inch.' Our tables show the mean height at nineteen years to be 67.07 inches, and 

 at twenty-five years to be 68.05 inches. Danson's tables for the same ages give re- 

 spectively 64.94 inches and 66.30 inches,- and Liliarzik's 64.96 inches and 68.90 inches.' 

 M. Dunant, measuring Genevese soldiers, found their me^n height at twenty years to 

 be 1.674 metres, and at twenty-six to thirty-five }ears, 1.688 metres — a difierence of 

 14 millimetres, or 552 inch.^ If tlie height of Englishmen and Scotchmen, as fur- 

 nished by these tables, be compared with the conclusions arrived at by I)i-. Beddoe^ 

 an additional proof is obtained of the correctness of the explanation offered. In the 

 work of Dr. Beddoe, the observations were altogether of men " tw-enty -three years 

 old and upwards;" the mean age being certainly over twenty-five years. The mean 

 age of the Englishmen of our tables is nearly twenty-eight years, (27.910,) and of 

 Scotclmien a little more, so that, as regards age, the comparison with Th\ Beddoe's 

 statements may be fairh- made. 'I'he following is the striking result as to mean height : 



Englishmen, according to Dr. Beddoe . . 5 feet i]M inches. 



Englishmen, according to our tiibles. - 5 feet 6.6 inches. 



Scotchmen, according to Dr. Beddoe 5 feet 7.5 inches. 



Scotchmen, according to our tables. . 5 feet 7.0 inches. 



' Anlhropometiic, p. 177. 



" Growlh of the hitman hodi/J'rom eiyhtciii 1o ihiiij/ i/cars of agi\ ^-c. Jour. Stati.st. Sot'., M:ii'cli. 1SG2. 



^ Das (ji-sct: des ivcrlistliiimcs luid dir haii dta iiuiiscluii, p. 7, Vieuna, ISd-l. 



' Itf hi liiillr mntiait)!' lir^ hnhUinitit dii rtnilon df Gfnrrf. S\<>. GfMi^vr, lHii7. 



