THE STANDPOINT OF BIOLOGISTS. 43 



false delicacy in speaking of questions relating to 

 race change, but this may more rightly be termed 

 the shyness necessarily associated with an unusual 

 topic of discussion. We English laugh at the 

 American woman who, from notions of extreme 

 modesty, will not speak of the " leg " of a piano ; but 

 we in our turn draw our own often exaggerated lines, 

 beyond which we will not pass. Just as there is no 

 subject which will not yield food for the evil-minded, 

 so there is no subject having to do with the laws 

 of nature which cannot be naturally approached in 

 all simple-mindedness. As soon, therefore, as it is 

 realised, that this question we are dealing with is one 

 which demands not only our closest attention, but 

 also the advantage of public and private discussion, 

 so soon shall we have acquired the habit of regarding 

 it in quite a matter-of-fact and pure-minded way. 



