CONTENTS ix 



vironment, which appears to stimulate the production of PAGE 

 certain types and to spread them over a locality the dis- 

 turbing effect of changeful variations or " sports " the 

 levelling effect of marriage which tends to reduce a nation to 

 the uniformity of a family the disturbing effect of migrations 

 the levelling effect of infertility which eliminates alien 

 traits that are unsuited to the environment, or out of accord 

 with the genius of the native race illustrations of migrations 

 from Northern Europe to India and the Mediterranean their 

 influence upon the history of India, Greece and Rome the 

 impermanence of northern characteristics compared with 

 those of southern races. 



CHAPTER XI 

 ENVIRONMENT - - - - - 205 



Its effect upon the individual in modifying features, dis- 

 position and habits its effects upon the race, that is to say, in 

 producing peculiarities which are heritable the possibility of 

 this denied facts which appear to prove its actuality -, 

 hereditary peculiarities of size, colour and degeneration which 

 have proceeded from environment the effect of environment 

 in stimulating mutations, or " sports " its influences may be 

 unintelligible, but should not be denied on this account 

 illustrations of the association amongst mankind of distinctive 

 features and complexion with particular environments 

 similar illustrations in respect to traits of racial character 

 the direct influence of environment in modifying character, 

 its indirect influence in guiding habits effects are hereditary 

 in the former case, not in the latter its influence upon human 

 fertility the effect of a changed environment upon migrants 

 less in the case of southern than in the case of northern 

 peoples. 



CHAPTER XII 



CULTURE 229 



Is the tradition passed on by each generation to its suc- 

 cessor its dependance upon language for its formation and 

 upon writing for its continuity owes to reason its elaboration 

 and also its errors confusion of visioned with observed causes, 

 and the resulting conception of a double set of ideas, visionary 

 and practical illustrations the inferences of reason may 

 confirm the lead of unreasoning impulses the genesis and 

 spread of culture the initiative genius of inventors 

 imitation by the crowd, formerly reluctant, latterly more 

 eager under a growing desire for change other impulses 

 which conduce to imitation reverence for authority the 

 prestige of a conqueror sympathy instinctive satisfactions 

 the pressure of circumstances reason the effect of imita- 

 tion in producing new habits of mind culture cannot alter 

 racial disposition or change the innate impulses that form 

 character culture and population its effects upon the 

 birth-rate. 



