RACE 



early arrival of puberty. Hill men are generally 

 short of stature. The moulding influence of 

 environment will be discussed in the next chapter : 

 but we may refer here to the theory, held by some 

 high authorities, although repudiated by others, 

 that environal influences are responsible for some 

 notable changes which have occurred in human 

 features and character within the period that is 

 covered by historical records and archaeological 

 research. It is believed by Professor Ridgeway 

 that a short-skulled people have become long- 

 skulled by migration from the hills to the plains. 

 According to Professor Boas, under the conditions 

 of America, Anglo-Saxon immigrants are gra- 

 dually changing the shape of their heads ; and 

 it is not uncommonly admitted by Americans 

 that their features are becoming remodelled upon 

 lines that have a curious resemblance to those of 

 the native Indian stock. In the Mediterranean 

 climate of Australia, Anglo-Saxons appear to be 

 contracting the pleasure-loving gaiety of Medi- 

 terranean peoples. It seems probable, then, that 

 many racial peculiarities of features and character 

 are the outcome of environal influences, although, 

 once established, they will resist during many 

 generations such a change of environment as 

 is caused by migration. And this power of 

 resistance is, as will be shown, stronger in 

 southern than in northern characteristics, very 

 probably because they are the more ancient of 

 the two. 



Variations that are stimulated or guided by 

 environment would promote uniformity among 

 the inhabitants of the same locality and would 

 tend to produce a racial type. But the change- 

 fulness of Life is constantly producing variations, 

 or " sports," in diverse directions, and these might 

 lead a race into very abnormal eccentricities were 



