224 ENVIRONMENT 



a habit we are on difficult ground : both affect 

 conduct and it is only by observing conduct that 

 we obtain any glimpses into character. But we 

 may define the former as an impulse which is 

 innately strong, the latter as an impulse which 

 has been reintorced artificially by the routine of 

 behaviour. The one proceeds directly from the 

 influences of the environment in what fashion 

 we may not be able to understand and becomes 

 implanted in the race ; the other is of man's own 

 cultivation, under the pressure of circumstances, 

 and needs to be sown afresh in each generation. 

 The influence of our surroundings has thus been 

 felt by us in two directions : it has modified the 

 race, and it has swayed very powerfully the 

 progress ot culture. 



J||^||{:"; .,-:'" * ill - 



There appears to be no reason in the nature of 

 things why environal influences should not affect 

 the reproductive capacity of a race and increase 

 or diminish its innate fertility. They certainly 

 may lessen the fecundity of individuals. There 

 are some facts to show that the reproductive func- 

 tions may be innately modified by locality. The 

 Eschscholtzia, for instance, in Brazil must be 

 cross-fertilized : flowers will not bear seed under 

 the influence of their own pollen. But in England 

 it becomes occasionally self-fertile, and self-ferti- 

 lized seed appears to produce stronger plants 

 than seed which has resulted from crossing. 

 When, however, we are dealing with mankind we 

 depend for evidence upon birth and death rates, 

 and these may be affected by such diverse causes 

 many of them quite unconnected with environ- 

 ment that we can hardly find material for con- 

 clusions which are not ambiguous. There is an 

 extraordinary difference between the birth-rates 



