146 
NALORE 
[JUNE 15, 1899 
To a certain degree, these results accord with those 
arrived at by Monsieur de Lapouge in France, that 
anthropologist contending that the enterprising, restless, 
long-heads migrate in disproportionate numbers from the 
rural districts to the cities, where, however, they eventu- 
ally tend to die out. As regards this dying-out, so far 
as the blond long-heads are concerned, Dr. Ammon’s 
figures do not appear to accord with the French con- 
clusions. And having regard to the objections which 
have been urged against the latter, our author is wise 
in stating (in the preface) the necessity of further in- 
vestigations before definite deductions are attempted. 
He, however, thinks it quite possible that a “selection of 
long-heads” may be taking place; and expresses the 
“pious wish” that such may prove to be the case. 
As regards the contention of the French investigator 
that the dark Mediterranean long-heads are the type best 
adapted for an urban existence, where they choke out 
the long-headed immigrants, Dr. Ammon! considers that 
this is not supported by the results of his own work; 
this showing a total absence of the Mediterranean type 
in three out of the four urban districts, while in the 
fourth they are considerably less numerous than in the 
rural districts. 
Pursuing the same subject, we find, in the fourteenth 
chapter of the second part, Dr. Ammon giving a series of 
interesting details with regard to the differences of skull- 
proportion and hair-colour between the sons of the immi- 
grants into the towns and those of their native-bred 
inhabitants. From these it appears that in the smaller 
towns the sons of town-bred people exceed those of 
immigrants both in stature, sitting-height, and length of 
leg, as well as in the leg-index. In large cities, on the 
other hand, while the first three factors in the former 
show a similar increase over the country-breds, the leg- 
index is less. From the country population to the 
immigrants, from the latter to the sons of immigrants, 
and from these again to the sons of the city-dwellers 
there is an increase in the number of long-heads, with a 
proportionate diminution of round-heads. 
In both generations of the town-breds the relative 
number of blue eyes at first increases and then diminishes 
in cities of all sizes ; in small towns the number of per- 
sons with blond hair does the same, while in large towns 
it remains constant. In the town generation the North 
European and the Alpine types tend to converge, and the 
Mediterranean type to disappear. It is in consequence 
of these changes that a preponderance of blond persons 
is not observable among the recruits drawn from towns. 
Although the above are only a few of the interesting 
results of the author’s investigations, it will be evident 
that they are of the utmost importance in regard to 
current French theories as to the general inferiority of 
the round-heads, and their absorption in cities of the 
superior long-heads. But, as even the mental superiority 
of the latter over the former type is by no means ad- 
mitted by all anthropologists, it is evident that we are 
at present only on the very threshold of studies of this 
nature. That results likely to be of real service in con- 
nection with the problems presented by urban and rural 
1 Page 448. It isa little difficult to reconcile Lapouge’s statement as to 
the dying out of long-heads in cities (see Keane's ‘‘ Man, Past and Present,” 
p- 520) with his contention that the Mediterranean long-heads show a 
special suitability for such an existence. 
NO. 1546, VOL. 60] 
populations, especially those connected with the present 
preponderating increase of the former, will ensue from the 
steady pursuit of such studies, can but be the earnest hope 
of all those interested (and who is not ?) in the future of 
the higher branches of the human race. Rows 
LIMNOLOGY. 
The Microscopy of Drinking-Water. By G. C. Whipple, 
Biologist and Director of Mount Prospect Laboratory. 
Pp. xii + 300, and plates. (Brooklyn, N.Y.: Wiley 
and Sons. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1899.) 
Examination of Water (Chemical and Bacteriological). 
By W. P. Mason, Professor of Chemistry, Rensselaer 
Polytechnic. Pp. 135. (New York: Wiley and Sons. 
London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1899.) 
| Dien is an example of a class of books in the pro- 
duction of which the Americans are bidding fair 
to take a lead, the type of book which may be termed 
the popular practical scientific manual, where the limit- 
ation of the subject-matter and the thoroughness of treat- 
ment aimed at are worthy of the German, but devoid of 
that hair-splitting exactness which so often leads to 
obscurity ; while the general style and breadth of 
treatment are essentially English, and at the same time 
are saved from the superficiality too common in native 
technical treatises, by the industry and original ability 
of the energetic American. At the same time, the present 
work is not devoid of a certain diffuseness, which we 
think is referable to the author’s enthusiasm leading him 
into disquisitions too long for the proper purpose of the 
book, but which is possibly the more marked to us 
because he is writing about American waters in par- 
ticular, and about conditions not known in England. 
The title may seem to many to claim too much ; for 
Mr. Whipple puts aside at the outset all that relates to 
bacteria, and takes a very wide view of “ drinking-water.” 
He regards the subject of the examination of water as 
divisible into 
(1) Physical examination. 
(2) Biological examination. 
(1) Microscopical. 
(2) Bacteriological. 
(3) Chemical examination. 
A mode of classification which lands him in some incon- 
sistencies—for some Schizomycetes are dealt with later 
on—and would vitiate the work if it were not clearly 
set forth that he is concerned solely with that part of the 
microscopical examination of water which is not bac- 
teriological in the accepted sense of the word, and comes 
under the head of Limnology, dealing with those 
organisms which can be filtered out by means of fine- 
meshed nets or coarse filters incapable of keeping back 
water-bacteria. 
The position reminds us of Miss Kingsley’s diatribe 
against the utility of filters in West Africa. 
“A good filter is a very fine thing for clearing drink- 
ing water of hippopotami, crocodiles, water snakes, cat- 
fish, &c. . . . ; but if you think it is going to stop back 
the microbe of marsh-fever—my good sir, you are 
mistaken.” 
Mr. Whipple, however, does not attempt to stop the 
smaller organisms by his filters, but only deals with the 
