ON ANTHROPOMETRIC INVESTIGATION IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 359 
mental characters is very much more difficult than that of physical 
characters, and that it is necessary to proceed in a tentative and experi- 
mental spirit. They would especially insist on the difficulty of fixing any 
common standard and of obtaining returns which shall have an absolute 
value and shall be comparable with one another, except in so far as 
returns can be based on exact measurements made by the methods of 
experimental psychology. 
(AMENDED) INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RECORDERS, 
Mental characters are named, numbered, and briefly defined in this 
Schedule. 
The accompanying card bears a corresponding number of numbered 
spaces. 
b The Recorder should put the name of one subject (child, &c.) at the 
head of each card, and write in the space opposite each number one of 
the letters A, B, C, D, or £. 
These letters imply the following opinion on the part of the observer 
in respect to the mental characters of corresponding numbers :— 
A, High degree of development, intensity or strength of the character 
in question. 
B. A degree of development distinctly above the average. 
C. An average degree of development. 
D. Degree of development distinctly below the average. 
£. A marked deficiency of the character in question. 
An average degree of development is to be taken to mean such as 
would be exhibited by about 50 per cent. of any large number of normal 
persons of the same age, race, and class, this 50 per cent. group being 
made up of those who in respect to this character are nearest the mean. 
Classes B and D should contain about 20 per cent. each of any large 
number of normal subjects. 
Classes A and # about 5 per cent. each. 
The Recorder should fill in on each subject’s card only those 
characters in regard to which he feels able to express a confident opinion, 
and should leave all other spaces blank. 
It is suggested that the following procedure should be adopted when- 
ever possible, especially by those reporting on school-children : A table 
of thirty-four columns, numbered according to the list of characters, 
should be made on a large sheet of paper, and under each number the 
individuals of the group observed should be entered in the order of 
development of the corresponding character (those considered equal 
being bracketed together). This should be regarded as a first rough 
approximation only. From time to time the observer should go over his 
table, amending the order of names in each column in the light of his 
later observations. If this process were repeated once a month or 
oftener throughout a year’s intercourse with the group of individuals 
reported upon, it is probable that the final arrangement of each column 
would represent a great refinement upon the order first given. 
The words in popular usage by which mental characters are described are 
in many cases of a negative character. In the following list such words 
have been avoided and positive characters only are named ; ¢.g., laziness 
does not appear, because a high degree of laziness is the same character 
