208 report— 1879. 



collected since. The difference is due to the more rapid growth, and the 

 attainment of maturity at an earlier age, of females than males, for we 

 find that the curve representing females between the ages of 11^ to 18^ 

 is almost identical with the curve representing males between the ages of 

 14^ and 21^ years, these two periods corresponding with each other in 

 the physical development of the two sexes. It is probable that the curve 

 representing males from 11 to 14 years is depressed a little by school life 

 and the earlier occupation of boys than girls, but the chief difference is 

 obviously attributable to the quicker development of girls, as it is found 

 to exist in all classes of the community. The large number of observations 

 included in my tables show that the difference is constant, and it must there- 

 fore be accepted as a fact essential to the proper study of the growth of 

 civilised races, no matter from what cause it may arise.' 



The attention of the Committee has been directed to the progress of 

 anthropometric research in other countries. The ' Annals of Statistics ' 

 for 1878, published by the Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and Com- 

 merce of Italy, has two anthropometric papers of considerable interest 

 directly bearing on the subject of this Committee's inquiry. The first is 

 by Dr. L. Pagliani on the development of the human body. Referring 

 to his own work 'Sopra alcuni fattori dello sviluppo umano,' to Dr. 

 Bowditch's investigations as to the growth of children, and to ' Die 

 Entwickelung des Menschen in den der Geschlechtsreife vorangehenden 

 spateren Kindesjahren und im Jiinglingsalter (von 7 bis 20 Jahren) in 

 Verhaltniss zum Geschlecht, zur Ethnographie und zu den Nahrungs- und 

 Lebens-Bedingungen in Moleschott's Untersuchungen zur Naturlehre des 

 Menschen und der Thiere,' Dr. Pagliani confirms the observation of Dr. 

 Bowditch that up to 10 years of age the stature and weight of children 

 of both sexes present but little difference, though they are always in 

 favour of boys ; that from 10 to 15 years of age the difference becomes 

 greater, and is always in favour of girls ; and that after 15 the boys 

 reassert their superiority, and are found to be taller and heavier. Dr. 

 Pagliani also confirms Mr. Roberts's observation that the economic 

 condition of the child has much influence on his, or her, weight and 

 stature. In weight and stature alike the children of the labouring 

 classes stand lower than the children of the well-to-do classes. This 

 is the result of a considerable number of observations in Tui-in, and 

 is fully borne out by the diagram which accompanies the memoir. 

 Signor Cesare Lombroso in his paper ' On the Anthropometry of the 

 Lucchesia and Garfagnana ' endeavours to prove from the high stature, 

 black hair, formation of the head, tending to the dolichocephalic, or 

 head of the African type, i.e. one with its diameter from side to side 

 notably shorter than the diameter from front to back, the opposite 

 to brachycephalic, and from other distinctive characteristics, that the 

 people of those States come from the old Etruscan race. Both memoirs 

 illustrate in a conspicuous manner the utility and importance of the in- 

 quiry which our Committee has undertaken to institute. M. Quetelet's 

 work upon 'Man (Sur l'homme et le developpement de ses facultes),' is well 

 known. But at this moment extensive inquiries in the same direction are 

 being made in Germany, the United States, and other countries. Recent 

 political events, moreover, have imparted a fresh interest on questions of 

 races, and if we are able to extend our researches over all the portions of 

 the British Empire, the home of so many races, we may contribute largely 



