280 KEPORT— 1882. 



From the returns of height of adult males, as thus completed (num- 

 bering about 30,000), a map has been constructed by Mr. C. Roberts to 

 show the average stature of the adult male population (age from 23 to 50) 

 of the British Isles ; and an enlarged copy of this map, prepared at the 

 suggestion and expense of Mr. Haywood, will be published in the next 

 Report of the Committee. The higher statures are indicated in this 

 map by dark shades. Dr. Beddoe and Mr. Roberts call attention to the 

 following points of interest in this map, but they will be treated in gi'eater 

 detail in a future report. 



Ethnohgij. — The greatest stature is found in Scotland and the Norcli 

 of England, where the population is descended from the ancient Pictish 

 or Cimbro- British (Galloway), the Caledonii (Perthshire), the Anglo- 

 Danes and Norse (North and East Yorkshire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, 

 Lincoln and Nortolk), and the more purely Anglian tribes (Lothians, 

 Berwick and Northumberland). On the other hand, the shortest stature 

 is found in Wales, the Welsh border counties, and the South-West of 

 England, where the Iberian race is predominant. The counties inhabited 

 by men of more purely Saxon descent show a medium stature. 



(?eoZo(7//.— Allowing for the ethnological differences just mentioned, 

 the inhabitants of elevated districts possess -a greater stature than those 

 of alluvial plains. The river-valleys of the Severn, the Thames, the Dee 

 and Mersey, the Trent, and the fen district of Cambridge and Huntingdon 

 show a lower stature than the surrounding counties inhabited by persons 

 of a similar racial origin. 



Climate. — The stature of the inhabitants is greater in the northern 

 and colder than in the southern and warmer districts of the islands. 



Sanitary Surroundinrjs. — The counties which fringe the sea-coast pos- 

 sess a higher statui'e than those adjoining them but lying fui-ther inland. 

 The lower stature of the river valleys would seem to imply that such 

 situations are not favourable to physical development. The low position 

 of the West Riding of Yorkshire is due to the larger town population 

 included in the returns, and that of Durham to the larger mining pojiula- 

 tion. The very low position of the home counties — Hertford, Surrey, and 

 Middlesex — is probably due to their proximity to London. The more 

 vigorous men are attracted by higher wages, and the more feeble over- 

 flow into those districts. 



Ireland is A'ery imperfectly represented by the Committee's returns. 



The Committee has prepared a series of tables from the returns in its 

 possession, but as these are not yet complete, and there are still some 

 important matters to be considered, the Committee requests that it may 

 be reappointed, with the view of completing this part of the Report next 

 year, and digesting and presenting the fresh materials in connection with 

 those already laid before the Association. 



It is a duty which the Committee has pleasure in fulfilling to return 

 its best thanks to the observers, named in the foregoing lists, for the valu- 

 able information which they have furnished ; and also to express the 

 satisfaction of its members with the industry and intelligence of the 

 Assistant- Secretary, Mr. J. Henry Young, and to thank him for his 

 attention and useful services. 



