512 , REPORT— 1895. 



customs, superstitions and other traditions comprehended under the con- 

 venient expression of Folklore. 



The inquiry has ah-eady been taken up with earnestness in some dis- 

 tricts, and valuable results have been obtained ; and the Committee think 

 that, when once its importance to the right understanding of the history 

 and characteristics of the races of these islands is fully appreciated, little 

 difficulty will be found in organising measures in every county for collect- 

 ing and collating the information. The report of a committee appointed 

 by a local society would not only be gratefully received by the Ethno- 

 graphical Survey Committee ; but it might also be embodied in the trans- 

 actions of the local society, and thus form a substantial contribution to 

 the history and archaeology of the county. 



The Committee will be pleased to arrange for the loan of a set of in- 

 struments, if desired, to any member of your Society who may undertake 

 the physical measurements. If the procuring of photographs be found to 

 involve expense beyond that which your Society is prepared to meet, the 

 Committee will be glad to be informed, in order that, if practicable, they 

 may make some contribution towards it. I may observe, however, that 

 many local societies are now undertaking a photographic survey of their 

 neighboui'hoods ; and where this is in progress the photographing of typical 

 inhabitants will not entail much additional labour or cost, while it will 

 add greatly to the value of the survey. I shall be obliged by your inform- 

 ing me what number of measurements of individuals you think your 

 Society may be able to obtain, so that the necessary copies of the form 

 may be sent. 



APPENDIX II. 



Circular to Medical Men. 



Dear Sir, — I am desired by the Ethnographical Survey Committee of 

 the British Association to transmit to you herewith a copy of the forms, 

 of schedules that have been prepared for the purpose of the inquiry 

 entrusted to them into the physical and mental characteristics of the races 

 of the United Kingdom, and to express the hope that you may be able to 

 assist them by obtaining a series of the physical measurements of indi- 

 viduals who appear to you to be typical of the district in which you reside. 

 It is suggested that those individuals should be selected whose parents 

 and progenitors have lived in the district as far back as can be traced. 



You will observe that the desire of the Committee is to correlate the 

 physical racial peculiarities of the inhabitants of various districts with 

 their history as shown by archaeological remains, and with the manners 

 and customs, superstitions and other traditions, comprehended under the 

 convenient expression of Folklore. If your opportunities of observa- 

 tion should enable you, in addition, to fill up any of the schedules relating 

 to these branches of the inquiry, or if you should be in a position to induce 

 friends who have devoted attention to them to furnish the requisite 

 information, the Committee would be much indebted to you for so doing. 



The apology the Committee offer for asking assistance from so busy a 

 man as yourself, is that your contributions to the Collective Investigation 

 Committee of the British Medical Association have shown that you are 

 not unwilling to give valuable time to public service of this kind. 



