Stature of the Men oj lloxhurijh and Selkirk. 317 



23 years as the period when the human frame generally 

 attains its full development. In the army a second measure- 

 ment of the soldier used to be taken, for record in the 

 books, at the age of 24. In the following figures, however, 

 I have included all whose heights are recorded above the 

 age of 20. I am of opinion that, with only occasional 

 exceptions, the full height, though not the full " bulk," is 

 attained at, or very shortly after, the completion of 20 years 

 of age ; while I estimate that any slight diminution, which 

 might be due to the inclusion of a small number of men 

 between 20 and 23 years, will be counterbalanced by the 

 tendency to error in the direction of increase in the process 

 of taking the measurements, for, while it is believed these 

 are substantially accurate, still any slight error, when fractions 

 of an inch are being dealt with, would naturally be apt to 

 be rather over than under the perfectly exact line. 



In the Border Rifles the order was that the height should 

 be taken in stocking soles, or 1 inch to be deducted if 

 taken in boots, and that it should be recorded to the eighth 

 of an inch. 



The minimum standard laid down by the War Office for 

 Infantry Volunteers is the very low one of 5 feet 3 inches 

 in height, and 32 inches chest measurement. In this regiment, 

 however, the standard was fixed, in 1867, at 5 feet 5 inches 

 in height, and 33 inches chest measurement, with an inch 

 allowed off in both cases for lads between 17 and 20 years 

 of age, and with a proviso that men of otherwise good 

 physique might be specially enrolled at 5 feet 4 inches, it 

 being, of course, recognised that many men of this height 

 are stronger and really more efficient, as soldiers, than others 

 who may be some inches taller. It must be confessed that 

 there was sometimes a difficulty in getting this Regimental 

 standard very strictly adhered to, from the anxiety of officers 

 of Volunteer companies to keep up or increase their numbers. 



Besides leaving out all Volunteers under the age of 20, 

 an endeavour has been made, as far as possible, to set aside 

 such as were not natives of the Border district. Not only 

 all who were actually known not to be such, but all bearing 

 distinctively English, Irish, Highland, or Galloway surnames 

 have been thus taken out, although it cannot be guaranteed 

 that this eliminating process has been completely effectual. 



