MODERN VIEWS ON EVOLUTION 177 



dismissed by Prichard as 'without foundation'; while 

 as to the suggestion of Dr. Smith, together with that 

 of Buffon and the older writers upon the effect of 

 latitude, he observes that the principal observations on 

 which it is based are correct. ' It is certain that the 

 majority of black races of men are inhabitants of the 

 intertropical regions, and that most of the light-coloured 

 nations, . . . are to be found in cold or temperate climates.' 

 But although he admits the fact, he maintains that it 

 is capable of ' a different interpretation from that which 

 modern writers have in general adopted '. He similarly 

 admits that the skin of a European is darkened by 

 the sun, and continues : 'It seems, at first, not very 

 improbable, that individuals, darkened by exposure to 

 heat in southern climates, may have an offspring of 

 deeper colour in consequence, and if this effect increases 

 in every generation it may be thought sufficient, in a 

 long course of ages, to produce a black colour of the 

 deepest tint.' But this view does not by any means 

 commend itself to him ; for he continues, ' that this 

 notion, however, is altogether incorrect I venture to 

 conclude from the following considerations. 



' 1. The progeny of individuals, embrowned by ex- 

 posure to the sun, is born with the original complexion, 

 and not with the acquired hue of the parents.' Further- 

 more, he points out that white and black races moved 

 respectively to tropical and temperate climates have 

 retained their original colour for ages. The second 

 consideration which leads him to reject the above- 

 mentioned conclusion is very significant, and I give it 

 in his own words (p. 532) : — 



' 2. The supposition is contrary to a general law 

 of the animal economy, according to which, acquired 

 varieties are not transmitted from parents to their 

 offspring, but terminate in the generation in which 

 they have taken their rise.' 



The succeeding two Sections are allotted to the con- 

 siderations contained in paragraphs 1 and 2. 



Section ii (p. 532) is headed, Instances showing the 

 Permanency, of Complexion in different Races. The 



POULTON N 



