MODERN VIEWS ON EVOLUTION 191 



the work treats Of the Relation of particular Varieties 

 of the Human Species to Climates. 



Prichard evidently thought that adaptation of races to 

 climate is especially characteristic of the human species, 

 and must be admitted to hold in certain instances, what- 

 ever be thought of his hypothesis that ' the varieties in 

 the species of animals proceed from a principle in nature, 

 modifying the structure and constitution of races, and 

 adapting them to the physical circumstances under which 

 these races may be destined to exist . . . '. He con- 

 siders that the distribution of the races of men bears 

 'a certain relation to climates', and gives a broad sketch 

 of the geographical arrangement of races in support of 

 this opinion. At the conclusion, after inquiring how it 

 is that ' these varieties are developed and preserved in 

 connexion with particular climates and differences of local 

 situation ', he gives the following very significant answer : 

 * One cause which tends to maintain this relation is 

 obvious. Individuals and families, and even whole 

 colonies, perish and disappear in climates for which they 

 are, by peculiarity of constitution, not adapted. Of this 

 fact proofs 1 have been already mentioned.' We have here 

 the undoubted recognition of Natural Selection, and it is 

 remarkable that a man of such penetration who recognized 

 fully that domestic breeds are due to man's selection, 

 should not have seen in this principle a larger importance 

 and have extended it to the relations of species to each 

 other as well as to their physical environment. Great as 

 Prichard was, he did not appreciate the most pressing 

 part of the ' struggle for existence '. 



Prichard furthermore considers it probable that there 

 are local influences which 'promote the appearance of 

 those varieties which are best suited to them, or tend to 

 give rise to their production in the breed '. He freely 

 admits that this conclusion conflicts with his contention in 

 Section ii, that the colour of a race is not permanently 

 affected by a change of climate, and, he might have added, 

 conflicts equally strongly with his argument in Section iii, 

 that acquired characters are not transmitted. However, 

 he is so fascinated by the view of a local influence directly 



