Acquired Modifications Heritable ? 105 



variations adapted them to the particular style 

 of environment. 



Since it seems impossible to settle this 

 doubtful point by observations in the field, the 

 biologist has had recourse to experiment. 

 There are a number of experiments that have 

 been unconsciously conducted by the race 

 for generations. Chinese women, from time 

 immemorial, have had their feet bound when 

 they were very little girls so as to pro- 

 duce the deformed, but stylish, foot. Here 

 is a modification which has been impressed 

 on the body of the Chinese women repeatedly, 

 and yet Chinese babies are born with as 

 perfect feet as any other babies. It is styhsh, 

 among the Flathead Indians, to possess a 

 forehead that slopes back from just over the 

 eyes to a peak at the top of the head. 

 To produce this feature, a board is bound on 

 the head of the growing Flathead Indian 

 baby. In spite of the fact that this cus- 

 tom has obtained for many centuries, the 

 babies persist in coming into the world with 

 perfectly normal heads. 



