828 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VoL. XXXIII. 
torical movements to topographical features that furnishes the most 
fruitful field for research. Head-form, pigmentation, and stature are 
the three physical characters selected as sufficient criteria for the 
determination of the distribution of the races of Europe. But the 
greatest of these is head-form, or cephalic index; it is beyond 
the reach of artificial selection, wonderfully persistent within the 
group, and is a character observable with ease and accuracy. The 
color of hair and eyes is a much more complex factor, more subject 
to individual variation, also to variation with age ; hair and eyes may 
be of the same color, or may vary independently of each other, and, 
finally, it is difficult to correct for the personal equation of different 
observers, so that “the precision of measurements upon the head is 
nowise attainable.” Professor Ripley considers the evidence as yet 
insufficient to determine the cause of pigmentation. ‘It is not cer- 
tain that the true cause lies in the modifying influences of climate 
alone.” With some reserve, he accepts Livi’s conclusion that blond- 
ness is due to unfavorable environment, yet inconsistently ascribes 
the blondness of the Teutonic peoples to that environment which 
has produced the most admirable physical type of all Europe ; to be 
sure he regards artificial selection as a factor in the development of 
both the blondness and the tall stature of the Teutons, but Wester- 
mark’s refutation of this hypothesis should be considered final. By 
the combination of these three traits, three races are formed — the 
Teutonic, Alpine, and Mediterranean. In an appendix an instruc- 
tive comparison is drawn between this simple classification and that 
by Dr. Deniker, who distinguishes six main and four secondary 
“varieties.” The Teutonic is regarded as the most characteristic 
and thus justifies the name— Homo europeus — bestowed upon it by 
` Lapouge. The broad-headed type is termed “Alpine” rather than 
“ Celtic,” as “ geographical names are least equivocal” and the “ Cel- 
tic question” involves the discussion of philological and archzo- 
logical data as well as somatological. The third “race” is long- 
headed, dark, and short in stature. 
The succeeding seven chapters deal with these races as they exist 
within the various national and linguistic divisions of Europe. 
While the Jews do not belong to any of these European races, their 
numbers — six or seven millions—and peculiar racial solidarity ren- 
der them of surpassing interest and importance to the anthropologist. 
Incidentally, Professor Ripley sounds a word of warning here: 
“This great Polish swamp of miserable human beings, terrific in its 
proportions, threatens to drain itself off into our country as well, 
