1884.] Recent Literature. 515 
edge of the subject was more complete before attempting to 
publish, 
Gatton’s Recorp oF Famiry Facutriss!—This book is a 
series of blanks designed for those who may desire to forecast the 
mental and bodily faculties of their children, and to further the sci- 
ence of heredity. As stated in the preface, the natural gifts of each 
individual being inherited from the ancestry, it is possible to fore- 
*e much of the latent capacities of a child in mind and body, of 
the probabilities of his future health and longevity, and of his 
tendencies to spécial forms of disease, by a knowledge of the 
traits of his ancestors. When the science of heredity shall have 
become more advanced, the accuracy of such predictions will 
mprove, and meanwhile we may feel assured that fewer blunders 
wil be made in rearing and educating children, under the guidance 
ofa knowledge of their family antecedents, than without it. 
tis to be hoped that those at all interested in the improvement 
€ race in general, as well as their own descendants, will 
make a fair trial by keeping such a record as this, and we hope 
of h 
| ting the introduction, and looking over the blanks, we 
! Ng obtain some idea of what of a practical nature is involved in 
| of s of heredity, Itis the custom with many to make light 
„eredity, as if there were little in the matter; whereas, the in- 
—y_ sent observer is well aware that, together with variation, 
OY is one of the twin forces in the world of life. 
o 
ands an equal recognition of all the lines. We 
remot r the insignificance of any single ancestor in a 
a degree, In the fourth generation backwards there are . 
x Record - i 
Si gied Family Faculties, consisting of tabular forms and directions for enter- 
Mecnillan g an explanatory preface, Aay Francis GALTON, F.R.S. Londen, 
Tot, go? 1884, gto, 
XVin,. 
ge THO. v. 
33 
