D. Heron 
371 
106 out of 294 or 36*1 % died before 20. The average age at death among the 
fathers is 61 years, but among the children it is only 36 years, so that there is an 
anticipation of 25 years. To borrow Dr Mott's words, the figures clearly show 
the signal tendency among the offspring to die at a much earlier age than 
their parents ; that is to say, anticipation or antedating is the rule. 
Age at Death. 
0- 20- 40- 60- 80- 
i ?80 
?60 
Unselected IjS' 
It. 40 
Data g 
f^-S 20 
Children who 80 
^ c, 
died within ''^ ^ 60 
40 years of their -1^ 
Fathers' death ^ s 20 
1 
1 
Children who ^ 80 
died within ^ ^ 60 
30 years of their 4Q 
Fathers' death ~ 20 
5^5. 80 
Children who "5,5 
1!^60 
died in their 
e ^' 
s-g 40 
Fathers' lifetime « 2 
c^-S 20 
0- 20- • 40- 60- 80- 
Age at Death. 
Fig. 6. Diagram to illustrate the Effect of Selection of Material upon the Distribution of 
Age at Death. (Eeigning Houses in Europe, 18th Century.) 
Now in this material there is no selection of families. Every family was taken 
and the age at death of every first-born is known, so that we are only left with the 
