The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-15
COLOR AS A TEST OF RACE.
Results OF Scottish Survey Among
School Children.

Mr. J. F. Tocher. F. L. c., Peterhead.
delivered an interesting address before
the Educational Institute of Scotland
at Dumfries yesterday on the pigmen-
tation survey of Scottish school chill
dren made in 1903 The survey was
under the direction of a committee of
which Sir William Turner, principal Of
Edinburgh university, was chairman.
Mr. Tocher said that altogether 2,288
returns had been made, containing the
record of the color characters and 9TH
er particulars of 257, 766 children. It
might reasonably be asked what fnfor-
nation was expected from an analysis
of the elaborate data collected and
bearing on the fermentation character
istics of the school children. In the
first place, information would be given
with respect to racial characters. 1t
was generally admitted that, so far as
European races were concerned. color
formed one of the tests of race. The
man in the street could spot the racial
origin of an adult possessing pure blue
eyes and the typical fair hair of the
Teuton. But neither the man in the
street nor the anthropologist could say
what proportion of the blonde type ex-
listed in the population of the British
Isles without first directly ascertaining
the fact. So far as color could de-
termine race the test had been employ
ed with interesting results. There was
distinct evidence of the presence Of the
Teutonic type throughout almost the
whole of Scotland, and especially in the
north and the border. 1t was also clear
that in the Highlands not one, but at
least two types existed side by SIDE
The proportion of fair haired persons in
Scotland was small compared with
North Germany-25 per cent as cOmpar-
ed with 80 per cent Indeed, the dis
tribution of hair color in Scotland diff
fered widely in every respect, COM
pared with Germany and Sweden on
the one hand, and Italy and Switzer-
land on the other. 1t had to be recog-
nized that in each case not one race.
but mixture of races, was being con-
sidered. But in all the European coun-
tries mentioned there was a distinct
predominance of one type over the 9TH
erS. In the case of North Germany and
Sweden it was the blonde type; in It
ally it was the brunette type. No such
predominance of one type was found in
Scotland. Dark hair and fair were
present in equal proportions when the
country was considered as whole. The
dominant color among Scottish children
was brown-the various shades of
brown classed as medium. It had yet
to be shown how far brown was really
blend of fair and dark. If brown was
altogether a blend of fair and dark,
then there was evidence of the forma-
ton of a new type In Scotland-the
Scottish type.
A very interesting problem was the
occurrence of the various shades of
red hair IN the population. Was red
hair racial feature? II not, what was
| the cause of the occurrence of red hair ?
The proportion existing throughout the
country was q small one-a little over
5 per cent. This percentage-small as
| it was-was high compared with the
proportion found on the continent. One
could not overlook the reference Of
Tacitus to the red-haired Caledonians;
and it was a curious circumstance that
distinct excess over the general popu-
lation found in the country was found
| to occur north of the GrampianS. The
northeast of Scotland had a distinct
excess of red hair among the adult in
mates Of asylums,9 and since no special
connection existed between insanity
and red hair, 1t might reasonably be
concluded that among the adult normal
population Of the north of Scotland a
greater proportion Of this class existed
than elsewhere throughout Scotland.
Some curious facts, however, were
brought to light which suggested that
| red hair was not entirely or strictly a
| racial trait. 1t might have some Pc
culiar physiological If not PATHOLOGY
cal, connection. rod .s- ~
In conclusion, Mr. Tocher said that
with regard to the chief towns they
were, on the while, representative of
| the remarkable population, but Glas-
gov was a remarkable exception By
| means of the color statistics supplied
| by the Glasgow teachers he had been
| able to detect an appreciable foreign
element in Glasgow. In the main the
difference between the distribution OF
color in Glasgow and the general pop
ulation was due to the presence of
| Irish children and children of foreign
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Guardian.