We can often tell by the appearance of a person to what nation he belongs. Thus we can say of a person that he appears to be an American, an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, etc., as the case may be. But though there are differences between the types of these and other nations, we often find an individual American who resembles, say, an individual German, or a Frenchman who resembles an Italian.

But if we compare any of these with a Chinaman, we never find such a resemblance; there are always many differences easy to see. Still less are we likely to be in any doubt in distinguishing between an American or a Chinaman and a negro. Taking into account the resemblances and differences between peoples of different nations, we are able to collect all the races of the earth into a number of groups. The members of each group have numerous resemblances to other members of the same group, while having strong unlikenesses to the members of other groups.

These great groups are at most five in number, and three of them are, at any rate, far more important than the other two. These three most important groups are: (1) the Caucasian group, or white race; (2) the Mongolian group, or yellow race, of which the Chinaman may be taken as the example; and (3) the Ethiopian group, or black race, of which the negro is the type.

The other groups that are sometimes added are (4) the copper-colored North and South American Indians, or red race, and (5) the Malays and Polynesians, or brown race. It is now, however, generally held that the American Indians are a branch, in distant times, from the Mongolian group, as they have many points in common with them. We can trace the mountain ridge of Asia, by way of the Aleutian Islands, to North America. If in times gone by the land was higher than at present, the ridge, the summits of which now form the Aleutian Islands, was dry land, along which the peoples could pass from one continent to the other.

The Malays and Polynesians are believed to be a mixed race, mainly Mongolian, of comparatively recent origin. We may therefore regard the two smaller groups as members of the Mongolian group, and include all the peoples of the earth under the three great groups-Caucasian, Mongolian, and Ethiopian.

The most striking feature of the members of the Caucasian group is the general whiteness of the skin. There are, however, two different types of this group: first, the fair-skinned type, often florid or ruddy, with fair or brown hair and blue or brown eyes; secondly, the swarthy-skinned, sometimes brown, type, with dark hair and eyes. Other features of the Caucasian group are the generally regular features and oval faces, and a stature above the average.

The distinguishing features of the Mongolian race are the dull yellowish skin, sometimes passing into brown in color, black, coarse straight hair, almond-shaped slanting eyes, high cheekbones, and flat features.

The Ethiopian races are marked by blackish or jet-black skins, by short, woolly, jet-black hair, prominent eyes, high cheek-bones, broad flat noses, and thick lips.

These three great divisions are also widely different in mental characteristics. The Caucasian group is by far the most highly developed mentally, and possesses the most active and enterprising temperament. The Mongolian group is characterized by a sluggish and silent temperament. Hence the members of this group tend to settle down without wish for further progress. Hence, too, they generally show a great power of endurance. The Ethiopian group is very much the lowest in point of development. Among its members are to be included most of the really savage races. They are self-indulgent and averse to mental exertion, fitful in character, and they readily pass from mirth to cruelty.

The Caucasian group had for its original home the districts round the Mediterranean in Western