Bibliogr.

The study of the Canary Islanders illustrates the shift in view point among human biologists during the past century from an interest in typology to the present interest in population genetics. Earlier notions, derived from morphological observations, that a Negroid element existed in the population, are disproved by analysis of palmar dermatoglyphics and haptoglobin types. Neither of these genetically controlled characteristics reveals any Negroid affinities. It is furthermore clear that isolation and local environmental differences have led to some degree of morphological and even genetic variation within the living Canarian population.