_The Two Groups._--Previously we have spoken of punishable offences committed by children; we pass now to consider those committed against children. These latter may be classified in two sub-groups. To the former group belong the punishable offences in which the primary aim is to injure or destroy a child. To the latter group belong offences against children in which the injury to the child is incidental. The precise line of demarcation between these two groups differs in the legal systems of different countries. The most important offences in the former group are: infanticide, the exposing of children, abortion (these three crimes occur chiefly in connection with the birth of illegitimate children), criminal offences against the chastity of women (for example, rape, seduction, procurement). It is only with regard to offences in this first group that statistical data are available. In association with the development of capitalism, there has been a great increase in their number. But, according to official statistics, there is not one of the offences above specified which occurs to the extent of 1 per cent. of all criminal offences; most of those named are considerably less than 1 per cent. In the case of the other criminal offences, only private statistical data are available. In respect of the offences comprising the second group, the important questions arise, whether there exist any mitigating or aggravating circumstances, such as that the offence was committed against a child, and not against an adult, or that it was committed, not against a stranger, but against one for whose instruction or upbringing the offender was responsible. Is it not desirable that the circumstance that the criminal offence was committed against a child should be stated in the law expressly as a reason for an increase in the severity of the punishment, or else that the law should give children, precisely because they are children, a higher degree of protection against certain offences? Owing to the fact that young people, in consequence of their physical weakness, are much less able than adults to resist aggression, there is every reason for the preferential legal protection of children. The protection should, indeed, be more effective the younger the child. For example, a child of ten can call for help, and can run away, but an infant is utterly defenceless. Punishable offences against children need to be severely punished, because they betray the existence of a coarse and rough disposition in the offender. It must be regarded as an aggravating circumstance when the offender is the person responsible for the child’s upbringing. And yet the criminal offences of parents, guardians, foster-parents, and teachers, against the children under their care, are often nothing more than a misuse in all good faith of the authority entrusted to them. Simply in the interests of the child, severe punishment is often undesirable, because of the