LXXXIV. ASTRAGALUS IN THE MUNSEE AND IN UNITED STATES WHITES

MALES

--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------

|Specimens|Length,|Breadth,|Height,|Module |Breadth-|Height-

Group | |maximum|maximum |maximum| |length |length

| | | | | |index |index

--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------

| | _cm._ | _cm._ | _cm._ | _cm._| |

Munsee | (24) | 5.7 | 4.28 | 3.26 | 4.42 | 75.0 | 57.2

United | | | | | | |

States | | | | | | |

whites| (50) | 6.29 | 4.48 | 3.32 | 4.7 | 71.2 | 52.8

--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------

FEMALES

--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------

Munsee | (28) | 5.2 | 3.91 | 3 | 4.04 | 75.1 | 57.9

United | | | | | | |

States | | | | | | |

whites| (33) | 5.75 | 4.02 | 3.11 | 4.29 | 69.8 | 54

--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------

In the examination of the os calcis, special attention was directed to

its facets, especially the middle and anterior, for the astragalus.

Inspection of the corresponding facets on the astragalus shows that

these do not harmonize fully with those of the os calcis. They are

less differentiated and more frequently connected or fused. Thus we

have among 60 Munsee astragali, 28, or approximately 47 per cent which

show only one facet corresponding to the anterior and middle facets

of the calcaneus, without any dividing line; 29, or 48 per cent, with

one facet divided more or less completely by a ridge; and only three

specimens, or 5 per cent, in which there are two distinct facets,

though in but one of these are they separated by a moderate space. In

the astragalus of the whites the proportions of these different forms

are by no means the same as in the Munsee. Thus among 82 bones there

are but 24, or 29 per cent, with one facet not divided by any ridge;

35, or 43 per cent, with one facet divided by a ridge; and no fewer

than 23, or 28 per cent, of those in which there are two distinct

facets, in 19 of which they are completely separated by a narrow to

moderate space. The frequency of two facets well separated is therefore

much greater among the whites than among the Munsee, which is another

interesting distinction in the astragalus of these two groups and

possibly of the two races which they represent. This is the more

remarkable as no corresponding difference has been found in the facets

on the os calcis.

_Scaphoid_

There are three additional bones of the tarsus which deserve somewhat

detailed scrutiny, namely, the scaphoid or navicular, the cuboid, and

the internal cuneiform. Although irregular in shape, each one of these

bones yields to three measurements, which differ in the two sexes as

well as racially, and each presents a number of points for observation.

The measurements taken by the writer on the scaphoid as well as on the

other tarsal bones are, it may be repeated, the most practicable ones,

and relate as closely as possible to the three principal dimensions

of the specimens. In the case of the scaphoid they are the greatest

breadth, height, and stoutness.

The results of the measurements of the scaphoid in the Munsee appear in

the next table. The bone in the male is very perceptibly larger than

that in the female, and that of the right foot is in both sexes and in

all dimensions somewhat larger than that of the left. These conditions

are shown nicely by the module or mean diameter of the bone.

The three measurements give rise to two indexes, which indicate the

relative proportions of the scaphoid. The height-breadth index is

somewhat larger on both sides in the females than in the males, which,

as will readily be seen by reference to the actual dimensions, is due

to the relatively greater breadth of the Munsee scaphoid in the males.

No special difference is observable on the two sides of the body in the

males, but in the females the right bone is relatively higher than the

left.

The stoutness-breadth index offers no special differences either on the

two sides or in the two sexes.

Physical anthropology of the Lenape or Delawares, and of the eastern Indians in general · 第 161 / 191 题