MEMOIKS OF TUE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ISCIENOES. 209 



aiioiiialifs ill tlit^ l)r(■lllatlln^ iiiiinii ot'tlic cranial sutures, as well as the loss of tho teeth and the 

 ai)sori)ti(>u of the alveoli, exist; hut wo are persuaded to believe that the series is a fairly typical 

 one and exhibits the normal onidition of this race in these jjarticulars. 



It may be urged tiiat the determination of age ujion the basis which we have adojited is not 

 suilicieutly accurate for purposes of this kind; but there are few anatomists who would liesitati'. 

 to pronounce judguient upon the age of a skull from the evidences which we have (!ited. At all 

 events, we leel that we are entirely within the bounds of reasonable judgment when we say that 

 the classes >' Old " and " Very Old " pertain to individuals not under 35 years of age. 



Of the class •' Very Old" there are 13examples of thehyoid, in which union of the great cornua 

 with the body is found in 3. In these 3 cases the union is partial, for it is only upon the left 

 side that it exists. It should be stated that in 1 other of these 13 cases the hyoid is represented 

 by one of the great cornua only, so that it is impossible to say whether partial union existed or 

 not upon the ojjposite side iu the case. 



Of the class ''Old" we have 4-1 specimens iu which bony union of the great cornua with the 

 body of the hyoid exists on both sides in 2, <m the left side in l,and on the right side in 1, making 

 4 in all. Of these examples 1) are represented by one of the great cornua only, so that it is imjjos- 

 sible ti) say whether partial bony union existed upon the opposite side or not. In all the 4 cases 

 iu which partial or complete bony union is found we have discovered skeletal disturbances iu the 

 way of exostoses, unusual anchylosis, etc., which would naturally lead to the belief that the union 

 of the hyoid elements was an abnormal condition as well. Be this as it may, however, it will be 

 seen that the percentage of union is very small. Taking both classes iu which there are 7 ciiossi- 

 flcations iu 57 specimens, we have a percentage of only over 12 as against Co and 77 of the white 

 and negro, respecti^vely. 



This difference is marked, and in our judgment can not be accounted for upon any other 

 hypothesis than that of a natural anatomical distinction which these people possess. In the 

 paper which Dr. ten Kate and the writer prepared upon this material we stated at that time-^ 



That owing to the lack of materials for proper comparison we are unable to make any satisfactory deduction 

 respecting tho hyoid at this particular time, and what we here note must be regarded as merely a statement of fact 

 to be correlated iu its proper place. * * If, on the other hand, wo are to accept the statements of many of 

 the anatomists we have already quoted, then we can say that the very high percentage of free hyoidean dementa 

 which we have found in these aniuent people distinguishes them markedly from some other races. If, again, it is 

 found that this condition of the hyoid is general iu North American Indians, as well perhaps as some other races, it 

 woulil be interesting to know iu what w.ay, if any, it is associated with their language. 



These surmises were probably correct, and there appear to be marked distinctions between 

 the hyoidean apparatus of these ancient Saladoans on the one hand and the whites and negroes 

 on the other, a distinction which is indicated by the i)ercentages already set forth. 



In a series of 17 specimens recently received from the ancient cemeteries in the vicinity of 

 Znni, New Mexico, there are 4 showing bony union of the great cornua and 13 are free. A careful 

 insi)ection of the skeletons to which they belong gives an indication of age from at least 35 years 

 and upwards. The percentage in this case is 23 and a little over. 



From a few specimens (9 in all) of hyoids of the so-called Mound Builders there are 4 coossi- 

 fications, giving a percentage of 44 and a fraction; but this series is too small to be of much value 

 to us. 



Regarding the lesser cornua we have not devoted that attention to them that we have given 

 to the greater cornua and body of the hyoid: but if we are to judge from what Prof. Thomas 

 Dwight, of the Harvard Medical School, says, it would seem that they may be entirely absent. In 

 a letter transmitting the record of observations given above, he writes: 



The result of the examination of tho lesser horns is rather surprising, as it shows that they are very rarely united 

 to the body of tho bone, that tlie mode of connection with the body varies, and that one or both may bo entirely 

 wanting. In only one of tho 33 hyoids were both lesser horns coossilied, and in only 4 others was a single horn thus 

 united. It is generally taught that the joint between the body and lesser horn is synovial. This is certainly true 

 in many cases but not in all. Sometimes the lesser horn is attached by ligament, and at least in one case I have foand 

 jt held by muscular libers. In other cases, owing chiefly to tho parts having become dry, it was impossible to decide 

 whether this was a true synovial joint or not. In several civses one or both the lesser horns were not found, and it 

 W£8 not always possible to determine whether the absent piece had been lost or had never existed. It was, however, 

 S. Mis. 169 14 



