PIGMENTATION IN OLD AMERICANS HRDLICKA. 



451 



Color of skin. 



The above figures .show that in a little over seven-tenths of the 

 cases in men and in over three-fourths of the women the color of the 

 skin of the Old Americans may be classed as medium ; that, particu- 

 larly in the males, there is in health but a small proportion of lights, 

 but that a very appreciable minority possess skin that, while far 

 from really dark, is perceptibly " swarthier " or darker than the 

 medium. 



There is throughout the series a somewhat greater inclination 

 toward pigmentation of the skin among the males than among the 

 females. This to some extent is probably connected with more ex- 

 posure among the males, but it does not seem to be due to this alone. 

 The whole showing is rather noteworthy, for, as will be seen pres- 

 ently, it is not paralleled by the pigmentation of other features. 



A study of the correlation of the skin color with that of the hair 

 and eyes gives results that are very interesting. There were recorded 

 one " light " skinned male and thirteen females, and the correspond- 

 ing hair and eye colors were: 



Correlation of color of hair and eyes with the color of the skin in Old Americans. 



LIGHT SKIN. 



All the subjects with light skin are, it is seen, blonds or near blonds, 

 with a few reds. There appears therefore to be a positive correlation 

 between a lighter than ordinary skin and light hair and eyes. Where- 

 ever there is a subpigmentation of the skin, there is also in our sub- 

 jects a feeble pigmentation of the eyes and hair. But the rule does 



