444 Duplicate Twins and Double Monsters 



thumb and eventually opens at the lower margin on the radial side, an 

 unusual position. The amount of curvature of the line is somewhat 

 less in y than in x, and the cause of this is evident in the difference of 

 position of the 1st triradius from which it arises, which in y is more 

 centrally placed (beneath the middle of the index finger), while in x 

 its position is unusually near the inner margin. This difference in 

 curvature is probably also the cause of the difference of relationship 

 between this line and the deep, curved wrinkle, the " line of life," which 

 in X is almost coincident with it, while in y it diverges widely, espe- 

 cially at its upper end. Lines B and C, those which arise from the 

 bases of the middle and ring fingers respectively, curve outwards and 

 upwards in both x and y and terminate eventually not far from one 

 another in the interval between the ring and little fingers. Here again 

 slight difl:erences in curvature, and consequently in the shape of the 

 areas which they define, may be noticed, but the similarities are far 

 more striking than the differences. Line D, arising from the base of 

 the little finger, curves around line B in both cases and opens in the 

 interval between the index and middle fingers. The curvature of this 

 line is in x slightly more abrupt and as a consequence it comes notice- 

 ably nearer to line B along that part of the course at which the two are 

 approximately parallel. In neither of the palms are there especial fig- 

 ures such as patterns or lower triradii. 



Farther examples of the correspondence of the main features in dupli- 

 cate palms may be seen by an inspection of the palm prints of the two 

 boys of the set of triplets {x and y of Figs. 8 and 9) since these are 

 as genuine a case of duplicate twins as though a fraternal sister had not 

 developed at the same time. These, although smaller and with finer 

 ridges than in the case of adults, are much more convincing studies than 

 are those just considered, since they possess numerous features other 

 than those of the main lines, all of which are duplicated with great 

 fidelity. While studying these, it will be of interest to compare them, 

 point by point, with their fraternal sister, to see the lack of correspond- 

 ence as well as the similar features which are liable to be found in any 

 children of the same parents, whether contemporary or not. 



Here, in the boys, the main lines of both hands are, with one slight 

 exception, as accurately duplicated as in the case of Ko. I, and the right 



Fig. 8. Prints of the left hands of a set of triplets (No. XII), aged four years. 

 Natural size. Lines of interpretation and other features marked with india ink. 

 The two boys (x and y) are duplicates ; the girl z is related to the others fraternally. 



Fig. 9. Prints of the right hands of No. XII. Natural size. [See explanation 

 under Fig. 8.1 For figures, see opposite page. 



