6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [oct. 15, 
skulls are very prognathic, and the incisors of the women are 
artificially ground down so as to form a regular curve. 
The subject elicited an active discussion. Mrs. RANDALL- 
DIEHL inquired regarding the object of the practice of skull- 
flattening; and Dr. Brirron, as to whether the sizeof the brain- 
cavity is modified thereby. 
Dr. Boas replied that similar deformations of various parts of 
the body are practised all over the world among savage and 
semi-savage peoples. Asto the brain-cavity, he doubted whether 
the capacity was affected,—probably only the form; but it is 
hard to decide. 
Dr. BengAMIN Lord and Pror. MARTIN made inquiries and 
remarks as to the teeth, the latter observing that the wearing- 
down of the molars in savage and prehistoric skulls is frequently 
attributed to the use of crude and coarse food, hard broken 
grain, etc, 
Dr. Boas replied that in this instance the theory alluded to 
is not borne out, the principal food of these tribes being boiled 
salmon; but he referred to the Eskimo habit, especially among 
the women, of chewing leather and skins, to render them 
pliable, in the absence of any process of tanning. 
Pror. HuBBARD inquired as to the occurrence of normal skulls; 
and also remarked upon the great collections and extensive 
studies in craniology of the late Prof. Morton. 
Dr. Boas stated that he had found a few skulls that were not 
deformed, but could not be sure that they were those of full- 
blooded Indians. 
October 15, 1888. 
STATED MEETING. 
President NEWBERRY in the chair. 
Forty-two persons present. 
The resolutions voted at the last meeting, in regard to the 
resignation of Recording Secretary Fairchild, were presented 
and read by Pror. D. 8S. MartIN, as follows: 
