124 BUKEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



more than 5 per cent of the cases in both tribes, consists in the pres- 

 ence of an additional cusp on one or both the upper lateral incisors. 

 In the Indians the upper incisors of the second dentition are ventrally 

 deeply concave and shovel-like, differing in this respect from the form 

 usually found in whites. With this character (thus far apparently 

 ignored) it is occasionally found that the median point ventrally on 

 one or both the lateral (very rarely median) incisors develops into a 

 cusp, which when more pronounced gives the tooth nearly the appear- 

 ance of a bicuspid. 



The second variety of anomaly is a characteristic supernumerary 

 dental element between or in the neighborhood of 

 the upper median incisors. This tooth, designated 

 ' ' X " in the author's notes, presents in a large majority 

 of cases a typical form (fig. 2). It has only a mod- 

 erately long root and a regularly conical, more or less 

 sharp, enamel-covered, free extremity. It erupts 

 seemingly about or slightly after the appearance of 

 the median incisors, and may be displaced forward, 

 ^ „ . backward, or laterally. It is found in children of 



Fig. 2. A supernu- . ' -^ 



mary tooth (X) oc- both tribes and both sexes, and occurs also among 

 curringwith some . ^^j^^^ Indians. In one instance (case 831) there were 



frequency among . t i •£ 



the Apache and two of thesc straugc teeth. There is very httle, it 

 the Pima. ^^^^^^ chaiice of this anomalous tooth being confounded 



with a persistent first incisor. 



The writer has arrived at no definite explanation respecting either 

 the supernumerary incisor cusps or the "x" dental element. Very 

 rarely one or the other is observed in whites. The cusps may be 

 regarded as in line of further specialization, while the "x" tooth 

 seems to be a reversion to an ancient (carnivora, or more remote) 

 feature, perpetuated and perhaps to a certain extent locally multi- 

 plied through heredity. 



The following list gives in detail the cases of all except the cusp 

 anomalies. The percentage of occurrence of "x" in the two tribes 

 examined is even somewhat larger, for undoubtedly in a number of 

 instances not detected or otherwise learned of the displaced extra 

 tooth had been removed before an opportunity was had to examine 

 the child. 



Dental anomalies, by iTidividnals 



464. Mescalero boy, 112.6 cm. tall (approximately 6 years old): Has in the upper jaw 

 6 teeth anterior to the canines, 4 being first dentition incisors and 2 supernu- 

 merary. The extra tooth on each side is small and so much like the lateral 

 incisors, also smaller than usual, that it was impossible to say which was which. 



659. San Carlos girl, 118.3 cm. tall (approximately 7 years old): The right lower 

 lateral incisor and the neighboring canine, both of first dentition, are smaller 

 than those of the opposite side and so close together that they appear like one 

 tooth. All the upper front teeth are in a symmetrical arch and not crowded. 



