SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OF MAN. 169 



. In Europe the human stature varies from four feet 

 and a half to six feet. Individuals of six feet and 

 some inches are not uncommon. In various parts 

 of the world, men have reached to the height of 

 seven, eight, or nine, feet ; beyond this, the accounts 

 seem fabulous: the large bones on which such 

 stories have been founded, modern science has 

 ascertained to belong to other animals. 



Among individual instances of diminutiveness in 

 the human species, authentic accounts go as low 

 as twenty-one inches. 



In the Caucasian variety there are no strongly 

 marked national deviations from the ordinary 

 stature. In some parts of Switzerland and Sweden, 

 the natives are rather distinguished for height. The 

 Finlanders are rather short. The Latin writers have 

 remarked the stature of the ancient Germans ; it is 

 probable that they did not exceed the modern Ger- 

 mans in this particular. 



The Americans exhibit greater varieties in stature 

 than the Europeans. The Peruvians are generally 

 low, but well proportioned. The people of Terra 

 del Fuego are small and ugly ; so are the tribes of 

 Nookta Sound. The Chaymas of South America 

 are short, while the Payaguas, the Guayquilits, 

 and the Caribees are almost gigantic. Many of the 

 Canadian tribes are very tall. The accounts of 

 travellers respecting the Patagonians, have been 

 various and contradictory ; from a careful com- 

 parison of statements, we conclude the average 

 height of this nation to be from five feet ten inches 

 to six feet and a half. 



