ConENso.—On the Maori Races of New Zealand. 341 
I. PHYSIOLOGICAL. 
1. Individual. 
1. In colour the New Zealanders varied more than those of any other of 
the Polynesian islanders. Various hues of olive, of yellow-brown, and of an 
approach to the copper-colour were common. A few were of fair complexion; 
while others were very dusky, particularly of the more northern tribes. Such 
colours, however, were not invariably perpetuated by descent; seeming rather 
to follow the abnormal law of all domesticated animals. 
2. In height they were generally above the middle stature, especially the 
chiefs; owing, no doubt, to more food and better nurture, as well as to 
blood. The women generally were smaller than the men. In figure both 
sexes were well proportioned, muscular, and fleshy, with good-sized calves. 
The men had often finely formed fingers and nails; and many of the women 
had beautifully small, delicate hands. Their knee joints were large, and their 
feet flat and broad, but not long. 
3. Their physiognomy varied much. Generally the open countenance, 
nose large and broad at the base but not very prominent, thickish lips, and 
dark eyes prevailed. Sometimes the nose was aquiline, but more often flat ; 
sometimes the whole face was a handsome oval, sometimes round ; mostly 
wearing an expression of cheerfulness and good humour. Rarely were the 
eyes light, never blue. The eyebrows much as in Europeans, but narrower, 
and seldom meeting over the nose; and the teeth beautifully regular and 
white, except in the case of the inland Rotorua and Taupo tribes, with whom 
the four front incisors were always discoloured. The head was generally 
well shaped, oval, with a fine forehead and well-developed cerebral regions. 
Sometimes the forehead assumed the Turanian type, giving almost a pyramidal 
appearance; and a few rare instances have been noticed of an approach to 
the peculiar Mongolian eye and eyebrows. Very rarely has any indication 
of the prognathous jaw been observed, while the orthognathous type is far 
from uncommon. ; 
4. As their complexions varied, so did their hair. Generally it was 
profuse, black, and waving, or slightly inclined to curl. Sometimes it was 
red, of which colour there were also many shades; and sometimes it was of 
a very peculiar shade for human hair, being of two colours—a dark reddish 
brown, having an inch or two of the tips somewhat flaxen, as if bleached. 
Sometimes it was lank, and sometimes it was excessively curled; and not 
unfrequently it was to be met with having a wiry appearance, as if every 
single hair was separately curled, and always in such cases rising high in a 
pyramidal form. With many, the beard, whiskers, moustache, &c., grew as 
profusely as with Europeans, and of much the same quality and colour; 
while a few only possessed a harsh, rigid moustache, and some (particularly 
