322 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



whicli the hair of many of the men was cnt, which often rendered dis- 

 tinction of shade very difficult. Owing to the season most of the 

 observations had to be made in the morning when the people were 

 going to their work, or early in the evening when they were returning, 

 or gathered around their cottage doors ; in many cases, however, they 

 were followed to the harvest field and measured there. 



The taking of photographs did not, as elsewhere, cause the assembly 

 of the knot of spectators which usually affords so good an opportunity 

 for the collection of eye and hair colours ; it had rather the opposite 

 effect, as the people have a strong dislike to having their portraits 

 taken. 



In spite of these difficulties, however, I succeeded in noting the 

 eye and hair colours of 241 individuals, on 40 of whom (being about 

 one-fifth of the adult males of the islands) measurements and other 

 observations were taken. 



Care was exercised that none of those measured should be entered 

 in the ordinary nigrescence cards, as well as to avoid recording the 

 same individual twice or the noting of persons who were not natives. 



(e). Photography. — For the reasons ali-eady mentioned there could 

 not be as much done in this department as had been hoped ; but, in 

 spite of the strong aversion shown by many of the people to having 

 their portraits taken, and the strong winds prevailing during our stay, 

 my brother, J. M. Browne, who accompanied me to do the necessary 

 photography, succeeded in obtaining a considerable number of typical 

 groups, as well as some single portraits in full face and profile, and a 

 series of views illustrative of the modes of life and environment of the 

 people. 



2. — Physical Chaeactees. 



(a). The people, on the whole, much resemble the inhabitants of 

 the opposite coast of Connemara, and their appearance testifies to a 

 mixed origin. The following is believed to be a correct description of 

 their average physical characters : — 



Stature and hulk. — The men, as a rule, are stoutly built, and of 

 medium height ; very few can fairly be termed tall, and there is a very 

 considerable proportion of men of low statiu'e. The average height is 

 1633 mm., or about 5 feet 6|- inches, which falls short of the Irish 

 mean stature as found by Gould, the Anthropometric Committee of the 

 British Association, and others, by about two inches. 



The women are of a slighter build than the men, and, apparently, 

 more even in height ; they also show more strikingly that great simi- 



