56 CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF 



" To judge by the eye one would place the degree of pilaster at 5 in a table 

 limited by the terms and 6. But in the absence of the extremities a misjudgment 

 is easy. 



" Bj- determining the minimum width and the maximum antero-posterior diame- 

 ter of the bone in the middle region where the femur shows the least thickness the 

 following figures are obtained : width 23 millimeters, antero-posterior diameter 35 

 millimeters, giving as the index of the transverse section of the femur 152 - 2, the 

 width being taken as 100. 



" The method of the minimum and of the maximum is the one which I employ. 

 One might present the objection that it is necessar}^ to take the two measurements 

 at the same level. But what level shall we choose ? The mimimum width does not 

 occur at the same point as the maximum antero-posterior diameter ; it is found at a 

 point 45 millimeters higher up. If both measurements are taken at this level we 

 have, width 23, antero-posterior diameter 34, index 147 - 8. If, on the other hand, 

 we make both measurements at the level of the maximum antero-posterior diameter 

 we have, width 24, antero-posterior diameter 35, index 146 - 6. The difference is 

 appreciable. To escape the difficulty we could take the level midway between these 

 two, giving, width 23, antero-posterior diameter 34 - 5, index 150. 



" I believe this last mentioned point was the one adopted by Mr. Clarence B. 

 Moore, as I perceive that it is indicated by a transverse scratch of the finger nail. 

 He is perhaps right in principle, but in practice I believe my process the better. 

 What is really sought? The relationship of the most marked transverse flattening 

 to the greatest antero-posterior development, the two being in inverse ratio and the 

 effect of one and the same case. 



" For that matter the result is practicall}' the same in the present instance 

 whether we regard the index as 150 or 152. -The femur from, the mound at Tick 

 Island has one of the most marked linea? aspera? of which we are cognizant ; it sur- 

 passes the femur of Cro-Magnon and approaches the exceptional femur which 

 we have cited in our Elements of Anthropology. If the remaining femurs from the 

 same mound are as flat, we could say that it is an important characteristic of the 

 race to which they belonged. 



" In conclusion I would remark : 



"1. It would be well to arrange a convenient nomenclature for this character; 

 to find a term to express it. 



" 2. In my Elements of Antliropology I followed the method introduced b} r 

 Broca for the determination of t lis index, taking the width as 100. 



" The reverse would be more rational, taking the antero-posterior diameter as 

 100. In the case of the femur at hand this would give 65*7, which shows at a glance 

 by what percentage the width is exceeded by the antero-posterior diameter." 1 



Five measurements for length have been taken. Two are projections on the 

 axis of the shaft, one from the head, the other from the great trochanter ; two give 

 the same measurements with the bone in natural position, while the fifth includes 



1 Dr. Topiuard's judicious suggestions were received as we went to press, too late to avail ourselves 

 of them. 



