SHORTER ARTICLES AND CORRESPONDENCE 



THE INHERITANCE OF THE MANNER OF CLASPING 

 THE HANDS 



If the hands be clasped naturally, most people will put the 

 same thumb — either that of the right or of the left hand— upper- 

 most every time. The position assumed apparently has no rela- 

 tion to right- or left-haudediiess. although, as will be shown, a 

 small majority put the right thumb uppermost. Some time ago 

 letters were sent out asking for data concerning the manner in 

 which the different members of families clasped their hands. 

 Among the many generous replies was one from Professor J. 

 Arthur Thomson, of Aberdeen, Scotland, giving data for about 

 600 individuals. It was intended that the hands should be 

 clasped with the fingers of each hand alternating; but this was 

 not made as clear as it should have been, and some of the corre- 

 spondents clasped their hand Avith all of the fingers of one hand 

 between the thumb and index finger of the other. This con- 

 fusion does not exist in Professor Thomson's data. Accordingly 

 only they are discussed in this note. The accompanying table 

 gives a condensed analysis of the data, R and L standing for 

 right thumb uppermost and left thumb uppermost, respectively. 























jr. x;?r. 



R. - 9L. 

 <?L. X ?R. 

 $ L. X ? L. 



49 33 

 68 46 







It is evident that the mode of clasping the bands is inherited. 

 It can scarcely be acquired by imitation as it is too slight a thing to 

 be noted unless attention is called to it. The thumb position is 

 usually quite constant in very young children. However, it 

 does not seem to follow the Mendelian law, as neither position 

 breeds true. The data show no significant sexual dimorphism, 

 195 



