70 Dr. Epwarp L. Moss, 
and a half inches in length, and by comparing it with femora 
from old Eskimo graves on an island near Egedesminde, I esti- 
mate its restored length at sixteen inches. When its front is 
placed on a level surface the antero-posterior curve deviates a quar- 
ter of an inch from the horizontal at either end. As may be seen 
from the annexed section it is as carinate as most platycnemic 
femora. There are two nutritious foramina three and three- 
quarters and three inches below the lesser trochanter. Its mini- 
mum circumference is three inches below the lesser trochanter, 
and measures 3°43 inches. This with the estimated length gives 
a perimetral index of ‘214. 
If its index were taken at the English average, 7.¢., ‘194, its 
restored length would be 17°68 inches, but the bone is evidently 
shorter than an average English femur, and the former estimate 
is probably the more accurate. 
If Aeby’s statement that races do not materially differ in the 
relative proportions of their limbs is correct, we may roughly 
estimate the stature of the man who owned this bone. The pro- 
portionate measurements of the skeleton given by Pruner Bey | 
make the femur 27°29 in 100 of total height. Humphry’s average 
is slightly greater, but calculating by either of them the man when 
living must have stood a little over 5 feet. 
A careful search was made round the spot where this bone ay 
The ground was very uneven. Some vertebre and the skull of a 
young musk-ox were found within 200 yards. 
It seemed probable that a longer search would have led to 
the discovery of some dilapidated cairn or cyst, for if the bone 
had been recent when first exposed to the attacks of carnvora, 
the medullary cavity would certainly have been broken into. 
But no other vestige of man or trace of anything like a burial- 
place could be discovered before movements of the ice between 
our boat and the ship put a peremptory stop to our proceedings. 
The Alert and Discovery were then only waiting for an opening 
across the ice of Lady Franklin Strait to begin their return 
voyage, and our visit to the spot was never repeated. 
