PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DENES. 61

vation, easily recognize the Déné features even in the southermost represent-
atives of the nation}.

From a close study and critical analysis of the physique prevailing among
the various tribes of the north, especially the intermediate divisions where the
purest specimens of the stock are naturally to be found, the original Déné
tribes can easily be described as follows:

Stature above the average; hands and feet small; limbs lithe and slender;
trunk erect and devoid of any exaggeration of adipose tissue; facies oval and
gradually tapering from the cheek bones to the chin; index varying from
extreme brachycephaiy to moderate dolichocephaly; forehead often receding,
though at times the facial angle appears as wide as in the case of the Cauca-
sian race; eyes black? and rather small in men, and deeply sunk beneath
quite pronounced superciliary ridges; glabella fairly prominent and occasion-
ally wrinkled even in young people; nose long and straight or aquiline, ab-
normally broad at the base and with a septum that slightly projects beyond
the nostrils; malar bones moderately high; cheeks thin and stretched; mouth
more often wide than otherwise, with lips rather thin, of which the lower one
slightly protrudes; chin sometimes narrow, but as often broad and inclined
to turn up; ears small and elegant.

The hair is invariably dark, coarse and straight in both sexes. None is
found under the armpits, and little on any other part of the body except the
pubes and the face. Facial hair seldom appears before full maturity, and
what grows of it is almost uniformly black, brittle and far between, while
many male adults remain to their death entirely devoid of any. As to the
complexion, it varies between a swarthy brown with the bands of hunters
and a sallow white among the more sedentary tribes. As arule, it is lighter
than that of the majority of American aborigines.

The Physique of the Northern Dénés.

This description is, I believe, as exact as possible with regard to the
original or more prevalent Déné type. But the anthropologist desirous of
realising fully the physical evolution consequent on particular environment,
mode of life or commiscegenation will, no doubt, be pleased to read of the
many tribal peculiarities noticeable in the family. He is therefore invited to
follow me in a brief survey of the physiological characteristics of the prin-
cipal Déné tribes.

11 never had an opportunity to attempt cranial or facial measurements. Yet, when lately
a set of photographs purporting to represent none but Déné Indians were submitted to my in-
spection, I immediately picked out as being non-Déné two men thereby illustrated who, upon
enquiry, proved to belong to the Assiniboin tribe, though their portraits were labelled Déneé.

2 So black indeed that in young children even the white of the eyes is noticeably tinged
with blue, as if this was a reflection of the intensely black colour of the iris.