they were
strikingly like women. Since then I have examined many portraits of
the North Indian tribes; I have found that the great majority of men
approach much more nearly to the feminine than the male type. I might,
however, hesitate to bring the matter forward, were it founded only on
my own observation. But in my reading I have found an important
reference to the question in a recent work, "The Indians of North
America in Recent Times," by Mr. Cyrus Thomas, Ph.D., Archaeologist, in
the _Bureau of American Ethnology_. He writes as follows (p. 41)--

"Another curious fact, which has not hitherto received
special notice, though apparently of considerable interest,
is the prevailing feminine physiognomy of the males, at
least of those of the northern section. If any one will take
the trouble to study carefully a hundred or more good
photographs of males of pure blood he will find that two
thirds, if not a greater proportion, show feminine faces.
The full significance of this fact is not apparent, but it
seems to bear to some extent upon the question of the
evolution of the race."

What this fact suggests is a problem to which it is very difficult
even to guess at an answer. Does this lack of differentiation in the
physiognomy of the Indians point to something much deeper? Are the men
really like the women? Such a conception opens up considerations of
very great significance. So far as I understand the matter, it appears
that, as well as the deep inherent differences between the two sexes,
there are other differences due to divergence in function. It seems
probable that changes in environment or in function (as when one sex,
for some reason or other, performs the duties usually undertaken by
the other sex), may alter or modify the differences which tend to
thrust the sexes apart. I feel very sure that there can be changes in
the secondary sexual characters of the male and female. This is
sufficiently proved by many examples. Can we, then, accept the theory
that an environment, which favours women's forceful function, may
modify the infinitely complicated characters of sex, which, as yet, we
so imperfectly understand? I do not know with any certainty. Yet I can
see no other interpretation; and, if I mistake not, it may be possible
in this way to cast a light on one of the most difficult problems with
which we are faced to-day.

CHAPTER VI

THE MATERNAL FAMILY A