264 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



The cranium found in this cave (No. 1031 of the collection) is probably that 

 of a man setat, about 40 or 45 years. In structure it is moderately dense and 

 heavy, and from its general appearance would scarcely be regarded as an an- 

 cient skull. It is, unfortunately, in a very fragmentary condition, consisting 

 of the two ossa parietalia, the left temporal, nearly all that part of the os oc- 

 cipitis posterior to the foramen magnum, and enough of the frontal bone to 

 determine the calvarial form. The facial, right temporal and basal bones are 

 altogether wanting. It has evidently been a short, broad and high skull. The 

 coronal region is triangular in shape, with the truncated apex of the triangle 

 directed anteriorly and coinciding with the frontal diameter. The skull be- 

 longs therefore to the Triangular Type of the Class Brachyplatupsidse the 25th 

 in the new and complete classification of human crania, which I propose to 

 bring before the Academy at some future time. The bi-frontal diameter 

 measures about 4 inches ; the bi-parietal, between the ossific centres, 6 in- 

 ches ; the vertical diameter, from the posterior edge of the foramen magnum 

 to the highest point of the crown directly above, 6f inches ; the intermeatous 

 diameter about 2J inches. The antero-posterior or longitudinal diameter of 

 the head must have measured about 6^ or 6| inches. The occipital bone 

 rises vertically from the posterior margin of the great foramen to meet the 

 parietalia which bend abruptly downward between their lateral protuberances. 

 This striking peculiarity gives to the posterior part of the head the same 

 broad, high and perpendicularly flattened appearance, so characteristic of 

 Peruvian Crania. The superior transverse ridge of the occipital bone is well- 

 defined ; and-the occipital protuberance sharp and prominent. The mastoid 

 process of the temporal bone is large and massive. 



Upon the inner surface of the left side, and directly opposite the parietal 

 centre of ossification, there is a solution of continuity in the vitreous table. 

 Both the vitreous and diploic structures at this spot have decayed away or been 

 absorbed, leaving a cavity of an irregularly oval shape, and about five-eighths of 

 an inch long, and half an inch wide. Judging from several minute fissures which 

 radiate in different directions from th edges of this cavity, the latter is the 

 result of a blow, which, without affecting the outer or fibrous, has been strong 

 enough to fracture the inner table. A portion of the surrounding surface of 

 the skull, extending about one inch from the margin of the cavity, is stained 

 of a reddish or iron-rust color. 



The muscles attached to the sharp external occipital protuberance, to the 

 well pronounced superior and inferior semi-circular lines or ridges of the os 

 occipitis, and the intervening rough surface must have been well developed, 

 so that the nape of the neck formed, in all probability, a plane continuous 

 with the back of the head. When with this peculiarity we couple the fact 

 that, owing to the relative position of the external auditory meati, the ears 

 must have appeared to be attached rather to the back part than to the sides of 

 the head, we can readily imagine that the individual to whom the skull be- 

 longed must have presented quite a bizarre appearance. The glenoid fossa of 

 the left side remains intact and is especially worthy of notice, since it happens 

 to constitute in this skull the only connecting link or point of attachment be- 

 tween the calvaria and the missing bones of the face. If the Cuvierian law of 

 the correlation or harmonization of forms could be practically applied to the 

 separate pieces composing the human cranium, this fossa would assume a still 

 greater importance, since by means of it the outline of the bony face could be 

 determined, and the observer having, in this indirect way, obtained an exact 

 idea of the shape of the entire head, could proceed more confidently to indi- 

 cate the precise ethnic type of which this skull is a specimen. 



Impracticable, however, as this is, we can approximate the desired informa- 

 tion by observing attentively the exact appearance of this fossa. The zygomatic 

 tubercle is well marked ; the eminentia articitlaris, instead of being flatly 

 rounded, as is ordinarily the case, is sharp and well defined, while the anterior 



[Sept.' 



