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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



cases in Queensland and southern Australia, it may be said that Aus- 

 tralian skulls of the same sex are alike, and that those of the interior 

 pojiulations differ from those of natives of the coast only in a little 

 greater development, corresponding with their larger stature. This 

 superiority is the result of better conditions of existence. It is enough, 

 therefore, to describe two types : the Australian type proper, to which 



Fig. 9. ^Bust of an Islandeb or Toud (Toeees Steaits). 



most of the known tribes belong ; and the Neanderthaloid type, found 

 only among a few southern tribes, the most of which are in process of 

 extinction. 



The head which has been selected as a type of the former race is 

 that of an individual from Port Essington. It has a cranial capacity 

 of only 1,250 cubic centimetres, while the average of Australian skulls 

 is 1,285 cubic centimetres, and is very dolichocephalous and hypsiste- 

 nocephalous that is, is elongated from front to rear, and is higher than 

 broad. The indices are horizontal 67*21, vertical 105'G9, The promi- 

 nences of the brows are voluminous, as is also the glabella, which ap- 

 pears to be prolonged over the forehead. The medial prominence of 

 the forehead is quite marked, the lateral ones are nearly effaced. The 

 parietals present an analogpus disposition : their inner borders rise along 

 the sagittal suture so as to form a kind of roof, while the bosses are 

 hardly indicated. The curved lines on the occipital form thick and 

 prominent puffs ; the bone is flattened over the cerebellum, and pre- 

 sents well-defined muscular impressions. The antero-posterior curve 

 is regular to near the lambdoidal suture, whence it rises to the occipi- 



