364 proceedings: biological society 



feldt stated that no other single vertebrate structure had so much 

 written about it or was receiving more attention at the present time 

 than the skull in man and the primates in general. This study was 

 begun over two thousand years ago and certain names of bones be- 

 stowed by Galen in the second century are still retained. In a series 

 of 6000 human and about 1000 ape skulls in the collections of the U. 

 S. National Museum Dr. Shufeldt found that while the bones of the 

 face exhibited but little variation, in the bones' on the lateral aspect 

 of the cranium there were remarkable variations, many of which are 

 not referred to in modern works on anatomy. Frontal, parietal, tem- 

 poral, alisphenoid, and malar articulations show many variations in* 

 sutural lines. These again are varied by the presence or absence of 

 epactal or epipteric bones. By means of lantern slides and diagrams 

 these were illustrated and compared, and the speaker touched upon 

 their value in taxonomy and racial distinction and their pathological 

 significance. Discussion followed by Messrs. L. O. Howard, H. E. 

 Ames, and William Palmer. 



Alex. Wetmore, Recording Secretary pro tern. 



