Aug. 1897. Observations on Papuan Crania — Dorset. 35 



with the addition of the index of 65 the mean total average for the 

 female index is 73. As the glabella contributes not a little to lower 

 the index in the male cranium, the difference between the two sexes 

 is no more than we should expect to find The decided dolichotvph- 

 alism of the entire series is extremely interesting in view of the prob- 

 ability, as shown by Turner, of the existence of a brachycephalic as 

 as well as a dolichocephalic type on the island of New Guinea, and 

 I more than ever regret that the exact locality from which the col- 

 lection under consideration comes is not known. It may be noted 

 here, however, that the uniformity which generally prevails in the 

 cephalic index, as well as in the other important indices of the cra- 

 nium, render it extremely likely that the crania are from a single local- 

 it} . How much light can be thrown on the location of this region 

 by the carvings on the frontal bones remains yet to be seen. It is to 

 be noted in this place also, although I have already briefly alluded to 

 the fact, that there is no evidence of any of the crania having been 

 subjected to artificial pressure, either in the frontal or parietooccip- 

 ital region. This fact also helps to circumscribe the territory from 

 which these skulls might have come, as it has been shown that arti- 

 ficial deformation, either in the frontal or parieto-occipital region, is 

 practiced in several parts of the island. 



I have taken the bi-stephanic breadth in both the males and 

 females : it averages 100 mm. and 101 mm. respectively. This diam- 

 ter compared to the bizygomatic diameter gives* what Topinard has 

 called the bi-zygostephanic or fronto zygomatic index, and shows the 

 amount of zygomatic projection or greatest cranio-facial width in rela- 

 tion to the fronto-parietal breadth at stephanion, thus forming a good 

 substitute for the so-called angle of Quatrefages. This index for the 

 males is 78, in the females it is naturally higher, 85. The entire 

 series is thus decidedly phaenozygous, as opposed to cryptozygous, 

 where the index is above 90. According to the results obtained by 

 Professor Garson and others this index of 78 for the males is the low- 

 est averaget recorded for any race except the Eskimo and some other 

 branches of the Papuan group. As will be noted more fully later on 

 the temporal lines are as a rule prominently indicated and often 

 encroach upon the vertex. By comparing my measurements it 

 appears that there is no sexual difference in this respect, and that in 

 at least seven crania the temporal line extends to within less than 50 

 mm. of the sagittal suture, the variation for the entire series being 

 from 40 to 70 mm. 



*See especially, Turner : Challenger Reports. Zoology. Vol X. pp. 85,86. 

 +See Journal of Anthrop. Society for 1879-80, and for May. 1S94. 



