178 HUMAN FOSSILS. m 



" There is no reason whatever for regarding the un- 

 usual development of the frontal sinuses in the remark- 

 able skull from the Neanderthal as an individual or 

 pathological deformity; it is unquestionably a typical 

 race-character, and is physiologically connected with the 

 uncommon thickness of the other bones of the skeleton, 

 which exceeds by about one-half the usual proportions. 

 This expansion of the frontal sinuses, which are append- 

 ages of the air-passages, also indicates an unusual force 

 and power of endurance in the movements of the body, 

 as may be concluded from the size of all the ridges and 

 processes for the attachment of the muscles or bones. That 

 this conclusion may be drawn from the existence of large 

 frontal sinuses, and a prominence of the lower frontal 

 region, is confirmed in many ways by other observations. 

 By the same characters, according to Pallas, the wild horse 

 is distinguished from the domesticated, and, according to 

 Cuvier, the fossil cave-bear from every recent species of 

 bear, whilst, according to Roulin, the pig, which has be- 

 come wild in America, and regained a resemblance to the 

 wild boar, is thus distinguished from the same animal in 

 the domesticated state, as is the chamois from the goat; 

 and, lastly, the bull-dog, which is characterised by its 

 large bones and strongly-developed muscles from eA'ery 

 other kind of dog. The estimation of the facial angle, the 

 determination of which, according to Professor Owen, is 

 also difficult in the great apes, owing to the very promi- 

 nent supra-orbital ridges, in the present case is rendered 

 still more difficult from the absence both of the auditory 

 opening and of the nasal spine. But if the proper hori- 

 zontal position of the skull be taken from the remaining 

 portions of the orbital plates, and the ascending line made 

 to touch the surface of the frontal bone behind the promi- 

 nent supra-orbital ridges, the facial angle is not found to 

 exceed 56°.* Unfortunately, no portions of the facial 



* Estimating the facial anglo in th^ way su?orested, on 

 the cast 1 should place it at 64° to G7°. — G. B. 



