162 ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 



muscular processes .* This report, however, was erroneous, and arose 

 in a mistake. On the occasion in question, some ancient skulls from 

 the Celtic graves of Sigmaringen were exhibited, after which the dis- 

 cussion fell upon the supposed fossil human teeth, from the iron mines 

 of Melchingen, in the Swabian Alps. 



There is no reason whatever for regarding the unusual development 

 of the frontal sinuses in the remarkable 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 appendages 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 attach- 

 ment 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 distin- 

 guished from the domesticated, and according to Cuvier, the fossil cave-, 

 bear from every recent species of bear ; whilst according to Eoulin, the 

 pig, which has become 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 

 bulldog, which, is characterised by its large bones and strongly de- 

 veloped muscles from every 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 prominent supra- 

 orbital ridges, in the present is case rendered still more difficult from 

 the absence both of the auditory opening and of the nasal spine. But 

 if the proper horizontal position of the skull be taken from the remain- 

 ing portions of the orbital plates, and the ascending line made to touch 

 the surface of the frontal bone behind the prominent supra-orbital 

 ridges, the facial angle is not found to exceed 56°.f Unfortunately, no 

 portions of the facial bones, whose conformation is so decisive as regards 

 the form and expression of the head, have been preserved. The cranial 

 capacity, compared with the uncommon strength of the corporeal frame, 

 would seem to indicate a small cerebral development. The skull as it 

 is holds about 31 ounces of millet-seed; and as, from the proportionate size 

 of the wanting bones, the whole cranial cavity should have about 

 6 ounces more added, the contents, were it perfect, may be taken at 

 37 ounces. Tiedemann assigns as the cranial contents in the Negro 40, 

 38, and 35 ounces. The cranium holds rather more than 36 ounces of 

 water, which corresponds to a capacity of 1033.24 cubic centimetres. 



* Fid. the figure given in the Leipsic Illust. Journ. of Nov. 26, 1853. 

 f Estimating the facial angle in the way suggested, on the cast I should place it at 

 64° to 67°.— G. B. 



