Scott. — Osteology of the Maori and Moriori. 



39 



and the general indices of the different regions — cervico-, 

 dorso-, and lunibo-vertebral, according to the formula — 

 Sura of posterior vertical diameters x 100 

 Sum of anterior vertical diameters 

 I give the general index for each region, but I have not 

 thought it necessary to give the indices of the individual ver- 

 tebrae, except in the case of those in the lumbar region. 



Cervical Vertebrce. 



The average cervico -vertebral index of the columns given- in 

 the table is 105-8, showing that the sum of the anterior dia- 

 meters of the bodies is less than that of the posterior diameters, 

 and that consequently the cervical curve is due to the inter- 

 vertebral discs being deeper in front than behind. In one 

 column the sum of the anterior and posterior measurements 

 in this region is nearly equal, the index being 101-3, while 

 the greatest difference between the two is seen in the column 

 whose cervico-vertebral index is 107'9. In no case, therefore, 

 does the anterior depth exceed the posterior. 



In no case does the body of the sixth cervical vertebra 

 exceed that of the seventh in transverse diameter, but its antero- 

 posterior diameter was noted as greater in four cases, as equal 

 in two, and as less in one than the corresponding measure- 

 ment of the seventh. 



The condition of the cervical spines in certain of the lower 

 races has been described by Owen, Hamy, Turner, and 

 Cunningham. These observers have noted that in these races 

 the spines, instead of being bifid at their extremities, as is 

 usually the case among Europeans, are either simple or but 

 slightly bifurcated. The typical European arrangement is 

 that the spines of the second, third, fourth, and fifth vertebrte 

 are bifid ; the sixth spine is frequently simple ; and the seventh 

 is invariably long and not bifid. In the coloured races it 

 has been shown that, while the axis as a rule still retains its 

 bifid spine, the third, fourth, and fifth vertebrae have spines 

 which are not only shorter than in Europeans, but are more 

 frequently not bifid. The following table shows that the 

 Maori spinal column agrees in this respect with those of the 

 uncivilised races already examined. 



