xvi. Proceedings. [January 2^rd, igiy. 



afforded of the general form and relative proportions of those 

 parts of the brain that were covered by the frontal and parietal 

 bones respectively. The flatness of the cast and certain of its 

 features suggest affinities of the Boskop man with the Nean- 

 derthal race. But the| larger size, and especially the form, of 

 the prefrontal bulging indicates, an even closer kinship with the 

 peoples found in Europei in Aurignacian and later times. 



But it would ble incorrect to regard the Boskop man as a 

 piietmber of either the Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon i^aces. For 

 he represents a variety of mankind that never intruded into 

 Europe— probably a divergent branch of the species sapiens, 

 which sprang from the parent stock S'oon after its separation 

 from the so-called species neanderthalensis. In confirmation of 

 this sUjggestion is the fact thaft, though the prefrontal area is 

 larger than that of Neanderthal man, and has assumed the^ form 

 distinctive of the modern type of man, it is smaller, both actually 

 and relatively, than that of the Cro-Magnon race. 



The great size of the Boskop cast is due mainly to the excep- 

 tional dimensions, and especially the great lateral expansion, of 

 the parietal area. 



The conclusion that seems to emerge from a comparison 

 of the cranial casts of these extinct varieties of mankind is that 

 the chief factor which above all others determines brain supe- 

 riority is not so much mere bulk a^ the size of the prefrontal 

 area. 



It is perhaps not without some significance that the Strand- 

 loopers, hitherto regarded as fthe most primitive and the least 

 negroid race of South Africa, were distinguished by an excep- 

 tionally large cranial capacity, a remarkable prominence of the 

 piarietal eminencies, and a full forehead (Shrubsall). It is pos- 

 sible that these early ;cave- dwellers may represent the descendants 

 of the Boskop race, modified both by development and admix- 

 ture. 



Dr. G. HiCKLiNG, F.G.S., read a paper entitled " The 

 Skull of a Permian Shark." 



A preliminary statement was made concerning the results 

 of a te-examination of certain remains of the skull of Diacrano- 

 dus texensis, Cope, sp., now in thei [Manchester Museum. The 

 material is sufficient for a practically complete restoration of 

 the cranium and jaws, while there is some indication of the 

 character of the branchial apparatus, not hither'to described. 

 Cope's original description appears to be on the whole more 

 accurate than some of the later accounts, though his reference 

 to distinct "frontal" aind "parietal," etc., elements cannot be 

 Maintained. The comparison, also, with Chlamydoselache 

 appears to be much less dose thah that with Heptanchus. 



