2 MEMOmS OF THE QVEEXSLAXD MUSEUM. 



The cranimu has a maxiinuiu length of 191 mm., a parietal breadth of 

 128, and the basi-bregmatic height is 137. The specimen is markedly 

 proguathons. The basion-nasiou diameter is 102 and the basion-prosthion 107, 

 giving a gnathic index of lO-l-O. The distance from the bregnm to the prosthion 

 is no less than 216 nun. There is a fronto-squamosal articulation on the right 

 side. 



Plates II and 111 illustrate a male skull (Q.E. 16/S58) discovered in 

 the sand-dunes at Pialba, Queensland, the outstanding features of which are 

 the asymmeti'ieal con<lition of the foramen magnum and the In-cadth of the 

 first upper molars. Klaatsch states : ' ' The original power of natural regenera- 

 tion, not yet distui"bed by the fortunes of civilisation, renders intelligible the 

 otherwise almo.st incredible, recuperative jiowers of ci-anial traumatisms."' He 

 also quotes an example of an aboriginal at the Yarrabah Station with a scar in 

 the region of the vertex so deep that a finger could be inserted in it, and yet 

 he lived with no disturbance of health or of mental processes. Although we 

 have no knowledge of the condition in life of the aboriginal represented by 

 the skull illustrated, yet it is evident that he lived for years with the foramen 

 magnum in this abnormal condition, probably with associated partial degenera- 

 tion of the spinal column — apparently the result of osteo-arthritis. 



The right condyle is enlarged posteriorly and is produced laterally almost 

 to the sagittal plane. The articular surface is somewhat irregular and is 

 slightly cancellous. Anteriorly it somewhat overhangs the hypoglossal canal, 

 which in comparison M-ith its fellow is restricted. The lateral portions of the 

 occipital bone are unusually rugose, and the condyloid canal has three external 

 openings. 



The labio-lingual surface of the upper dental arch is remarkably obliqiie, 

 the outer or labial facies being much more worn than the inner. Unfortu- 

 nately, the incisors and the right canine have been lost post mortem. Evidently 

 the mandible had a transverse movement through a wide arc. The crowns of 

 all tiie teeth have Ix-en worn away by mutual attrition. The excess in width of 

 the upper dental arcade over the lower in the molar region of Australian 

 aborigines was noted by Turner," who found a maxinuun difference of 8 mm. 

 and a mean of 4 mm. in his series. In the abnormal sjjecimen under present 

 consideration, the width of tlie upper arcade at the first molar is no less than 

 64 mm. The roots of the molai's appear externallj' on each side of the maxilltu, 

 and the width here reaches 71 mm. These roots are plainly visible on Plate III. 

 Tlic occlusal surface of these remarkable first molars is Uj nun. wide on the left 

 and 10 on the I'ight. The widtli of the lower ai'cade at tlie first niohu's is 55' nun. 



This skull has a maximum length of IS.') niiii.; tlie ])arietal lireadtli is 

 128, and tlu' basi-bregmatie height is l:i2. 



A iiiici-ocephalic cranimu (Q.E. Kj/!*"!'), bisected in the sagittal plane, 

 is the subject of Plate IN", fig. 1. The cubic capacity is only 1)80, as ascertained 



• Klaatsch, Rep. Path. Lai). Lun. Dep. N.S.W., i, pt. 3, p. 152, 1908. 

 ^Turner, Jr.uni. .\ruil. it I'liys., .\xv, 1891, p. 401. 



