BY WILLIAM KE. ARMIT, F.L.S., F.R.G.S. 89 
front; forehead, where it existed at all, retreating; the 
prominence above the eye-orbits, so greatly developed in the 
skulls of Kiwai, is entirely absent, and the temporal bones less 
depressed than in the first named type. 
“Tn the interior we found the natives hardly at all prog- 
nathous, the skull still smaller, and the forehead high and 
almost perpendicular; moderate zygomatic arches, the eye- 
orbits scarcely marked, and the temporal bones very little 
depressed; the skull somewhat long, but not much flattened. 
“From this it is evident that at least three distinct types are 
in existence, although they may, perhaps, belong to one series.” 
Here this eminent naturalist is entirely at fault. The three 
races, or types, are clearly referable to one original, or, at all 
events, constant type, that which occurs inland. 
Signor D’Albertis was, evidently, unaware that the people of 
Kiwai, Taibai, and Katau practice the custom of artificially 
flattening, kneading, and moulding the skulls of infants into the 
shape they consider the most beautiful. It follows, therefore, 
that all such crania are valueless from a classification point of 
view. But I believe that anthropologists are beginning to realise 
the fact that the cranial shape in widely-separated races often 
approximates so closely as to render it impossible to discern one 
from the other. There occur also such a diversity, such a 
number of aberrant forms, that it becomes a matter of extreme 
difficulty to decide which skull, even ina very extended series 
from one spot, should be considered as typical. The day is not 
very far distant when the cranium will be discarded in favour of 
something presenting more constant characteristics, the presence 
or absence of which would enable the observer to arrive at some 
satisfactory decision. 
Of the inland natives, D’Albertis writes:—‘'We perceive, 
however, with surprise that these people of the interior are 
1New Guinea, L. M. D’Albertis, Vol. IL., p. 378. 
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