566 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION P. 



63, 111) discusses this subject at some length from the point of view 

 of the frontal process of the squamous portion of the temporal bone, 

 and refers to discussions regarding its appearance and racial significance. 

 Duckworth (Morphology and Anthropology, p. 222) mentions this as an 

 anthropoid condition, and figures it in a typical aboriginal skull, as do 

 a good many other authors. He says it occurs in about 17 per cent. 

 of cases. I believe this statement requires revision, as do also some 

 other statements, e.g., that grooves on the frontal bone are rare, that 

 the glenoid fossa is shallow, and the styloid process very short. 



One skull shows very good examples of incomplete orbits. The 

 spheno-maxillary fissures are very large, as are also the sphenoidal 

 fissures (Figs. 15, 16, 17). In one case the occipital bone of an ab- 

 original child's skull presents a rare abnormality. The occipital (Fig. 

 18) is somewhat distorted by exposure to the weather ; but it is quite 

 evident, in spite of this, that there had been an extra bone at its superior 

 angle, which is openly bifid.* The mode in which the right parietal — 

 which was the only other bone found — arrrculates with this occipital 

 shows that there was a large single or double interparietal bone extend- 

 ing forwards as far as to the frontal bone. 



On reviewing the . facts regarding supernumerary teeth, dental 

 masses, tooth pits, dental tumors, size of teeth, number and position 

 of cusps, milk and permanent dentitions, &c., it will be evident that 

 the interpretation of anomaUes is a subject for the expert, and that the 

 Australian aboriginal at present is proving to be by far the most im- 

 portant and most abundant source of information. Not everyone, 

 however, can say what is normal or abnormal, trivial or important, 

 commonplace or unique, in any particular skull ; and the moral, there- 

 fore, is — Bring everything in the way of teeth and skulls under the 

 notice of the anthropological expert. 



It is scarcely necessary to remind you that anthropology does not 

 mean merely skulls, but embraces all the structures and takes cognisance 

 of all the functions of the body. Although it has been stated that parts 

 of the skeleton other than the skull furnish but few materials for charac- 

 terising races, this statement may require modification in the near future. 

 Several features presented by the long bones are of interest, and the 

 more -important may be referred to in some detail. 



The Humerus. — The angle of torsion of this bone in the Australian 

 aboriginal, as given by Broca, is very small ; in fact the average is 

 least of the hominidse, and is less than in the gorilla. The conclusions 

 to be deduced from this fact are not evident, for the nature of the con- 

 dition is obscure, the parts affected are doubtful, and much has to be 

 learned regarding the variations which the bone shows at various ages 

 in the same subject. 



Turner, in his Challenger Report (vol. xvi., p. 89), notes the occur- 

 rence of an intercondyloid (super-trochlear) foramen in both humeri 

 of a Queensland aboriginal. I can find no other case in literature ; 

 but I have noted this condition recentlv in about half a dozen specimens, 



* In an adult aboriginal skull in the South AustraHan Museum (No. 61), a 

 triangular bone is interposed between the parietals and the occipital. 



