Description of the Skull, &e. 361 
Arr. XXI.—Description of the Skull of the Guadaloupe Fossil 
Human Skeleton ; by James Mouttriz, M.D., Professor of 
Physiology in the Medical College of the State of South Carolina: 
with introductory remarks; by C. U. Sueparv, M. D 
My attention was called during the last winter to some portions of 
a human fossil in the museum of the Literary and Philosophical So- 
ciety of South Carolina by Mr. Joun D. Lecare, by whom I was 
informed that they were brought from Gaudaloupe and were un- 
doubted parts of the much valued skeleton in the British Museum, 
of which so faithful a description was given by Mr. Konia in the 
Philosophical Transactions for 1814, vol. crv. p. 101. Having re- 
ceived from Mr. Konic many years since a sample of the block in 
which the skeleton was imbedded, I was able on the first inspection 
to satisfy myself, that a perfect identity subsisted between the enga- 
ging rock in both instances; and on recurring to the paper of Mr. 
Konic, it appeared that the portions here existing are among those 
in which the British sample is deficient, viz. the cranial bones and 
the lower part of a thigh bone. It struck me as being an important 
inquiry to ascertain if possible from an examination of the shape of 
the skull, whether the received opinion respecting the Carib origin 
of the individual were correct ; for although the determination of this 
point, is not likely to carry back the antiquity of the specimen to 
a very remote period, in opposition to the manifestly recent mineral 
character of the rock in which it is found, still the result may give 
it a more ancient date than has been attributed to it, and possibly 
throw important light on the connection of American races hereto- 
fore considered as distinct. I accordingly desired my colleagues, Dr. 
Movtrris and Dr. Hotsroox, to bestow upon the skull a careful 
examination, with which request they were very ready to comply. 
The result as drawn up for publication by the former gentleman, 
constitutes the following paper. C. U. Sueparp. 
Charleston, May 30th, 1837. 
These precious remains, were brought from Guadaloupe by 
Mons. L’Herminiére, a naturalist, and placed (together with many 
other specimens relating to natural history,) in the museum of the 
Literary and Philosophical Society of South Carolina in August 
1816, from whom it was purchased, (in common with his collection) 
the succeeding November. They consist of five fragments of dif- | 
Vor. XXXII.—No. 2. 
