208 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. XXXII. 



SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF MEASUREMENTS OF THE 

 CRANIAL FOSS^. 



Results obtained from the absolute measurements 

 and by comparing the length of the fossse with 

 the dorsal and ventral lengths of the skull. 



Results obtained by comparing the length of the 

 fossae with their combined length, and among 

 themselves. 



ANTERIOR FOSS^,. « 



1 (a) The average absolute length of the right 

 cavity is somewhat greater than that of 

 the left in all the human series, in all the 

 anthropoid apes except the gibbons, and 

 in some other primates and lower mam- 

 mals. 



(6) Individually, the largest percentage of 

 longer right fossse and the mo.st pro- 

 nounced differences between the length 

 of the two cavities occur in the human 

 adults, and then in the higher anthro- 

 poid apes (chimpanzee, gorilla, orang). 



2. There is a prevalence of relatively short ante- 

 rior fossae in the largest, and of relatively 

 long fossse in the smallest skulls. 



3 (a) The mean length of the anterior cavities is 

 relatively greater in the human fetuses 

 and young than it is in human adults. 



(b) It is also greater in most of the primates and 



other mammals examined than in the 

 human adults. 



(c) It is slightly greater in the human adult 



females than in the males. 



(d) It is nearly alike in the whites and the 



negroes, but is smaller in the Indians; 

 and, finally, 



(e) It it slightly smaller in the dolicho- than 



in the brachycephalic skulls. 



MIDDLE F0SS7E. 



1 (a) The average absolute length of the right 

 cavity is slightly greater than that of 

 the left in a large majority of the hu- 

 man series and in the anthropoid apes, 

 while in the other primates and mam- 

 mals the two fossa; are in average about 

 equal. 



(b) Individually, the largest percentage of 



longer right middle fossae and the most 

 pronounced differences between the 

 length of the cavities occur in several 

 .series of the human adults (in the doli- 

 chocephals),and then in the anthropoid 

 apes. 



(c) Compensation in length with the anterior 



fossffi appears possible in only a limited 

 proportion of cases. In one-third of the 

 skulls the middle cavity was greater in 

 length on the same side as the anterior. 



2. The differences in the relative length of the 

 middle fossae between the largest and 

 smallest skulls are not well defined. 



3 (a) The mean length of the middle cavities is, 

 relatively, smaller in the human young 

 than in adults. 



(b) It is greater than in the adult man in tlie 

 anthropoid apes, and especially so in the 

 monkeys and other mammals. 



3 (a) The mean length of the middle cavities 

 is, relatively, smaller in the human 

 young than in adults. 



(b) .Slightly greater in some anthropoid apes, 

 decidedly greater in monkeys and le- 

 mur (also in other mammals examined) 

 than in man. 



a It should be borne in mind that the two headings represent not equal, but only cognate, aspects 

 of the case, mathematically as well as morphologically. This accounts for the several differences 

 that will be observed. 



ANTERIOR FO.SS^. a 



1 (a) The average absolute length of the right 

 cavity is somewhat greater than that of 

 the left in all the human series, in all the 

 anthropoid apes except the gibbons, and 

 in some other primates and lower mam- 

 mals. 



(6) Individually, the largest percentage of 

 longer right fossae and the most pro- 

 nounced differences between the length 

 of the two cavities occur in the human 

 adults, and then in the higher anthro- 

 poid apes (chimpanzee, gorilla, orang). 



3 (a) The mean length of the anterior cavities is 

 relatively greater in the human fetuses 

 and young than it is in human adults. 



(b) It is also greater in most of the primates and 



other mammals examined than in the 

 human adults. 



(c) But little difference in whites: length 



greater in negro females than in males. 



(d) Smaller in the Indians; slightly greater in 



the negroes than in whites. 



(e) Somewhat greater in the dolichocephalic 



male whites, smaller in the dolichoce- 

 phalic Indians, than in brachycephals. 



MIDDLE FOSS.E. 



1 (a) The average absolute length of the right 

 cavity is slightly greater than that of 

 the left in a large majority of the hu- 

 man series and in the anthropoid apes, 

 while in the other primates and mam- 

 mals the two fossae. are in average about 

 equal. 



(b) Individually, the largest percentage of 

 longer right middle fossae and the most 

 pronounced differences between the 

 length of the cavities occur in several 

 series of the human adults (in the doli- 

 chocephals), and then in the anthropoid 

 apes. 



