ON SOME FOSSIL REMAINS OF MAN 331 



But taking the evidence as it stands, and turning first 

 to the Engis skull, I confess I can find no character in 

 the remains of that cranium which, if it were a recent 

 skull, would give any trustworthy clue as to the Race to 

 which it might appertain. Its contours and measurements 

 agree very well with those of some Australian skulls which 

 I have examined and especially has it a tendency towards 

 that occipital flattening, to the great extent of which, in 

 some Australian skulls, I have alluded. But all Australian 

 skulls do not present this flattening, and the supraciliary 

 ridge of the Engis skull is quite unlike that of the typical 

 Australians. 



On the other hand, its measurements agree equally well 

 with those of some ' European skulls. And assuredly, 

 there is no mark of degradation about any part of its 

 structure. It is, in fact, a fair average human skull, 

 which might have belonged to a philosopher, or might 

 have contained the thoughtless brains of a savage. 



The case of the Neanderthal skull is very different. 

 Under whatever aspect we view this cranium, whether 

 we regard its vertical depression, the enormous thickness 

 of its supraciliary ridges, its sloping occiput, or its long 

 and straight squamosal suture, we meet with ape-like 

 characters, stamping it as the most pithecoid of human 

 crania yet discovered. But Professor Schaaffhausen states 

 (supra, p. 308), that the cranium, in its present condition, 

 holds 1033.24 cubic centimetres of water, or about 63 cubic 

 inches, and as the entire skull could hardly have held less 

 than an additional 12 cubic inches, its capacity may be 

 estimated at about 75 cubic inches, which is the average 

 capacity given by Morton for Polynesian and Hottentot 

 skulls. 



So large a mass of brain as this, would alone suggest that 

 the pithecoid tendencies, indicated by this skull, did not 

 extend deep into the organization ; and this conclusion 

 is borne out by the dimensions of the other bones of the 

 skeleton given by Professor Schaaffhausen, which show that 

 the absolute height and relative proportions of the limbs 

 were quite those of an European of middle stature. The 

 bones are indeed stouter, but this and the great development 

 of the muscular ridges noted by Dr. Schaaffhausen, are 

 characters to be expected in savages. The Patagonians, 

 exposed without shelter or protection to a climate possibly 

 not very dissimilar from that of Europe at the time during 



