^: AQUITANICLE. 



and 65-85 ; whilst I find a Basque of St.-Jean-de-Luz with 67-44. All the others of 250 skulls whose 

 Orbital Index I have calculated exceed 70 ; and yet there are only three in which this Index is between 

 70 and 73; so that the mean Orbital Index varies, in different series, between 82 and 84. These 

 comparative figures signalize the peculiar conformation of the orbits of the Old Man of Cro-Magnon. 



The profile of this skull is not less curious than the face-view. Below a very large glabella, the root of 

 the nose is deeply hollowed ; and this depression, very remarkable in itself, is rendered still more striking by 

 the disposition of the nasal bones. The ridge of the nose, slightly depressed at its base, rises again almost 

 immediately and advances boldly forwards, making a rapid curve with the concavity directed rather forward 

 and especially upward, so that the lower ends of the ossa nasi are placed 18 millims. in front of a line dropt 

 vertically from the fronto-nasal suture. Below this enormous projection, the line of the profile presents a 

 depression not less singular ; for it retreats very obliquely to the level of the lower part of the nostrils, 

 where it bends again to pass very obliquely forward, and to reach, without any further curve, the edge of 

 the alveolar process. In studying this line of profile and the bony structure around it (C. Plate I.), we see 

 that the skeleton of the face is nearly vertical from the glabella above to the lower edge of the nasal fossae, 

 and that below this latter level it runs, on the contrary, very obliquely forwards. In other words, the 

 upper part of the face is very orthognathous, whilst the alveolar region is very prognathous. Thus it is 

 proved by the goniometer that Camper's facial angle, the summit of which, as we know, is placed at the level 

 of the spina nasi, gives a good opening of 84 ; whilst the alveolar facial angle, with its summit at the 

 lower edge of the alveolar process, is no more than 75. 



In spite of the great obliquity resulting from the alveolar prognathism, the direction of the sockets (and neces- 

 sarily of the teeth) is very nearly vertical ; and in the lower jaw we can see that there the incisors were vertical 

 also. We have, then, here only a partial prognathism, exclusively limited to the upper alveolar arcade. 



I have referred to the level of the spina nasi ; this is indicated by the meeting of the upper edge of the 

 alveolar arcade and the lower edge of the opening of the nostrils; the spina nasi itself is wanting. 

 Moreover it is this which is observed when the alveolar prognathism is very much pronounced. 



Although the palatine vault is rather large, its length and breadth, scarcely above the average, are not at 

 all in proportion to the great antero-posterior and transverse extent of the facial region ; moreover it is 

 very slightly concave. What specially characterizes it is its median prominence. We know that this vault 

 is sometimes transversely concave, more often quite flat, and sometimes more or less convex. In the last 

 condition, which is somewhat rare, the two palatine plates thicken as they approach the median line, so that 

 their suture forms a kind of longitudinal ridge along the middle of the vault. I have met with this, more 

 or less pronounced, in some skulls in the Collection of the Anthropological Society of Paris ; but there are 

 only three or four in which it is well marked, and none of them present it in the same degree as in 

 this skull from Cro-Magnon. Here, indeed, the median elevation is so considerable that the two 

 lateral parts of the vault are merely straightish gutters. I know of only one skull that can in this 

 respect be compared with that of the Old Man ; and that is the one I presented and described at the 

 Meeting of that Society on February 6, 1868*, and which Dr. Prunieres had sent to me in the name of 

 Abbe Boissonade. The finding-place of this skull, unfortunately, is not well authenticated ; it is believed 

 to have come from the Cave of Meyreuis (Lozere) ; but without doubt it is very ancient ; it is moreover 

 brachycephalic, and resembles that from Cro-Magnon only in the conformation of the palatine vault. 



The lower jaw of the Old Man's skull is of great interest ; but all its characters cannot be studied, as the two 

 condyles and one of the ascending rami are wanting. All the alveolar cavities are open ; consequently all the 



* Bulletins de la Societe d'Anthropologie, 2" 16 Serie, vol. iii. p. 129. 



