150 



PELVIS. 



bably depend upon great obliquity of the 

 pelvis. 



The measurements of the Tahitian male 

 pelvis, given in the table, corresponds, in the 

 proximity of the ischial spines and narrow- 

 ness of the sacrum, with the Negro and the 

 Bushman, though its transverse diameters, 

 unlike the Negro, are larger than the antero- 

 posterior. In this respect, the Bushman 

 more nearly approaches the Negro. The 

 great antero-posterior diameter of the cavity 

 shows a great vertical curvature of the 

 sacrum. In the sacro-vertebral and pelvi- 

 vertebral angles, the Bushman and Tahitian 

 are nearly alike. 



The pelvis of the female Australian, also in 

 the Hunterian Museum, presents a very re- 

 markable shallovvness of the true pelvis. 

 Otherwise, it is light and roomy, with well- 

 expanded and very short ilia. The shape of 

 the superior opening is of a perfect oval, with 

 the transverse diameter half an inch larger 

 than the antero-posterior. Though a much 

 larger pelvis than that of the Bushman, its 

 total depth is nearly as limited, and very much 

 more so than in European female pelves of 

 equal horizontal diameters. 



In these specimens of races, considered by 

 some to be more nearly related to the apes 

 than the European, an examination of the 

 adjoining table will show a ver}' great pelvic 

 difference between them and the highest apes, 

 in the less proportionate preponderance of 

 the antero-posterior over the transverse dia- 

 meters, the shortness and expansion of the 

 ilia, the less depth of the true pelvis both in 

 front, sides, and behind, and especially in the 

 more marked sacro-vertebral angle. 



M. Vrolik describes the pelvis of the 

 Javanese as very light in structure, of small 

 size, and of a characteristic circular form at 

 the superior opening, the bones being like 

 those of a very young person, and the muscles 

 correspondingly feeble. The small projec- 

 tion of the sacral promontory was also re- 

 markable, as well as the great inward projec- 

 tion of the ischial spines, more marked, he 

 says, than in the pelves of any other nation, 

 and quite characteristic. 



By the comparative measurement of many 

 human pelves of different races, Professor 

 Weber reduced them to four principal forms, 

 distinguished by the general shape of the pelvic 

 openings. 



1st. The oval form. The superior opening 

 of an egg-shaped figure, narrow in front, 

 broadest near the sacro-iliac symphysis, and 

 again narrowing to the sacral promontory. 

 The antero-posterior diameter smaller than 

 the transverse. The ilia moderately distant, 

 and obliquely placed; and the convergence 

 of the walls of the true pelvis downward, 

 also moderate. The sacrum moderate in 

 breadth, length, and vertical curvature. The 

 ischial tuberosities placed rather backward, 

 and the spines widely distant. The sub- 

 pubic angle neither very acute in the male, 

 nor the arch very prominent in the female. 

 Of this type, he makes two varieties, viz. 



the oval or male-oval, and the round-oval or 

 female-oval; the male variety of form being 

 sometimes found in the female. Of this form 

 he gives three specimens : one of an Euro- 

 pean male; one, very large, of a Botocundo 

 male; and one of the round or cross-oval 

 form, in an European female pelvis, broad and 

 shallow, with the transverse diameter 5 in., 

 and the conjugate 3 in. 10 lines. The pelvis 

 of the Australian female, given in the table, 

 belongs to the round-oval form, and that of 

 the male Tahitian to the male-oval form. 



2nd, The round form, distinguished by the 

 round or cross-formed superior opening, by 

 the vertical sides, less anterior direction of 

 pubes, and less projection of sacral pro- 

 montory, making the conjugate of nearly the 

 same extent as the transverse diameter.* Of 

 this form he gives five specimens, all females : 

 one European, two Negresses, one Hot- 

 tentot, and one Javanese. 



3rd. The square or four-sided form, dis- 

 tinguished by the great breadth of sacrum 

 and horizontal flattening of pubes. The 

 transverse diameter greater than the conju- 

 gate, but the superior opening forming nearly 

 a square. Of this form are six specimens : 

 one of an European female ; two of Javanese 

 male, and one of a female of the same race, 

 and two Mestizos. 



4th. The cuneiform, or oblong form. Su- 

 perior opening laterally compressed and ob- 

 long ; sacrum very narrow ; pubis with great 

 anterior direction, so as to unite at an acute 

 angle; with the conjugate greater than the 

 transverse diameter. In the female, this form 

 makes some approach to the oval shape. Of 

 this form he gives eight specimens : one of 

 an European female, which has this shape 

 very well marked, the conjugate diameter 

 being 4 in. 9 lines ; one of a female Boto- 

 cundo ; one of a Negress ; one of a Negro ; 

 one of a Kaffir ; and three others from Von 

 Soemmerring's collection. The pelves of the 

 Bushman and Negro, given in the table, belong 

 to this form. 



M. Weber's conclusions drawn from these 

 specimens are, that though the oval shape is 

 most common in Europeans, the round shape 

 in the American aborigines, the square shape 

 in the Asiatic or Mongolian races, and the 

 oblong in the Negro races ; yet that none of 

 the characters laid down by Vrolik are con- 

 stant, nor belong exclusively to any particular 

 race, but that deviations from the usual form 

 in any race present characteristics which gene- 

 rally belong to other varieties of the human 

 species. 



The coincidence between the prevailing 

 form of the skull and that of the pelvic 

 brim in these classes of the human race is 

 worthy of especial remark, and influences ma- 

 terially, as before mentioned, the adaptation 

 of the foetal skull to the pelvic passage during 

 labour. After the form of the skull, that of 

 the pelvis is perhaps the most characteristic 

 of race of any in the body, because of its great 

 influence upon the shape of the trunk ; and 

 yet, from Weber's researches, it would appear 



