IN THE PETEK REDPATH MUSEUM OP MCGILL DNiVEESITY, ETC. 247 



The somewhat greater difference in the relative lengths 

 compared with the breadths is due in part to the varying 

 projection of the front of the frontal bone, and to certain 

 protuberances or flattenings of the occiput. Some of the 

 skulls show a marked occipital protuberance, while others 

 are so much flattened behind as to suggest the possible use 

 of a cradle-board in infancy. One of the skulls is remarkable 

 for a large irregular opening at the junction of the frontal 

 bone with the left parietal. It has evidently been made 

 during life, and is probably the result of trepanning, or some 

 similar process.* 



The Guanche crania have been stated by certain writers 

 to be similar to Palanthropic skulls found in Em-opean 

 caverns, and notably to tliose of Cro-Magnon and Engis ; 

 but this is evidently an error, as the above measurements 

 show, and as I have satii^fied myself by comparison with 

 good casts of the skulls of Cro-j\lagnon, Laugerie-basse and 

 Engis in our collection in the Peter Redpath Museum. 



The skull of the old giant of Cro-Magnon measures 7*9 

 inches in length, and that of the probably younger man from 

 the same rock-shelter nearly eight inches. Their breadths 

 are the same, or about G'l inches. Tlie Laugerie-basse skull 

 measures 7 65 inches by 5*75. The Engis skull meatjures 

 7"95 inches by 5-7. They are thus all larger and of somewhat 

 greater proportionate length. That of Laugerie-basse 

 approaches nearest to the Canarian skulls. A comparison of 

 the specimens placed side by side brings out however their 

 differences much more strongly than measurements. In 

 general form, taking the skull of the old man of Cro-Magnon 

 as an example, the massive proportions, the long flattened 

 parietal bones, the great length ot the frontal bone and its 

 tendency to form a vertical ridge in front, which owing to an 

 erosion of the forehead of the old man s skull is best seen in 

 the second skull from the same cave, the contrast of the 

 shortness and breadth of the face with the length of the skull, 

 the orbits lengthened laterally, the broad and heavy lower 

 jaw, and its somewhat prognathous character; these pecu- 

 liarities along with the great stature of the skeleton and the 

 remarkable development of the bones of the limbs separate 

 the Cro-Magnon and allied tribes from the Guanches by a 



* Trepanning is known to have been practised among the ancient 

 Peruvians, Dr. Muuoz, exhibited at the Woi'ld's Fair Congress of Anthro- 

 pology, in 1893, nineteen crania from Peru, which had been subjected to 

 operations of this kind 



