Guadaloupe Fossil Human STceleton. 363 



foramen, the depressions of the lateral sinus, and the fossas of the 

 posterior lobe of the cerebrum, and of the cerebellum. Near the 

 outer side of the occipital foramen, is the curved fossa of the lateral 

 sinus, usually found just where that conduit is about to emerge from 

 the cavity of the cranium. The diploic structure and tables are 

 here also quite obvious at the vertical edge of the fragment. 



Next, is the portion which may be taken for either a parietal or 

 frontal fragment. I think it the latter, because, internally, it wants 

 the arborescent features characterizing the lower half of the parietal 

 bone, and is equally deficient in traces of the fossa of the longitudinal 

 sinus declaratory of the upper; and with respect to uniformity of 

 smoothness, arid configuration, corresponds more closely with this 

 bone than with the other. 



The next is undoubtedly the mental portion of the inferior max- 

 illa. This is indicated by its thickness, curvilinear figure, and the 

 character of the alveolar processes and sockets ; by the triangular 

 tubercle at the bottom of the symphisis in front ; and the mental 

 tubercle and lateral fossa of the right digastric muscle behind ; be- 

 sides that the alveolar edge is sharp ; the sockets, which are six in 

 number, are single; and what Is considered to be the base exhibits, 

 very evidently, the usual close cellular conformation. 



The last is obviously a part of the superior posterior angle of the 

 parietal portion. It is the smallest fragment, and needs no particu- 

 lar description. 



These relics have been supposed to belong to the head of an in- 

 dividual of the Carib race. This is undoubtedly a mistake. The 

 anterior posterior diameter is too short, the occipital region too flat, 

 and the lateral and vertical developments too full, upon a recon- 

 struction of the cranium, to justify such a supposition. The follow- 

 ing are the admeasurements, made jointly by Prof. Holbrook and 

 myself. From the posterior edge of the occipital foramen to the 

 concavity of the frontal bone behind the frontal sinus, five inches. 

 From the same to the anterior superior angle of parietal bone, four 

 inches and eight tenths. From the fossa of Sylvius to the same point, 

 four inches and a half. From the center of the petrous ridge to the 

 center of the cerebellar fossa, one inch and five tenths ; and from the 

 same center to the cerebral fossa, or the fossa of the posterior lobe of 

 the cerebrum, two inches and one tenth. Compared with the cra- 

 nium of a Peruvian, presented to Prof. Holbrook by Dr. Morton, in 

 the museum of the Medical College of the state of South Carolina, 



