3i8 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XVII. No. 435 



In the crania of the Primates, the jugal arch is composed of two 

 bones, the zygomatic process of the squamosal, and the malar; 

 which last, resting upon and articulating with the maxilla, is 

 joined with the squamosal process by a serrated suture which in- 

 clines downwards and backwards, the amount of the inclination 

 being modified ia the various groups of this order. The strength 

 and curvature of the arch also widely vary, as also does the ex- 

 tent to which the various crests and ridges for muscular attach- 

 ment are developed. In man, the arch is generally slender, 

 slightly curvtd in its horizontal axis, and presents a very moderate 

 convexity upwards in its vertical curvature. Owing to the very 

 slight horizontal curvature outwards, the temporal fossa is rela- 

 tively shallow, consequently allowing but little development of the 

 temporal muscle This condition, however, is subject to modifi- 

 cations in the various races of man. The maximum breadth of 

 the cranium is at the jugal arches, and it is at these points that 

 craniologists now take the bi zygomatic diameter of the face. 



Humphrey, in his " Human Skeleton," in speaking of this arch, 

 says : "The upper surface of its root forms a smooth channel for 

 play of the temporal muscle. In the negro the greater width of 

 this channel throws out the zygoma into stronger relief, and, added 

 to the flatness of the squamosal portion, affords more space for 

 the temporal muscle." In otlier words, the negro has a more 

 fully developed temporal muscle than the white man; that is, he 

 approaches nearer to the Carnivora. This general statement is 

 not confirmed by any cranial measurements, neither does Mr. 

 Humphrey state what he means by a negro — of course, one 

 of the black race. But under the term " black race ' are included 

 the Oceanic negroes, as well as the natives of central and southern 

 Africa Probably he intended, as in common parlance, to desig- 

 nate the African, although this designation is ambiguous, as it is 

 well known that the crania of the different tribes of Africa differ 

 very essentially in their general formation, as well as in their spe- 

 cial cranial measurements. 



Although the cephalic measurements of Broca, Topinard, and 

 others allow a slight increase in the horizontal curvature of the 

 arch in certain instances, which, if they indicate anything, signify 

 a greater development of the temporal muscle, as well as a more 

 extended surface for the attachment of the masseter, both of 

 which, as we have seen, highly characterize the arch in the Car- 

 nivora : yet, as Topinard remarks, in speaking of the bi-zygomatic 

 diameter, which may be accepted as the criterion of the greatest 

 facial width: 'This measurement by itself often presents difficul- 

 ties, purely accidental and local, and entirely apart from the gen- 

 eral type. Thus, in every race, cases occur in which the zygo- 

 matic process of the squamosal, instead of joining directly with 

 the molar, bends outwards and then resumes the general charac- 

 teristic direction of tbe arch, whether this be straight or gently 

 curved. The greatest width under these circumstances falls upon 

 the summit of the bend, which causes the measurement to be un- 

 duly augmented." 



As a result of the measurements taken upon the crania of the 

 Africans in the collection of the Peabody Museum, and of the 

 Harvard Medical School, there was a slight increase in the bi- 

 zygomatic breadth over those of other mixed European skulls. 

 But no dependence should be put in such measurements, for 

 although in one collection the crania were classified in general as 

 African, nothing was known of their history, and still less of those 

 with which they were compared. 



According to an extract from M. Pruner-Bey's tables, as given 

 by Topinard, the bi-zygomatic breadth, compared with the total 

 length of the face, is greater in the Esquimo, Chinese, Scandina- 

 vians, Germans (south), and New Caledonians than it is in the 

 negroes of Africa. In the category of crania in the British Muse- 

 um Mr. Flower gives the index of breadth of the African negroes 

 of various tribes. The low conformation of those, in this respect, 

 is only exceeded by the Eskimo, Australians, Melanesians, Kaffirs, 

 and Zulus. 



In order to substantiate the statement made by Mr. Humphrey 

 it would seem to be much the most scientific method to ascertain 

 by measurement the actual width of the groove in the upper sur- 

 face of the posterior root of the zygoma of the African skull, and 

 compare this with that of other races. This can be properly ef- 



fected by taking first the bi zygomatic breadth, and then the bi- 

 squamosal at the most prominent point on the line of suture be- 

 tween the squamosal and alisphenoid, the difference between the 

 two measurements would give the breadth of groove. 



Cuvier reminds us that the size of the temporal fossa and its 

 muscle have close relation with the age of the animal. In the 

 young, the brain and its case are developed, but the jaws are 

 small, and the forces which move them are wanting in energy. 

 But with age these last are developed, while the intellectual pow- 

 ers constantly diminish. In civilized man the equiUbrium is main- 

 tained between the growth of the brain-case, the intellectual 

 powers, and the masticatory organs. Can any relation, however 

 remote, be traced between the developed masticatory powers of 

 the uncivilized negro, and the flattened squamosal in his brain- 

 case as described by Mr. Humphrey ? D. D. Slade. 



Cambridge, Mass., May 27. 



Anatomy of the Apteryx. 



By far one of the most important anatomical papers which has 

 appeared since the present year commenced is a memoir by Pro- 

 fessor T. Jeffrey Parker, F.R.S., of the University of Otago, New 

 Zealand, entitled "Observations on tbe Anatomy and Develop- 

 ment of Apteryx." This remarkable bird-form, now becoming 

 quite rare, is so well known to biologists that the several species 

 of the genus will require no special description from me here. 

 Nor will the vast importance to anatomical scieiice of a complete 

 study of its structure and embryology stand in need of comment. 

 What Mr. Parker has accomplished in that direction is now before 

 me, — one of the classical publications of the Royal Society of 

 London, brought out through its Philophical Ti-ansactions, it be- 

 ing the work to which I desire to invite attention. 



This monograph- is in the usual quarto form, and covers 134 

 pages, and is illustrated by sixteen lithographic plates, beautifully 

 executed in color. These last are devoted to the external charac- 

 ters of the embryo; to sections of the same; to graphic represen- 

 tations of the rate of growth; to the morphology of the skull and 

 skeleton of the. young at various stages; and to certain parts of 

 the anatomy of the adult. They include 310 figures. Apteryx 

 bulleri, A. australis, and A. oweni are followed, more or less 

 completely, through fourteen various stages of their growth, the 

 whole resulting in a very full embryological chapter. Among the 

 more important points aiTived at by our author are, (1) in the 

 adult Apteryx, as well as in advanced embryos, the pterylosis is 

 by no means uninterrupted, as was originally supposed to be the 

 case by Nitsch; (2) that the lateral apterial space has a definite 

 function in connection with the attitude assumed by the bird during 

 sleep ; (3) that the study of the structure of the wing of Apteryx 

 lends support to the view that the Ratitoe are the descendants of 

 birds which possessed the power of flight; (4) the demonstration 

 of the law of growth of Apteryx, giving the stages in which the 

 head, beak, brain, sternum, and limbs arrive at their maximum 

 dimensions, and the comparative and relative rates of the growth; 

 (5) the specific and sexual differences; (6) the discovery of nine 

 more muscles in the wing of the adult than were known to 

 Owen, our former authority on the subject; and (7) the presence 

 of the pecten in the eye during embryonic life. 



In conclusion the phylogeny is given, and under that caption 

 are arrayed the characters which go to support the view that 

 Apteryx is derived from a typical avian form capable of flight. 

 Fifteen characters are well chosen for that purpose, — the only 

 opposed one suggested being the total absence of rectrioes in Ap- 

 teryx. This resume is followed by a summary of other sees of 

 characters supporting (1) the derivation from a more generalized 

 type than existing birds, and the converse, (3) as exhibiting 

 greater specialization than other birds. Fifty-five works are given 

 in a list at the close of the monograph, as having been referred 

 to during its production. Only one American authority is men- 

 tioned, and we must believe that the important labors of Morse on 

 " The Carpus and Tarsus of Birds " would have been found useful, 

 to say not a word of a number of others. 



It remains for me but to say that this admirable paper of Pro- 

 fessor Parker's will surely make its influence felt at once, and will 



