355 



The antei'ior spinous processes of the ilia project ahnost directly 

 forward, even in a much more marked degree than is common in the 

 Caucasian pelvis ; the Iliac bones seem compressed from side to side : 

 all of which gives to these parts a nearly vertical wall. The diame- 

 ters of the brim do not diifer materially in their relative size from the 

 same in European skeletons ; it being understood that these are liable 

 to considerable variations. In the texture of the bones, the pelvis pre- 

 sents neither that massiveness nor the roughness which has been said 

 to characterize this part in the Hottentots. 



The resemblances of this Hottentot pelvis to that of the apes are 

 trifling in comparison with the differences ; these last being so great, 

 that no one would hesitate in the slightest degree as to whether the 

 pelvis In question belonged to the human family or not. The resem- 

 blances which really exist, with the exception of those belonging to 

 the sacrum, are only shown by a close comparison of measurements. 



The pelvis of the most anthropoid animals — viz., of the chimpanzee 

 and gorilla — is characterized In a most marked degree, as differing fi'om 

 that of man by Its relatively as well as absolutely greater length; by hav- 

 ing the crests of the Ilia in planes more nearly transverse ; by having the 

 brim of the pelvis in the form of an elongated oval, with the diameter 

 from before backwards much the longest ; by having the plane of the 

 brim of the pelvis so inclined towards the vertebral column as to 

 make with this last a much more open angle ; In having the Ischia 

 longer, as shown by the space which separates the cotyloid cavity from 

 the tuberosity, — the tuberosities longer, their extreme points more 

 widely separated ; in the extension of the rough surface of the tuberos- 

 ity for the attachment of the muscles, as far as the symphysis ; and in 

 the greater extent of the union of the bones of the pubes with each 

 other at the symphysis. 



The sacrum of the anthropoids Is also quite marked, in having its 

 length greater In proportion to the breadth of its base. 



The most striking approximation of the Hottentot pelvis to that of 

 the anthropoids is to be found in the sacrum ; for while In the Cauca- 

 sian the longitudinal diameter of the base exceeds the transverse by 

 only 0.10 of an inch, as In E^, and is even less by 0.10, as In E^ of the 

 following table. In the Hottentot It Is longest by 0.73, In the gorilla by 

 0.84, and In the chimpanzee by 0.85, of an Inch. If we take Into con- 

 sideration the straightness of It, It will be seen, that. In the respects 

 mentioned. It comes nearer to that of the anthropoids than of the Cau- 

 casians ; but In Its size, in proportion to the whole pelvis, it differs 

 very much from the apes, and much more closely resembles the same 

 part In man. 



