FROM TIIK NKW HEBRIDES. CAMERON. 407 



of the frontal air sinuses, which are such a marked feature 

 of the Mclancsian skull. 



The Approximate Age of the Skulls. — The sutures in both 

 are for the most part obliterated on the interior of the skulls, 

 which would indicate an age somewhat beyond middle 

 life. The outlines of all the sutures can be traced on the 

 outer surface of both skulls. In No. 1 the sagittal, the 

 coronal, and the upper portion of the lambdoid suture have 

 become synostosed. In No. 2 on the other hand the whole 

 of the lambdoidal suture is still markedlj'' distinct, an inter- 

 esting reminder of the fact that its period of obliteration 

 usually follows that of the sagittal or coronal. One would 

 gather from this that No. 2 skull belonged to a slightly 

 younger individual, a statement which is supported by the 

 fact that the teeth in No. 1 skull are more worn than those 

 in No. 2. The squamous sutures, as one would expect, 

 are still remarkably distinct and separate in both skulls, 

 especially in No. 2. 



The Cranial Capacity. — The capacity of No. 1 skull was 

 found to be 1368 c. cm. It thus approached the lower 

 limit of the mesocephalic class, but is well above the aboriginal 

 Australian average of 1300 (Flower) ^*^' though it is decidedly 

 below the Polynesian average of 1469 (Duckworth) ^^'. The 

 capacity of No. 2 skull proved to be 1395 c. cm. It is 

 therefore slightly better than that of No. 1, though still 

 comparatively low in the mesocephalic class. 



The Horizonial Cranial Circumference.— The horizontal 

 cranial circumference was measured over the glabella accord- 

 ing to the plan of Sir William Turner*^^-. It was 52.07 cm. 

 in No. 1 skull and 53.49 in No 2 which would accord with 

 the difference in capacity given in the preceding paragraph. 

 The taking of this measurement proved somewhat difficult 

 owing to marked flattening of the frontal regions of the 

 skulls. It will be noted that these measurements are prac- 

 tically the same as that of the average European male skull 



