432 CRANIA FROM THE MOUNDS OF FLORIDA. 



Beside observing on what part of the occipital region the skull rests on a 

 given plane, the curvatures of the several component parts are to be noted, especially 

 the curve from the omsthion to the inion. the one from the inion to the lambda, 



JL 



and another from the lambda to the intertuberal. When these curves are incon- 

 spicuous, and a uniform curve, or one nearly so, extends from the opisthion to a 

 point directly back of the bregma, we have an example of a high form of cranium. 

 If, on the contrary, the curves as above defined are sharply indicated Ave have one 

 of low grade. 



(13). Ontogeny and pixdomorphism. The ontogeny of the skull does not 

 comprise a uniform series of stages. Many of the distinguishing signs are those 

 which suggest the characters commonly seen in the skull of the infant or adolescent. 1 



Since the classic studies of Gratiolet, many observers have made statements as 

 to the occasional resemblance between the skull of the child and of some adults. 

 Darwin 2 gives in part the literature of the subject. 



Aeby 3 claims that a skull is of high grade in proportion as it departs from the 

 foetal characteristics. 



G. Rolleston 4 draws the conclusion that in "ill-filled" skulls the frontal tubera 

 may retain their infant-like prominence. He employs the term "retention of an 

 infantile type," though oddly enough denominates it a "metaphysical expression." 



W. H. Flower, 5 in speaking of the Andamanese, says : "there is much that is 

 child-like in the physical characters, especially in those of the crania. The smooth- 

 ness of the brow, the high orbital index and the low alveolar index are infantile 

 characters." 



Virchow 6 states that the skulls of females of the Goajiros tribe of northern 

 Venezuela are persistent forms of the children's skulls of the same people. While 

 in the skulls of Congo negroes it is the male type only which retains the child 1 s 

 characters. 



I have ventured to denominate this process of retardation a retention of 

 juvenile characters. I suggested 7 elsewhere the use of the word pa>domorphism 

 to express these peculiarities, whether they were confined to the skull or exhibited 

 in any other part of the economy. So far as the human skull is concerned I can 

 say that I have never examined a specimen which did not exhibit one or more 

 pgedomorphic characters. 



The changes incident to infancy and youth are of importance in determining 

 the shape of the skull. Among the more suggestive of these changes are those in 

 the brain case, and notably in the region of the alisphenoid and squamosa. Among 



1 The study of the immature skull has been confined for the most part to- attempts to define race 

 characters. This in a sense is a small matter as compared to the detection of child-like characters in the 

 skull of the adult ; for many of them, as observed in this essay, do not appear to have ethnic values. 



2 Descent of Man, II, 302, Am. Ed. 



3 Verh. d. Naturf. Gesellsch. in Basel, 1861, III, 535. 



4 British Barrows, etc., 1877, 663, 664. 



5 Journ. Anthropolog. Instit,, 1879, 131. 



6 Cran. Eth. Amer.' 1892, 32. 



7 Proc, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila, 1891, 208. 



