Eskimo Osteology c41 



on the other hand, they looked much mqre in a forward direction, and thus 

 assisted in imparting the broadened appe^-rance to the face. The flattened 

 norma frontalis was, however, due in great measure also to the shallow character 

 of the canine fassse of the superior maxillae, the result, of which was to cause the 

 infraorbital foramina to look as much forwards as downwards (see Plate 2). 



The malar bones appeared to be relatively larger than in the Anglo-Saxon 

 type of skull. The tubercles on their posterior borders for the attachment of 

 the temporal fasciae were much exaggerated, and presented the appearance of 

 having been deliberately pulled backwards into salient projections by the 

 traction of the above fasciae (see Plate 3). 



The superior maxillae were also relatively larger than in the Anglo-Saxon 

 type of skull and their facial surfaces were both broader and flatter. The 

 buttress of bone that extends downwards externally towards the first molar 

 tooth was most pronounced, and imparted to the face an appearance of breadth 

 and massivenpss. Another striking effect was produced by the ridges due to 

 the sockets for the canine teeth, for these in the majority of cases were continuous 

 with the outer margins of the nasal aperture (see Plate 2.) 



In the Anglo-Saxon type of skull they are directed upwards and outwards 

 external to this as a rule. The infraorbital suture connecting the floor of the 

 orbit with the infraorbital canal was frequently present. This appears to be 

 a feature of the Eskimo cranium. 



The striking feature of the facial portion of the Eskimo cranium is the 

 extreme reduction in the width of the nasal aperture. The latter exhibited a 

 mimimum of 20 mm. in both the male and female crania. As a result, the 

 nasal bones were also remarkably, narrow, and indeed possessed only about 

 half the width of those of the European type of skull. For example the distance 

 between the outer borders of the nasal bones at their junctions with the frontal 

 measured across the curve, was as short as 4 mm. in an adult male skull, whereas 

 in the Anglo-Saxon type of skull the distance was found as a rule to be more than 

 twice this amount. The extreme narrowness of the nasal bones was certainly 

 a very pronounced feature of the crania (see Plate 2). 



Subnasal prognathism was manifested by nine of the female crania, and 

 accounted entirely for the high alveolar index of cranium XIV F-33B. This 

 condition was exhibited only in two of the male crania, and that in a minor 

 degree. 



One remarkable feature shown by the crania was, that the nasal septum 

 was situated in the mesial plane, and displayed no deflection whatever except 

 in one skull. This is surely an indication of the correct use that the Eskimos 

 make of their nasal fossae, as the proper channels for normal respiration. 



A peculiar notching of the posterior edge of the foramen magnum is des- 

 cribed as a frequent feature of the Eskimo skull. It was noted that ten of the 

 crania displayed this condition. 



The Ckanial Capacity 



This was measured in the usual way by means of small lead shot. The 

 writer was greatly surprised at the results, which were in every instance well 

 below the Eskimo average of 1546 c.cm. For example, the maximum capacity 

 amongst the male crania was only 1450 c.cm. while the minimum reached the 

 low level of 1290 c.cm. The female series was correspondingly bad— the highest 

 capacity being 1340 c.cm., and the lowest 1020 c.cm. — an excessively low ebb. On 

 comparing these results with the capacities of the Eskimo crania in the Royal 

 College of Surgeons Museum (") it was ascertained that the maximum and mini- 

 mum capacities of the male skulls in that collection were respectively 1730 and 

 1230 c.cm. and the maximum and minimum for the female crania 1510 and 1230 



