THE CRANIA OF THE MOUND-BUILDERS. 739 
= which were also indicative of a low type. In two instances there 
was a rapid narrowing in the temporal region; the plates were 
extraordinarily thick ; the superciliary ridges were massive, stand- 
ing out like ropes; the orbital processes were profoundly notched ; 
and the frontal bone was much prolonged towards the coronal 
Suture. Figure 148, reduced one-half, represents one of these 
bones. No one, I think, can view this fragment of a skull 
with its superciliary ridges projecting far beyond the general 
contour. both laterally and in front, and the low flat forehead 
with its thick, bony walls, without coming to the conclusion that 
its possessor was a ferocious brute. The prize-fighter of this 
day might envy such a 
frontispiece, adapted 
to withstand any de- 
gree of pommelling, or 
almost even to turn a 
musket ball. 
Fig. 143. 
| Distinctive CHAR- 
__ ACTERS. — The skulls 
which I have described 
possess peculiarities 
et 
Er 
@ 
5 
dg 
Le) 
Š 
° 
a] 
= 
=) 
m$ 
S 
1 
pean. They belong in 
One respect to what Frontal portion of a Skull from “ Kennicott’s Mound,” near 
Dr Pritchard calle the Chicago, a, a, Superciliary ridges. 
2 Pyramidal type, but in other respects they present characters 
_ Which are sui generis. The pyramidal form, seen in cross section, 
arises from the peculiar conformation of the malar bones, giving 
an outward sweep to the zygomatic arches. 
g 
I append a synopsis of what I regard as the distinctive charac- 
_ ters of the Mound-builder’s skull, selecting for the purpose the one 
eS cae pe eS RP eal an aps 
aei i S 
hest forms ; and that the reader may compare these peculiarities 
with those of the idiot as given by Humphry, I shall, as far as con- 
Venient, follow his order of description. It is ta be regretted that 
mall my specimens, with a single exception, the facial bones are 
Wanting, 
