42 2 H. J. T. BIJLMER 



bigonial width- that averaged 113,2 mm.! On the bizyg. breadth of the Pesegem I hâve no 

 further information, but considering that they were not measured by the man who elaborated 

 the anthropological statements (prof. VAN DEN BROEK), one must be very sceptical in regard 

 to thèse highly improbable values. SCHLAGINHAUFEN, VAN DER SANDE, Koch, ScilELLONG, 

 who wrote their anthropological essays after their own measurements, gave facial breadths 

 corresponding with those I hâve taken '). As for the Pesegem \ve hâve to reckon with a 

 probable discrepancy in conception in regard to the measuring-points. 



The just described expérience was not the only one of the kind. Reed measured the 

 length of the Negrito-noses from the nose-saddle and therefore got a hyperchamaerrhine 

 nasal index, quite uncomparable with that of the New-Guinea pigmoïds. When on the other 

 hand I compare the mesorrhine index 84, found by WiLLIAMSON for his Mafulu, with mine 

 of 92,5, I am not at ail sure that we — though both measuring from the sutura fronto- 

 nasalis — took exactly the same measure : a little shifting of the skin or a somewhat closer 

 grip of the calipers round the nose-wings are sufficient to give considérable différences. 

 Therefore I think myself quite justified in refraining from nearer comparisons, as you run 

 the risk df drawing conclusions from researches that hâve not been made according to the 

 same methods. Even the curves of head-length and -breadth — the most simple measurements — 

 are not satisfying (Diagr. XXVII). CHALMERS appears to hâve measured with too great intervais, 

 which undoubtedly is due to the use of the English System of measuring. But also the curves 

 of the 46 Merauke-men make a peculiar impression, though the measures hâve been taken 

 according to the metric System; the tendency for rounding oft" seems to hâve been rather strong. 



Therefore, practising anthropometry demands the greatest care; dealing with the investi- 

 gations of others requires the greatest accuracy. Simply copying the values is very dangerous, 

 one should read ail that is said about the subject, in order to be able to appreciate the 

 différent statements at their proper value. 



One is inclined to suppose that skull-measurements are of a greater value than 

 measurements on the living. Undoubtedly this is true in so far as the taken measures are 

 more exact. Still one should beware of overrating their importance. I stated that even there 

 an absolute exactness cannot be obtained. Let me give an example. I read in Topinard's 

 "Eléments d'Anthropologie" that the lambda is a point on the skull, which under ail cir- 

 cumstances (viz. Wormian bones) can easily be ascertained in an objective way; but in 

 measuring skulls myself, I got convinced that this was by no means always true, the place 

 of the lambda being not only highly influenced by the accidentai zig-zags of the skull-sutures, 

 but also by the subjective considérations of the investigator. Also a skull is far from being 

 a geometrical object! There, even more than in the living object, it becomes clear, how often 

 little accessory particularities, as a marked supra-orbital ridge, or a little deflection or thick- 

 ness of the skull-walls, influence indices unjustly. On the other hand the fine curves on 

 Diagr. XXX are there to prove that there is no reason for being too pessimistic, and that, 

 if only starting from a great number of skulls, there may be rightly spoken of race-skulls. 



Considering however, how VOLZ [225], without troubling himself about the living man, 



1) The bizyg. width of 41 maie skulls of A. B. Meyer is found to be 132 mm., which corresponds with 138 mm. 

 in the living. Thèse skulls belong to a.dolichocephalic and probably low-statured people. 



