308 



PROFESSOR D. J. CUNNINGHAM ON 



of chimpanzee skulls to which we have referred as showing in more or less distinct out- 

 line the superciliary element as a part of the torus. 



The foregoing facts are important in connection with Schwalbe's views in regard 

 to the supraorbital notch, and they are also of high interest when we apply them to 

 the information we possess regarding the eyebrow region in the Neanderthal cranium. 



Schwalbe has given us a most careful account of the orbital roof and supraorbital 

 margin in the Neanderthal cranium (8), and has supplemented his description by an 

 instructive outline drawing (fig. 6, p. 298) and a photograph (fig. 7, PI. I.) of the 

 under surface of the frontal bone. From these it is apparent that to a large extent 

 the human arrangement of the frontal nerve has been present in the Neanderthal race. 

 The division of the nerve-trunk is clearly indicated by groovings on the orbital roof, 

 and the presence of a foramen for the supratrochlear part and a notch for the supra- 



Fig. 13. — Diagram to show position of frontal nerve and its branches in the 



Neanderthal specimen and in recent man. 

 a. Supraorbital nerve (recent man). b. Supratrochlear nerve (recent man). 

 a',b'.c'. Markings on roof of orbit of c. Frontal nerve (recent man). 

 Neanderthal cranium. d. Supratrochlear foramen. 



orbital part are clearly delineated — more especially on the right side. But whilst this 

 is the case, certain pithecoid characters are evident : ( 1 ) the groove on the orbital roof 

 which conveyed the frontal nerve lies nearer to the inner wall than we are in the 

 habit of seeing it in recent man ; (2) the two branches of the nerve diverge widely 

 and abruptly from each other like the limbs of the letter Y, and of the two the supra- 

 trochlear branch seems to lie more in the line of the parent trunk than the supraorbital ; 

 (3) the groove and the foramen for the supratrochlear branch show that this nerve 

 must have been unusually large, i.e. judged from the human standpoint. These 

 features bespeak a nearer approach to the ape ; but in making this statement we must 

 not lose sight of the fact that in several Australian crania in the Museum of the 

 University there are markings which also point to pithecoid leanings of a some- 

 what similar nature. 



But the interest in the nerve-markings is not exhausted by a study of the supra- 



