A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF THE SCOTTISH SKULL. 405 



The feature that attracts our attention in a survey of the coefficients of correlation 

 in the foregoing tables, apart from the diversity shown in the values in different races, 

 which is very marked indeed, is the fact that the coefficients between the magnitudes 

 of various skull characters, with a few exceptions, i.e. principally when cubic capacity 

 is one of the quantities involved, as has been pointed out by Macdonnell, are almost 

 invariably of comparatively small value. When we recollect the close approximation 

 to unity shown by the correlation coefficients of the bones of the extremities — for 

 example : right and left femur, '96 ; femur and humerus, '84 ; femur and tibia, '81 ; 

 humerus and ulna, '75— '86, — this fact is brought into greater prominence. 



The comparatively low value on the whole of the coefficients in the Scottish series 

 points to the infinite variety of minor differences in, or refinements of, skull form that 

 may exist in such a homogeneous dolichocephalic series as the present one, because 

 it is possible apparently to have an alteration in a certain dimension with only a 

 comparatively slight, though in most cases sensible, tendency to a corresponding 

 increase in another dimension. 



The divergence shown in the coefficients of correlation between certain skull 

 characters in different types or races shows to what a small extent it is legitimate, 

 in the present state of our knowledge, to apply conclusions drawn from the evidence 

 supplied by one series of skulls to the building up of suggestions or laying down of 

 laws as to what may have been the original form of certain defective parts of pre- 

 existent or fragmentary skulls, which at the present day forms the basis of most of 

 the schemes for the reconstruction of skulls. 



3. Klaatsch's " Craniotrigonometrical Method." 



Having completed the study of the Scottish skull by the recently introduced 

 biometric methods, in so far as I have been able to do so with the measurements 

 and time available, I have applied the scheme for the examination of skulls devised 

 by Klaatsch to the "K" series in order to see if any fresh features would be 

 brought to light by its use, and to try to form an estimate as to the value of the 

 method. In this connection I have again found it convenient, in fact necessary, to 

 utilise biometric constants in establishing a contrast between the Scottish skull and 

 other types. 



The method introduced and made use of by Klaatsch is not entirely new, as some 

 of the chords and angles included in the scheme have been utilised by other in- 

 vestigators, including Cunningham, Schwalbe, and Turner, and Klaatsch himself 

 admits that it is merely a continuation or extension of the pioneer research of von 

 Lissauer on the "norma sagittalis " ; but the complete scheme of examination is 

 distinctly original, and since its introduction has been known as Klaatsch's " cranio- 

 trigonometrical method." 



The following is a brief account of the procedure adopted in utilising this scheme : — 



