418 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Yol. IX. 



The average indices agree very nearly with the indices 

 of the skulls in the Yrolik Museum. Dolichocephaly is very 

 pronounced, though not so strongly as with the Veddas ; the 

 height agrees pretty well with the Veddas, but the capacity 

 is much greater. 



A wholly different description of the skull of a Sinhalese 

 is given by Mr. Zuckerkandl.* This skull was brought 

 over by the Novara expedition without any statement 

 whatever of its origin. It has a capacity of 1,505 cub. cm., and 

 an index of ratio between length and breadth of 864. It 

 is therefore hyper-brachycephalous. We may assert without 

 hesitation that it is either in a high degree pathological or 

 outright not the skull of a Sinhalese. The latter assumption 

 is supported by the fact that the incisors and canine teeth of the 

 upper jaw are filed flat, — a phenomenon nowhere mentioned 

 as seen among the Sinhalese, but which points very clearly 

 to a Malayan origin. The assumption of a pathological, 

 perhaps deformed formation, is supported by the fact that 

 the cranium is asymmetrical, the forehead flat and retreating, 

 while the squama occipitalis is pressed flat to such a degree 

 that the upper half is sunk in " almost in the form of a wave." 

 We may therefore exclude this skull from comparison. 



With regard to my own skulls, I have already said that 

 probably a child's skull, marked as Sinhalese, will have to 

 be excluded ; but as it is so distinctly stated to be Sinhalese 

 I will here describe it with the rest. 



Skull No. 1 (Table II). 



A juvenile male skull, seemingly rather large, but without 

 under jaw. Synchondrosis spheno occipitalis closed. Wisdom 

 teeth broken out ; the front teeth have later fallen out ; 

 the remaining molars and the first premolars are very large, 

 and only a little worn on the crowns, but covered with a 

 thick black crust (betel). The points of attachment of the 



* Reise der Osterreich.isch.en Fregatte Novara. Anthropologlscher Theil. 

 Erste Abtheilung. Cranien der Novara Sammlung, beschrieben von E. 

 Zuckerkandl. Wien, 1875, s. 24. 



