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Proceedings of Societies. 



made for the purpose, and, during the month of August, carefully- 

 observed the temperatures of several of the springs visited by 

 Principal Forbes in 1835. In the tables which are distributed 

 through the paper, the temperatures of the springs are given as 

 recorded by different observers at various periods between the 

 years 1835 and 1863. From these records it would appear that 

 whilst there is perhaps in no instance a general or permanent 

 change of temperature, neither is there in any an undeviating 

 temperature. It is probable that the temperatures of the springs 

 in the interior of the globe have undergone no change, and that 

 the changes observable upon the surface of the earth are due to 

 superficial causes, such as external temperature, the infiltration of 

 cold surface water, &c. To a certain extent, an allowance must 

 be made for inaccuracies ; for it is scarcely to be supposed that all 

 the observers dipped their thermometers exactly at the same points, 

 nor does the author know that in all cases the instruments em- 

 ployed were without errors. 



3. On Human Crania allied in Anatomical Characters to 

 the Engis and Neanderthal Skulls. By Wm. Turner, 

 M.B., Senior Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University. 



The Author compared the above crania with various human 

 skulls which had come under his observation. He exhibited a 

 skull brought by Mr Henry Duckworth, F.G-.S., from St Acheul 

 near Amiens, which in its general contour presented a striking 

 resemblance to the Engis skull. The St Acheul skull was somewhat 

 smaller, being probably that of a female. It might almost have 

 been regarded as a reduced copy of the Engis skulL There was no 

 evidence that the skull from St Acheul was of an earlier date than 

 the G-allo-Eoman period of French history. The Neanderthal 

 skull was compared with several modern crania, mostly British, 

 especially with reference to the projection of the supra-orbital 

 ridges, the retreating forehead, and the slight convexity of the 

 occipital region. He exhibited several skulls which were closely 

 allied to it in one or other of these features. It was shown also that 

 the Neanderthal skull, although below the European mean in its 

 internal capacity, yet exceeded the dimensions of some normal 

 modern European crania which had been carefully measured — its 

 large transverse parietal diameter compensating for the brain space 

 lost by the retreating forehead and flattened occiput. 



As the history and geological age of the Neanderthal skull were 

 both unknown, and as many of its most striking anatomical 

 characters were closely paralleled in some modern European 

 crania, the Author considered that great caution ought to be 

 exercised in coming to any conclusion, either as to the pithecoid 

 affinities or psychical endowments of the man to whom it originally 

 appertained. 



