12 Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 
Table 1. — Platycnemic Index Estimated at Usual Site — viz. the 
Level of the Nutrient Foramen. 
Antero-posterior 
Transverse 
Index. 
diameter. 
diameter. 
Cast of Homo monster ieiisis . . . 32 ? 
28 ? 
87-5 
1 European tibia ..... 38 
28 
737 
1 S.A. Bush 28 
19 
67-9 
1 markedly flattened tibia from sand- 
dunes, Gullane, N.B. ... 36 
21 
58-3 
Table 2.— Platycnemic Index of the Same Bones Estimated at 
Approximately the Same Level in the Distal Third of the Shaft. 
Antero-posterior 
Transverse 
Index. 
diameter. 
diameter. 
Cast of Homo motcsteriensis 
24 
24 
100 
1 European tibia 
26 
25 
96-1 
1 S.A. Bush .... 
21 
18 
85-7 
1 Gullane tibia 
27 
22 
81-5 
The index of the Boskop tibia at approximately the same level as in 
Table 2 is 96'5, the antero-posterior diameter being 28 mm. and the trans- 
verse diameter 27 mm. 
Fibula. — The fragment of the fibula is characterised by a large antero- 
posterior diameter 17 mm. 
Femur. — From the proximal fragment it is only possible to deduce that 
the antero-posterior curvature of the shaft has been well marked. There is 
no trace of the linea aspera, hence an opinion as to pilastre cannot be formed. 
I am not able to state whether superior platymeria is present or not. 
The distal fragment shows a distinct flattening, platymeria inferior, of 
the shaft from before backwards. This portion is from the shaft above the 
region of the patellar fossa, which has been observed in primitive femora. 
The anterior face shows on its lateral side the faint, rounded ridge which 
runs proximally from the lateral side of the patellar facet. The posterior 
face — planum popliteum — is the l)est marked part of this fragment. About 
72 mm. of this surface is represented bounded by distinct epicondylic lines. 
The planum popliteum presents one special character — viz. it is full and 
convex. 
The exact site for a popliteal index — i. e. 4 cm. above the articular surface 
of the lower extremity — cannot until after reconstruction be ascertained. 
I have, however, endeavoured roughly to compare the dimensions of this 
part of the shaft of the Boskop femur by placing the fragment side by side 
with casts of the Neanderthal and Spy femora. It is possible, as it were, to 
fit the Boskop fragment into the diaphyses of these, and then measure the 
diameters at approximately the same levels. 
