Note on the Ancient Hitman SJmll-remains from the Transvaal. 11 
The position of the fragments of the bones of the forearm and of the leg 
to each other is worthy of attention. The radius and ulna cross the medial 
side of the tibia at an angle of about 30 degrees, the point of crossing being 
about the level of the nutrient foramina of the two forearm bones. This 
would appear to indicate that the position of the body after death has been 
an acutely flexed one of the lower limbs, with the left forearm lying in a 
supine position on the medial side of, and crossing the left leg. 
The positions of the parts of the thigh-bone or of the skull to the 
remainder I have not been able to ascertain. The position of the radius 
to the ulna would appear to be such that both bones have been rotated 
and approximated by pressure, so that the interosseous crests are 
directed forwards and prevent at present an estimation of the interosseous 
interval. 
Radius. — The degree of development of this bone cannot be described as 
robust, neither is there any marked curvature of the shaft. The index of 
the diaphysis taken just below the level of the insertion of the pronator teres 
muscle is 76-6, the greatest transverse diameter being 15 mm., and the 
greatest antero-posterior 11 "5 mm. 
Tor comparison the index of the La Chapelle aux Saints radius is stated 
by Boule to be 75, while Fisher gives a range of 61*5 to 90*9 for 
recent man (AnnaJes de Pah'ontologie, tome vii, fasciculi 3 and 4, p. 131). 
The position of the tuberosity is at present difficult to define. It would 
appear, however, to be situate more on the medial side of the junction of 
the neck and corpus than on the anterior face. The interosseous ridge 
may be continuous with it. This ridge is the only margin of the bone well 
defined. 
TJlna. — The portion of the shaft represented is not strongly developed 
and is triangular on cross-section. The proximal end does not show any 
definite sign of flattening — platolenie de Verneau. The distal end requires 
more definite isolation from the laterite before an opinion as to the amount 
of curvature can be definitely expressed. 
Tibia. — This fragment would appear to be a segment of a fairly stout 
tibia, and shows a resemblance to the corresponding part of a cast of the 
tibia of Homo mousteriensis. It is definitely triangular on section with 
the usual large amount of compact tissue at this level. There is little 
evidence of platycnemia. Platycnemia when present affects to a more or 
less degree the greater part of the shaft of a tibia. I have endeavoured to 
obtain a platycnemic index of the fragment of this Boskop tibia belonging, 
as before mentioned, to the distal third of the shaft by comparing it with 
other tibiae at approximately the same level. 
