1 94 A First Study of the Burmese Skull 
We have the following measurements recorded for each available skull : 
FO 
FiB 
FiL 
FiR 
FiL 
2R 
•2L 
ZR 
3L 
4:R 
4L 
5R 
5L 
QR 
(iL 
IR 
IL 
SR 
8L 
9R 
dL 
lOR 
lOL 
OiR 
OIL 
Tr 
y 
X 
y 
X 
The means are again found for all the columns, and the type contours constructed 
as before. 
When a horizontal contour is being traced the skull is lying with its apex down- 
wards. In plotting the type contours we reverse the measurements to the right and 
left in the individual contours, in order to give the horizontal sections as looked at 
from above when the skull is in its normal position apex uppermost; thus we 
obtain the norma verticalis. (See Figs. VII-XII.) 
(c) The Sagittal or Median Section. The point y and the apex having been already 
marked on the skull, this is placed in the Klaatsch support right side downwards, 
and adjusted so that nasion, bregma and lambda all lie in the same horizontal 
plane. The contour is then drawn from the point where the basi-occipital bone 
unites with the sphenoid, to the basion; from the opisthion round to the nasion 
and along the nasal ridge ; from the nasal spine to the alveolar point and on to the 
end of the palate spine. The alveolar point, the nasion, the bregma, the apex, the 
lambda, the gamma, the inion, the opisthion, the basion, the point where the left 
half of the transverse palatine suture meets the sagittal palatine suture (all lying 
approximately in this plane), are marked, as also the projection of the auricular* 
and sub-orbital points upon it. 
It will be noted that when we have determined our sagittal plane for contour- 
ing, by the nasion, bregma, lambda, this plane is not bound to pass exactly through 
the inion, the opisthion, basion and alveolar point, nor exactly along the ridge of 
the nose, the mesial ridge of the premaxilla, and the middle of the palate to the 
tip of the nasal spine. Various slight asymmetries of the skull will throw these 
points out, and our plane will miss them. It is these things themselves, however, 
that we want represented in our sagittal contour — it will not, for instance, give 
a measure of nasal prominence, if, the nose being skewed as often happens, we pass 
the pointer along the nasal bones but off the nasal ridge. I therefore admit that, 
having fixed my plane, I have not kept rigidly to it, but have slightly depressed 
* See p. 181. 
