214 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
Inches. 
Parietal diameter between parietal tubers . . • 
Frontal diameter between anterior and inferior angles 
of parietal bones 4f 
Vertical diameter from fossa between occipital condyles 
to top of skull 4|- 
Intermastoid arch from one mastoid to the other, over 
the calvarium 14^ 
Intermastoid line, measured in a straight line between 
the points of the mastoid processes . . . .4 
Occipito-frontal arcli, measured by a tape on the surface 
of the cranium from the nasal suture to the posterior 
margin of the foramen magnum . . . .14 
Horizontal jperiphery, by a tape round the cranium, so 
as to touch the os frontis immediately above the 
superciliary ridges, and the most prominent part of 
the occipital bone ....... 20-|- 
In the above table, I have used the system of measurement pro- 
posed by Dr. George Williamson.* 
It appears from the proportion of this (a female) skull, that the 
breadth was to the length as 7 2^9- : 10, and that it was consequently 
" dolichocephalic." The type is oval, the frontal being rounded, with 
a flat calvarium, and the parietal tubers moderately developed. The 
occiput is oval, the inion being slightly protuberant; the lower half 
of the supraoccipital shelves gently downwards to the foramen mag- 
num. The occipital condyles are flattened. The alisphenoid and the 
parietal join on both sides of the head, with small ossa uwtniana 
intercalated in the suture. The frontal suture is obliterated. Above 
the interorbital space is a slight projection, possibly coincident with, 
though not necessarily an indication of the frontal sinus. Behind 
the coronal suture, the calvarium is slightly depressed, perhaps in- 
dicatiug the use of a constricting bandage compressing the cranium. 
From these characters it appears that no distinctive points can be 
predicted of this cranium, as difi'erentiating it from the skulls of the 
existing individuals who inhabit the valley of the Thames. To this 
skull was adherent a small amount of fine mud, apparently of the 
same chemical constituency as the clay-bed of the river Thames or 
Lea. The whole of the animal matter was present in the skull, 
which did not adhere when applied to the tongue. 
Borris (bed of Nore), Ireland. — The supraorbitals here are slightly 
more prominent than in the Blackwater, less so than in the Yalley of 
the Trent skull. The lambdoidal suture is very complex, and developes 
many ossa ivormiana on both sides. The fractured condition of the 
skull precludes any observation as to the junction of the parietals 
and alisphenoids, or as to the presence of a paroccipital tubercle. 
The opportunity of inspecting this skull at leisure has been afforded 
to me by Prof. Huxley. 
* ' ObseiTations on the Human Crania contained in the Museum of the Army Medical 
Deimrtment, Chatham.' 8vo. Dublin, 1857, p. 73. 
