34 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
ledge to fix definitely the numerical limits of each group, as it may need a wider range 
of material for comparison, both as regards the races and the number of pelves in each 
race, than we at present possess. In any case, indeed, just as in the classification of 
crania, the numerical limits would be arbitrary ; still it will be advisable to give to each 
diAdsion such a range as will in all probability include within it those pelves in a given 
race that present the characteristic form. For the present then, we will assume that 
pelves with a brim index above 95 are dolichopellic (dolicholekanic), that those with 
a brim index below 90 are platypellic (platylekanic), whilst those whose brim index 
ranges from 90 to 95, both inclusive, are mesatipellic (mesatilekanic). But it is quite 
possible that these limits may subsequently need some modification. 
First, we will enquire into the value of the brim index in Europeans, and about them 
we are fortunate to possess a good deal of information, as the dimensions of the brim 
have been measured in numerous pelves in most of the principal nations. Thus if we 
take British pelves and reduce the measurements from inches to millimetres we find that 
of those measured by J. J. Watt, the males had a transverse diameter of 116 mm. 
(4 in. 6 lines.), and a conjugate of 102 mm. (4 in.) which gives a brim index 87 "9 ; 
the females, again, had a transverse diameter 142 mm. (5 in. 6 lines) and a conjugate 
124 mm. (4 in. 9 lines), giving a brim index 87"3. The pelves measured by John Wood 
gave for the males — transverse 120 mm., conjugate 103, the brim index being 85 ; and 
for the females — transverse 132 mm., conjugate 114, the brim index being 86. My 
own measurements of six males presumably Scotch,^ gave a mean transverse diameter 
127 mm. and a mean conjugate 98 mm., with a brim index 77; and of eleven females a 
mean transverse of 137 mm. and a mean conjugate of 109 mm., "w^th a brim index 79. 
M. Verneau, in his table of the measurements of Europeans, presumably French, states that 
this index is 80 in the men and 78 in the women. Gegenbaur gives the mean dimensions 
of the brim in pelves presumably German as foUow^s :^ — for the males — transverse diameter 
128, conjugate 108, the brim index being 84 ; for the females — transverse diameter 
135, conjugate 116, the brim index being 85"9. W. H. Flower states that his measure- 
ments of eleven European males — the nationality not being specified — gave a pelvic 
index 81, and of fourteen females an index of about 78. In the measurements made by 
John Wood, Gegenbaur, and myself, the brim index in the male pelvis is a little below 
the brim index in the female, but in those measured by J. J. Watt, Verneau and Flower 
the brim index of the males somewhat exceeded the females. Additional observations 
on the pelvic brim in European women have been made by Garson, whose measurements 
give 80 as the brim index; by Navas, whose measurements of Spanish women furnish a brim 
index 81, and by C. Martin, whose measurements give 69 as the brim index of Irish women. 
1 The pelvis of J. Howieson, figured in Plate I., had the following dimensions : breadth 231 mm., height 217 mm., 
conjugate of brim 89 mm., transverse diameter of brim ] 29 mm., pelvic index 69. 
2 Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen, p. 265, 1883. 
