238 Proceedings of Royal Society of EdinlurgJi. [sess. 
graves dug for the purpose is, according to MM. Fraipont and 
Lohest, inadmissible. This is how they account for them. “ L’in- 
terpretation les plus logique, au contraire qu’il soit permis de donner 
a la coupe constatee, est que les hommes de Spy sont morts a 
I’entree de la grotte qui leur avait servi de demeure, sur le sol qu’ils 
avaient en partie contrihue a former par leurs debris de cuisine ” 
{Archives de hiologie de Gand, 1886, p. 668). 
The osteological characters of one of the Spy crania correspond 
in a remarkable degree with those of the Neanderthal skull so 
frequently discussed by anthropologists (see Plate). Here are tabu- 
lated a few of Professor Fraipont’s measurements :* — 
Spy. 
Neanderthal. 
Antero-posterior diameter (max.), 
Transverse do. do. 
Frontal (min.), 
Do. (max.), 
Horizontal circumference, ..... 
Cephalic index, 
mm. 
200 
140 
104 
114 
580 
70 
mm. 
200 
144 
106 
122 
590 (571)? 
72 
As regards the great development of the superciliary prominences, 
the low retreating forehead, the depressed and elongated form of 
the cranium, both these skulls present a more brutal appearance 
than any human skull known. The fragmentary condition of the 
Neanderthal skull prevents us carrying the comparison between 
these two early specimens of humanity further. The Spy skull is, 
however, not only more perfect, but it was associated with nearly 
the whole skeleton, and, according to Professor Fraipont, its entire 
anatomical characters bear out the same lowness of type. The jaws 
are deep and powerful, the chin slopes away from the teeth down- 
wards and backwards, and the teeth and alveolar processes have a 
striking prognathic appearance. The long bones, also, differ mate- 
rially from those of the normal Belgians of the present day, being 
generally shorter and stouter. The bones of the thigh and forearm 
have a curiously-bent appearance, and the lower ends of the former 
are so fashioned as to prevent the limb being fully straightened. 
It is, however, only just to say that, so far as the measurements of 
* Congres International, cfcc., 1889, p. 333. 
