( 372 ) 
is higher than that of the very short-headed Zeelandians. l ) So ray 
results do not indicate that in man there exists a relation between 
the position of the foramen magnum and the shape of the skull, 
neither on account of the averages, nor of the range of variation! 
for with the brachycephalic skulls the basal index varied from 52 
to 42 and with the dolichocephalic ones from 50 tot 40 
The independence of cephalic and basal index also appears from 
the following table in which the two indices are placed side by side 
for ten long-headed skulls. These skulls do not belong to any of the 
above-mentioned groups. 
Index basalis 
46.7 
43.8 
48.- 
41.7 
44.5 
48.7 
50.— 
50.6 
45.5 
44.6 
Also in these ten skulls we have again the same range of varia¬ 
tion of about 10 units in the basal index as with the five groups above. 
The main conclusion from what precedes is that in man the projec¬ 
tion of the basion on G regularly falls a little before the middle of 
this line. Now if we bear in mind that the line of support of the 
s u , which joins the middle of the two condylae, lies regularly a 
1 . ® b e limd the basion, the conclusion is arrived at that the projection 
point of the line of support of the human skull on the base line I 
assumed, coincides with the middle of this line. It may be taken for 
granted that in regard to the erect gait of man this relation is a 
favourable one from a statical point of view. 
An unexpected result was obtained by comparing the basal indices 
of juveniles and adult skulls of the same species. In all cases in which 
it was possible to make this comparison the basal index of the infantile 
and j uvenile skull proved to be lower than of the adult, in other 
Index cephalicus 
71.5 
72.3 
72.5 
72.9 
73.1 
74.7 
74.8 
75.9 
" 76.4 
’*) In Aeb\ 
in negroes: 
die Stellung 
sehaften und 
Schadelforme 
vs monograph I find the following remark as to the Foramen magnum 
Einige Beobachter glauben die Wahrnemung gemacht zu haben dass 
dieser Oeffnung insofern veranderlich sei, als sie bei gewissen Volker- 
1 zwar speziell den Negern, weiter hinten liege, als bei andern. ( Die 
en der Menschen und der Affen. Leipzig 1867 p. 16). 
