DIFFICULTIES OF RECONSTRUCTION 345 
sequently, Professor Elliot Smith has formed a different 
opinion. Leaving the full proof that my identification 
of the middle line is correct to another chapter, let us 
try, as in fig. 118, B, the effect of placing the fragments 
so that the middle arrow falls into a median position. 
The extreme asymmetry of the lambdoidal suture dis- 
appears. That is a presumptive proof that the parts have 
been placed in their right position. It is only when the 
point chosen in fig. 118, B, is placed in the middle line 
that an approximate symmetry is obtained. 
When the upper angle of the parietal is replaced in its 
proper position the change in the skull is revolutionary. 
The height of the brain chamber is increased by nearly 
half an inch. The width and fullness of the top parts are 
enlarged. The brain capacity is augmented ; the shape 
of the brain itself is changed. The anomalous conforma- 
tion of the occipital bone, the extreme asymmetry of 
the lambdoidal suture, almost disappear, and all the points 
we are familiar with in human skulls — no one has ever 
denied the humanity of the fragments — leap to the eye. 
The right and left halves of the lambdoidal suture become 
not only symmetrical, but the left half, as should be the 
case because of the preponderance of the left hemisphere 
of the Piltdown brain, oversteps the 50-mm. line to a 
greater degree than it does on the right side. We have 
here the most ample confirmation that the lines on which 
we are proceeding must be right, for by taking them 
as our guides most of the anomalies of the original 
reconstruction disappear. 
There were two points in this preliminary part of my 
investigation which gave me a great deal of trouble. 
One relates to the two parietal bones. Both bones are 
rather mutilated — particularly the right. We have to 
determine what parts are missing from each bone. It 
will be seen that this question must be answered before 
we can proceed to the final adjustment of the two parietal 
bones on the sides of the head ; the corresponding points 
must occupy the same positions on the right and left 
sides. The answer to this problem is given in fig. 119, 
