THE BRAIN OF FOSSIL MAN 413 
seen between the cerebellum and temporal lobe (fig. 149). 
The direction of the stem is downwards and backwards. 
In anthropoids, and also to some degree in Neanderthal 
skulls, the trend of the brain stem is more backwards than 
downwards (see fig. 146). In the original Piltdown brain 
cast the trend of the brain stem is the opposite of 
primitive ; it is directed downwards with a slight forward 
tendency (fig. 148). This anomalous position of the 
brain stem is the result of two circumstances : (i) the 
forward twist given to the temporal bone, and, (2), 
to the anomalous position given to the occipital bone. 
If the brain cast of a modern skull be examined (fig. 149) 
it will be seen that the hinder part of the stem — occupy- 
ing the posterior margin of the foramen magnum — lies well 
behind the mastoid part of the temporal bone. In the 
original reconstruction (fig. 148) the hinder end of the 
brain stem is situated directly below the mastoid part of 
the temporal bone, and at an abnormally low level. This 
arrangement at the hinder part of the base of the brain 
gives very exceptional and peculiar features to the original 
Piltdown reconstruction. The forward position of the 
occipital bone and brain stem necessarily diminished that 
part of the base of the skull on which the brain stem 
rests. Indeed, to such a degree was this part of the base 
of the skull curtailed, that when the face and palate were 
restored in the original reconstruction it was found that 
an altogether insufficient space was left for the pharynx. 
When, however, the temporal bone is adjusted and the 
occipital bone placed as it is in modern skulls (see fig. 147), 
all these anomalies disappear, the brain stem assumes its 
normal trend, the occipital bone its normal relationships, 
and an ample space is provided for the passage of food 
and air along the pharynx. So far, then, we have seen 
no feature of the Piltdown brain to which we can apply 
with any certainty the term of primitive or simian. All 
the characters we have encountered are not very unlike 
those seen in modern skulls and brains. 
We have confined our attention to the parts of the 
brain near the base. When we pass to the region covered 
