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right side； and the same part of a rib of the left side； the hinder
part of a rib of the right side； and lastly； two hinder portions and one
middle portion of ribs； which from their unusually rounded shape； and
abrupt curvature； more resemble the ribs of a carnivorous animal than
those of a man。 Dr。 H。 v。 Meyer； however； to whose judgment I defer；
will not venture to declare them to be ribs of any animal； and it only
remains to suppose that this abnormal condition has arisen from an
unusually powerful development of the thoracic muscles。
〃The bones adhere strongly to the tongue； although； as proved by the use
of hydrochloric acid； the greater part of the cartilage is still
retained in them； which appears； however； to have undergone that
transformation into gelatine which has been observed by v。 Bibra in
fossil bones。 The surface of all the bones is in many spots covered
with minute black specks； which； more especially under a lens； are seen
to be formed of very delicate 'dendrites'。 These deposits； which were
first observed on the bones by Dr。 Meyer； are most distinct on the
inner surface of the cranial bones。 They consist of a ferruginous
compound； and； from their black colour； may be supposed to contain
manganese。 Similar dendritic formations also occur； not unfrequently；
on laminated rocks； and are usually found in minute fissures and cracks。
At the meeting of the Lower Rhine Society at Bonn； on the 1st April；
1857； Prof。 Meyer stated that he had noticed in the museum of
Poppelsdorf similar dendritic crystallizations on several fossil bones
of animals； and particularly on those of 'Ursus spelaeus'； but still
more abundantly and beautifully displayed on the fossil bones and teeth
of 'Equus adamiticus'； 'Elephas primigenius'； etc。； from the caves of
Bolve and Sundwig。 Faint indications of similar 'dendrites' were
visible in a Roman skull from Siegburg； whilst other ancient skulls；
which had lain for centuries in the earth； presented no trace of them。*
＇footnote＇ *'Verh。 des Naturhist'。 Vereins in Bonn； xiv。
1857。 I am indebted to H。 v。 Meyer for the following
remarks on this subject：
'The incipient formation of dendritic deposits； which were formerly
regarded as a sign of a truly fossil condition； is interesting。 It has
even been supposed that in diluvial deposits the presence of
'dendrites' might be regarded as affording a certain mark of distinction
between bones mixed with the diluvium at a somewhat later period and
the true diluvial relics； to which alone it was supposed that these
deposits were confined。 But I have long been convinced that neither
can the absence of 'dendrites' be regarded as indicative of recent age；
nor their presence as sufficient to establish the great antiquity of
the objects upon which they occur。 I have myself noticed upon paper；
which could scarcely be more than a year old； dendritic deposits； which
could not be distinguished from those on fossil bones。 Thus I possess a
dog's skull from the Roman colony of the neighbouring Heddersheim；
'Castrum Hadrianum'； which is in no way distinguishable from the fossil
bones from the Frankish caves； it presents the same colour； and adheres
to the tongue just as they do； so that this character also； which； at a
former meeting of German naturalists at Bonn； gave rise to amusing
scenes between Buckland and Schmerling； is no longer of any value。 In
disputed cases； therefore； the condition of the bone can scarcely
afford the means for determining with certainty whether it be fossil；
that is to say； whether it belong to geological antiquity or to the
historical period。'
〃As we cannot now look upon the primitive world as representing a wholly
different condition of things； from which no transition exists to the
organic life of the present time； the designation of 'fossil'； as
applied to 'a bone'； has no longer the sense it conveyed in the time of
Cuvier。 Sufficient grounds exist for the assumption that man coexisted
with the animals found in the 'diluvium'； and many a barbarous race
may； before all historical time； have disappeared； together with the
animals of the ancient world； whilst the races whose organization is
improved have continued the genus。 The bones which form the subject of
this paper present characters which； although not decisive as regards a
geological epoch； are； nevertheless； such as indicate a very high
antiquity。 It may also be remarked that； common as is the occurrence
of diluvial animal bones in the muddy deposits of caverns； such remains
have not hitherto been met with in the caves of the Neanderthal； and
that the bones； which were covered by a deposit of mud not more than
four or five feet thick； and without any protective covering of
stalagmite； have retained the greatest part of their organic substance。
〃These circumstances might be adduced against the probability of a
geological antiquity。 Nor should we be justified in regarding the
cranial conformation as perhaps representing the most savage primitive
type of the human race； since crania exist among living savages； which；
though not exhibiting； such a remarkable conformation of the forehead；
which gives the skull somewhat the aspect of that of the large apes；
still in other respects； as for instance in the greater depth of the
temporal fossae； the crest…like； prominent temporal ridges； and a
generally less capacious cranial cavity； exhibit an equally low stage
of development。 There is no reason for supposing that the deep frontal
hollow is due to any artificial flattening； such as is practised in
various modes by barbarous nations in the Old and New World。 The skull
is quite symmetrical； and shows no indication of counter…pressure at
the occiput； whilst； according to Morton； in the Flat…heads of the
Columbia； the frontal and parietal bones are always unsymmetrical。 Its
conformation exhibits the sparing development of the anterior part of
the head which has been so often observed in very ancient crania； and
affords one of the most striking proofs of the influence of culture and
civilization on the form of the human skull。〃
In a subsequent passage； Dr。 Schaaffhausen remarks：
〃There is no reason whatever for regarding the unusual development of
the frontal sinuses in the remarkable skull from the Neanderthal as an
individual or pathological deformity； it is unquestionably a typical
race…character； and is physiologically connected with the uncommon
thickness of the other bones of the skeleton； which exceeds by about
one…half the usual proportions。 This expansion of the frontal sinuses；
which are appendages of the air…passages； also indicates an unusual
force and power of endurance in the movements of the body； as may be
concluded from the size of all the ridges and processes for the
attachment of the muscles or bones。 That this conclusion may be drawn
from the existence of large frontal sinuses； and a prominence of the
lower frontal region； is confirmed in many ways by other observations。
By the same characters； according to Pallas； the wild horse is
distinguished from the domesticated； and； according to Cuvier； the
fossil cave…bear from every recent species of bear； whilst； according
to Roulin； the pig； which has become wild in America； and regained a
resemblance to the wild boar； is thus distinguished from the same animal
in the domesticated state； as is the chamois from the goat； and；
lastly； the bull…dog； which is characterised by its large bones and
strongly…developed muscles from every other kind of dog。 The estimation
of the facial angle； the determination of which； according to Professor
Owen； is also difficult in the great apes； owing to the very prominent
supra…orbital ridges； in the present case is rendered still more
difficult from the absence both of the auditory opening and of the
nasal spine。 But if the proper horizontal position of the skull be
taken from the remaining portions of the orbital plates； and the
ascending line made to touch the surface of the frontal bone behind the
prominent supra…orbital ridges； the facial angle is not found to exceed
56 degrees。* Unfortunately； no portions of the facial bones； whose
conformation is so decisive as regards the form and expression of the
head； have been preserved。 The cranial capacity； compared with the
uncommon strength of the corporeal frame； would seem to indicate a small
cerebral development。 The skull； as it is； holds about 31 ounces of
millet…seed； and as； from the proportionate size of the wanting bones；
the whole cranial cavity should have about 6 ounces more added； the
contents； were it perfect； may be taken at 37 ounces。 Tiedemann
assigns； as the cranial contents in the Negro； 40； 38； and 35 ounces。
The cranium holds rather more than 36 ounces of water； which
corresponds to a capacity of 1033。24 cubic centimetres。 Huschke
estimates the cranial contents of a Negress at 1127 cubic centimetres；
of an old Negro at 1146 cubic centimetres。 The capacity of the Malay
skulls； estimated by water； equalled 36； 33 ounces； whilst in the
diminutive Hindoos it falls to as little as 27 ounces。〃
＇footnote＇ *Estimating the facial angle in the way
suggest