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diminutive Hindoos it falls to as little as 27 ounces。〃
＇footnote＇ *Estimating the facial angle in the way
suggested； on the cast I should place it at 64 degrees to
67 degrees。G。 B。
After comparing the Neanderthal cranium with many others； ancient and
modern； Professor Schaaffhausen concludes thus：
〃But the human bones and cranium from the Neanderthal exceed all the
rest in those peculiarities of conformation which lead to the
conclusion of their belonging to a barbarous and savage race。 Whether
the cavern in which they were found； unaccompanied with any trace of
human art； were the place of their interment； or whether； like the bones
of extinct animals elsewhere； they had been washed into it； they may
still be regarded as the most ancient memorial of the early inhabitants
of Europe。〃
Mr。 Busk； the translator of Dr。 Schaaffhausen's paper； has enabled us to
form a very vivid conception of the degraded character of the
Neanderthal skull； by placing side by side with its outline； that of
the skull of a Chimpanzee； drawn to the same absolute size。
Some time after the publication of the translation of Professor
Schaaffhausen's Memoir； I was led to study the cast of the Neanderthal
cranium with more attention than I had previously bestowed upon it； in
consequence of wishing to supply Sir Charles Lyell with a diagram；
exhibiting the special peculiarities of this skull； as compared with
other human skulls。 In order to do this it was necessary to identify；
with precision； those points in the skulls compared which corresponded
anatomically。 Of these points； the glabella was obvious enough； but
when I had distinguished another； defined by the occipital protuberance
and superior semicircular line； and had placed the outline of the
Neanderthal skull against that of the Engis skull； in such a position
that the glabella and occipital protuberance of both were intersected by
the same straight line； the difference was so vast and the flattening
of the Neanderthal skull so prodigious （compare Figs。 22 and 24； A。）；
that I at first imagined I must have fallen into some error。 And I was
the more inclined to suspect this； as； in ordinary human skulls； the
occipital protuberance and superior semicircular curved line on the
exterior of the occiput correspond pretty closely with the 'lateral
sinuses' and the line of attachment of the tentorium internally。 But on
the tentorium rests； as I have said in the preceding Essay； the
posterior lobe of the brain； and hence； the occipital protuberance； and
the curved line in question； indicate； approximately； the lower limits
of that lobe。 Was it possible for a human being to have the brain thus
flattened and depressed； or； on the other hand； had the muscular ridges
shifted their position？ In order to solve these doubts； and to decide
the question whether the great supraciliary projections did； or did
not； arise from the development of the frontal sinuses； I requested Sir
Charles Lyell to be so good as to obtain for me from Dr。 Fuhlrott； the
possessor of the skull； answers to certain queries； and if possible a
cast； or at any rate drawings； or photographs； of the interior of the
skull。
FIG。 24。The skull from the Neanderthal cavern。 A。 side； B。 front； and
C。 top view。 One…third the natural size； by Mr。 Busk： the details from
the cast and from Dr。 Fuhlrott's photographs。 'a' glabella； 'b'
occipital protuberance； 'd' lambdoidal suture。
Dr。 Fuhlrott replied with a courtesy and readiness for which I am
infinitely indebted to him； to my inquiries； and furthermore sent three
excellent photographs。 One of these gives a side view of the skull；
and from it Fig。 24； A。 has been shaded。 The second （Fig。 25； A。）
exhibits the wide openings of the frontal sinuses upon the inferior
surface of the frontal part of the skull； into which； Dr。 Fuhlrott
writes； 〃a probe may be introduced to the depth of an inch；〃 and
demonstrates the great extension of the thickened supraciliary ridges
beyond the cerebral cavity。 The third； lastly （Fig。 25； B。） exhibits
the edge and the interior of the posterior； or occipital； part of the
skull； and shows very clearly the two depressions for the lateral
sinuses； sweeping inwards towards the middle line of the roof of the
skull； to form the longitudinal sinus。 It was clear； therefore； that I
had not erred in my interpretation； and that the posterior lobe of the
brain of the Neanderthal man must have been as much flattened as I
suspected it to be。
In truth； the Neanderthal cranium has most extraordinary characters。 It
has an extreme length of 8 inches； while its breadth is only 5。75
inches； or； in other words； its length is to its breadth as 100：72。 It
is exceedingly depressed； measuring only about 3。4 inches from the
glabello…occipital line to the vertex。 The longitudinal arc； measured
in the same way as in the Engis skull； is 12 inches； the transverse arc
cannot be exactly ascertained； in consequence of the absence of the
temporal bones； but was probably about the same； and certainly exceeded
10 1/4 inches。 The horizontal circumference is 23 inches。 But this
great circumference arises largely from the vast development of the
supraciliary ridges； though the perimeter of the brain case itself is
not small。 The large supraciliary ridges give the forehead a far more
retreating appearance than its internal contour would bear out。
To an anatomical eye the posterior part of the skull is even more
striking than the anterior。 The occipital protuberance occupies the
extreme posterior end of the skull； when the glabello…occipital line is
made horizontal； and so far from any part of the occipital region
extending beyond it； this region of the skull slopes obliquely upward
and forward； so that the lambdoidal suture is situated well upon the
upper surface of the cranium。 At the same time； notwithstanding the
great length of the skull； the sagittal suture is remarkably short （4
1/2 inches）； and the squamosal suture is very straight。
FIG。25。Drawings from Dr。 Fuhlrott's photographs of parts of the
interior of the Neanderthal cranium。 A。 view of the under and inner
surface of the frontal region； showing the inferior apertures of the
frontal sinuses （'a'）。 B。 corresponding view of the occipital region of
the skull； showing the impressions of the lateral sinuses （'a a'）。
In reply to my questions Dr。 Fuhlrott writes that the occipital bone 〃is
in a state of perfect preservation as far as the upper semicircular
line； which is a very strong ridge； linear at its extremities； but
enlarging towards the middle； where it forms two ridges （bourrelets）；
united by a linear continuation； which is slightly depressed in the
middle。〃
〃Below the left ridge the bone exhibits an obliquely inclined surface；
six lines （French） long； and twelve lines wide。〃
This last must be the surface； the contour of which is shown in Fig。 24；
A。； below 'b'。 It is particularly interesting； as it suggests that；
notwithstanding the flattened condition of the occiput； the posterior
cerebral lobes must have projected considerably beyond the cerebellum；
and as it constitutes one among several points of similarity between the
Neanderthal cranium and certain Australian skulls。
Such are the two best known forms of human cranium； which have been
found in what may be fairly termed a fossil state。 Can either be shown
to fill up or diminish； to any appreciable extent； the structural
interval which exists between Man and the man…like apes？ Or； on the
other hand； does neither depart more widely from the average structure
of the human cranium； than normally formed skulls of men are known to
do at the present day？
It is impossible to form any opinion on these questions； without some
preliminary acquaintance with the range of variation exhibited by human
structure in generala subject which has been but imperfectly studied；
while even of what is known； my limits will necessarily allow me to
give only a very imperfect sketch。
The student of anatomy is perfectly well aware that there is not a
single organ of the human body the structure of which does not vary； to
a greater or less extent； in different individuals。 The skeleton varies
in the proportions； and even to a certain extent in the connexions； of
its constituent bones。 The muscles which move the bones vary largely
in their attachments。 The varieties in the mode of distribution of the
arteries are carefully classified； on account of the practical
importance of a knowledge of their shiftings to the surgeon。 The
characters of the brain vary immensely； nothing being less constant
than the form and size of the cerebral hemispheres； and the richness of
the convolutions upon their surface； while the most changeable
structures of all in the human brain； are exactly those on which the
unwise attempt has been made to base the distinctive characters of
humanity； viz。 the posterior cornu of the lateral ventricle； the
hippocampus minor； and the degree of projection of the posterior lobe
beyond the cerebellum。 Finally； as all the world knows； the hair and
skin of human beings may present the most extraordinary diversities in
colour and