DESCKIPTIONS OP CRANIA.
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of age. It is dense in its structure, and a ratlier heavy skuU, when we regard its antiquity,
weighing with the lower jaw 24J ounces Av., which would have been increased about 2 ounces
by the presence of portions of bone which are wanting. Its most interesting peculiarities are its
small size, and its decidedly brachy-cephalic conformation. This latter character, which commonly
appertains to the ancient British cranium, dnd even to that form wliich we regard as
typical, is seldom met with expressed in so marked a manner. It is obvious ia the lithograph,
and more particularly so in the reduced outlines of the vertical and base views given above.
The aspect of the face is eminently British. Its shortness, and the stern features, resulting
from the depression in the superior maxiUary, the frovraing elevation marking the frontal sinuses,
the deep recess below this point, so suddenly descending into the nasal bones, and the receding
external margin of the orbits—all confirm this impression. The forehead being oblique, the
pointed chin, proceeding from the descending margin of the lower jaw, gives a somewhat
lighter expression to the face than is frequent in the British series. The orbits are rather
quadrangular, and the supraorbital artery has ascended the forehead in a groove, not through
a foramen. The zygomatic arches are short, a character which appertains to the entire calvarium,
but is most concentrated in the parietals, to which the abruptly ascending portion of the
occipital lends its influence. The widest part of the calvarium is about an inch behind, and as
much above, the auditory foramen, and when we view it in front, we perceive it gradually to
expand from the outer angular process of the frontal to the point now indicated. The dome of
the brain-case is remarkably equable, and is uninterrupted by any irregularity. The vault of the
palate is smaU and short, but lofty. We believe we have thus described every note-worthy
characteristic that can assist the eye in realizing the original from the study of the figures now
presented to the reader. As, by the circumstances of its discovery, we are unfortimately
precluded from forming any more definite conjecture concerning the comparative age of this
skull, beyond that of ascribing it to the ancient British period, we shall terminate this
description by our usual
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MEASUP^EMENTS.
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Horizontal circumference . 20-0 inches. Parietal Region.— -Height . 4-7 inches.
Longitudinal diameter . . • 6-8 „ Occipital Region.-—Breadth . • 51 „
Prontal Eegion.—Length • 5-2 „ Height . 3-5 „
Breadth . • 4-6 „ Intermastoid arch 14-5 „
Height • 4-7 „ Internal capacity 674 ounces.
Parietal Region.—Length • 4-7 „ Pace—Length 4-4 inches.
Breadth • 5-7 „ Breadth . 5-3 „
The circumstance of such a decidedly brachy-cephaKc cranium occurring amongst the
ancient British series, should arrest the attention. It shows the latitude of form, or variety,
among any given set of featm-es; but stiU far from allowing of the withdrawal of the skull from
the race to which it belongs, and without by any means wholly overshadowing the ethnical
cliaracters appertaining to that race.
(J. B. D.)
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