Central Asia； bitterly cold in winter； and as far from the sea as any
part of the world can be。
From Central Asia eastward to the Pacific Islands and subcontinents on
the one hand； and to America on the other； brachycephaly and
orthognathism gradually diminish； and are replaced by dolichocephaly
and prognathism； less； however； on the American Continent （throughout
the whole length of which a rounded type of skull prevails largely； but
not exclusively）* than in the Pacific region； where； at length； on the
Australian Continent and in the adjacent islands； the oblong skull； the
projecting jaws； and the dark skin reappear； with so much departure； in
other respects； from the Negro type； that ethnologists assign to these
people the special title of 'Negritoes。'
＇footnote＇ *See Dr。 D。 Wilson's valuable paper 〃On the
supposed prevalence of one Cranial Type throughout the
American aborigines。〃'Canadian Journal'； vol。 ii。； 1857。
The Australian skull is remarkable for its narrowness and for the
thickness of its walls； especially in the region of the supraciliary
ridge； which is frequently； though not by any means invariably； solid
throughout； the frontal sinuses remaining undeveloped。 The nasal
depression； again； is extremely sudden； so that the brows overhang and
give the countenance a particularly lowering； threatening expression。
The occipital region of the skull； also； not unfrequently becomes less
prominent； so that it not only fails to project beyond a line drawn
perpendicular to the hinder extremity of the glabello…occipital line；
but even； in some cases； begins to shelve away from it； forwards；
almost immediately。 In consequence of this circumstance； the parts of
the occipital bone which lie above and below the tuberosity make a much
more acute angle with one another than is usual； whereby the hinder
part of the base of the skull appears obliquely truncated。 Many
Australian skulls have a considerable height； quite equal to that of
the average of any other race； but there are others in which the cranial
roof becomes remarkably depressed； the skull； at the same time；
elongating so much that； probably； its capacity is not diminished。 The
majority of skulls possessing these characters； which I have seen； are
from the neighbourhood of Port Adelaide in South Australia； and have
been used by the natives as water vessels； to which end the face has
been knocked away； and a string passed through the vacuity and the
occipital foramen； so that the skull was suspended by the greater part
of its basis。
FIG。 30。An Australian skull from Western Port； in the Museum of the
Royal College of Surgeons； with the contour of the Neanderthal skull。
Both reduced to one…third the natural size。
Figure 30 represents the contour of a skull of this kind from Western
Port； with the jaw attached； and of the Neanderthal skull； both reduced
to one…third of the size of nature。 A small additional amount of
flattening and lengthening； with a corresponding increase of the
supraciliary ridge； would convert the Australian brain case into a form
identical with that of the aberrant fossil。
And now； to return to the fossil skulls； and to the rank which they
occupy among； or beyond； these existing varieties of cranial
conformation。 In the first place； I must remark； that； as Professor
Schmerling well observed （'supra'； p。 300） in commenting upon the Engis
skull； the formation of a safe judgment upon the question is greatly
hindered by the absence of the jaws from both the crania； so that there
is no means of deciding with certainty； whether they were more or less
prognathous than the lower existing races of mankind。 And yet； as we
have seen； it is more in this respect than any other； that human skulls
vary； towards and from； the brutal typethe brain case of an average
dolichocephalic European differing far less from that of a Negro； for
example； than his jaws do。 In the absence of the jaws； then； any
judgment on the relations of the fossil skulls to recent Races must be
accepted with a certain reservation。
But taking the evidence as it stands； and turning first to the Engis
skull； I confess I can find no character in the remains of that cranium
which； if it were a recent skull； would give any trustworthy clue as to
the Race to which it might appertain。 Its contours and measurements
agree very well with those of some Australian skulls which I have
examinedand especially has it a tendency towards that occipital
flattening； to the great extent of which； in some Australian skulls； I
have alluded。 But all Australian skulls do not present this flattening；
and the supraciliary ridge of the Engis skull is quite unlike that of
the typical Australians。
On the other hand； its measurements agree equally well with those of
some European skulls。 And assuredly； there is no mark of degradation
about any part of its structure。 It is； in fact； a fair average human
skull； which might have belonged to a philosopher； or might have
contained the thoughtless brains of a savage。
The case of the Neanderthal skull is very different。 Under whatever
aspect we view this cranium； whether we regard its vertical depression；
the enormous thickness of its supraciliary ridges； its sloped occiput；
or its long and straight squamosal suture； we meet with ape…like
characters； stamping it as the most pithecoid of human crania yet
discovered。 But Professor Schaaffhausen states （'supra'； p。 308）； that
the cranium； in its present condition； holds 1033。24 cubic centimetres
of water； or about 63 cubic inches； and as the entire skull could hardly
have held less than an additional 12 cubic inches； its capacity may be
estimated at about 75 cubic inches； which is the average capacity given
by Morton for Polynesian and Hottentot skulls。
So large a mass of brain as this； would alone suggest that the pithecoid
tendencies； indicated by this skull； did not extend deep into the
organization； and this conclusion is borne out by the dimensions of the
other bones of the skeleton given by Professor Schaaffhausen； which
show that the absolute height and relative proportions of the limbs
were quite those of an European of middle stature。 The bones are
indeed stouter； but this and the great development of the muscular
ridges noted by Dr。 Schaaffhausen； are characters to be expected in
savages。 The Patagonians； exposed without shelter or protection to a
climate possibly not very dissimilar from that of Europe at the time
during which the Neanderthal man lived； are remarkable for the
stoutness of their limb bones。
FIG。 31。Ancient Danish skull from a tumulus at Borreby： one…third of
the natural size。 From a camera lucida drawing by Mr。 Busk。
In no sense； then； can the Neanderthal bones be regarded as the remains
of a human being intermediate between Men and Apes。 At most； they
demonstrate the existence of a man whose skull may be said to revert
somewhat towards the pithecoid typejust as a Carrier； or a Pouter； or
a Tumbler； may sometimes put on the plumage of its primitive stock； the
'Columba livia'。 And indeed； though truly the most pithecoid of known
human skulls； the Neanderthal cranium is by no means so isolated as it
appears to be at first； but forms； in reality； the extreme term of a
series leading gradually from it to the highest and best developed of
human crania。 On the one hand； it is closely approached by the
flattened Australian skulls； of which I have spoken； from which other
Australian forms lead us gradually up to skulls having very much the
type of the Engis cranium。 And； on the other hand； it is even more
closely affined to the skulls of certain ancient people who inhabited
Denmark during the 'stone period；' and were probably either
contemporaneous with； or later than； the makers of the 'refuse heaps；'
or 'Kjokkenmoddings' of that country。
The correspondence between the longitudinal contour of the Neanderthal
skull and that of some of those skulls from the tumuli at Borreby； very
accurate drawings of which have been made by Mr。 Busk； is very close。
The occiput is quite as retreating； the supraciliary ridges are nearly
as prominent； and the skull is as low。 Furthermore； the Borreby skull
resembles the Neanderthal form more closely than any of the Australian
skulls do； by the much more rapid retrocession of the forehead。 On the
other hand； the Borreby skulls are all somewhat broader； in proportion
to their length； than the Neanderthal skull； while some attain that
proportion of breadth to length （80：100） which constitutes
brachycephaly。
In conclusion； I may say； that the fossil remains of Man hitherto
discovered do not seem to me to take us appreciably nearer to that
lower pithecoid form； by the modification of which he has； probably；
become what he is。 And considering what is now known of the most
ancient races of men； seeing that they fashioned flint axes and flint
knives and bone…skewers； of much the same pattern as those fabricated
by the lowest savages at the present day； and that we have every reason
to believe the habits and modes of living of such people to have
remained the same from the time of the Mammoth and the tichorhine
Rhinoceros till now； I do not know that this result is other than might
be expected。
Where； then； must we look for primaeval Man？ Was the oldest 'Homo
sapiens' pliocene or miocene； or yet more ancient？ In still older
strata do the fossilized bones of an Ape more anthropoid； or a Man more
pithecoid； than any yet known await the researches of some unborn
paleontologist？
Time will show。 But； in the meanwhile； if any form of the doctrine of
progressive development is correct； we must extend by long epochs the
most liberal estimate that has yet been made of the antiquity of Man。
End