velopment of the latter. I have seen frontal sinuses extending to nearly the origin of the outer orbital processes, and almost large enough, even at their termination, to admit the small finger to be inserted into them, yet the brow-ridges were not particularly prominent. But whether the Neanderthal sinuses extend the whole length of the brow-ridges, or they are simply confined to the region of the glabella, their large size, in either case, is unusual in man, and they more strongly approach to, or resemble, as the case may be, those of the Gorilla.
As to the excessive prominency of the brow-ridges,—instead of regarding this feature as having been produced by the frontal sinuses,—there is more probability that, like the other extraordinary "elevations and depressions" of the skeleton, pointed out by Schaaffhausen, it is another speciality consequent on the greatly developed muscular system, which, from what has already been stated, evidently characterized the so-called Neanderthal man.
The orbital cavities appear to have had a circular rim, as in certain apes, there being no angle in that part joining the glabella. This is a feature unknown in any of the human races: in them the orbits are always subquadrate.[1]
The roof of the orbital cavities is altogether less concave, particularly on the outer side, than in Man; and, although the inner extremity of the plate forming the roof is broken off, sufficient remains to show that the cavities contracted sooner than usual. The cavities also appear to have been uncommonly divergent: if this were actually the case, its significance would point towards one of the specialities of the Gorilla.
Temporals.—As already stated, only the impression of the upper squamosal is seen on the parietals; but it suffices to show, as pointed out by Huxley, that this part had a comparatively low arenation: the highest point of the arch reaches little more than half the height it attains in ordinary human skulls. Besides occurring among apes, an equally low arcuated squamosal distinguishes the human fœtus; and in some savage races—Australians and Africans—the same part is also depressed, but not so much as in the fossil. The Engis and Borreby skulls are strictly normal in this particular.[2]
- ↑ In some apes the rim of the orbits is of the human form.
- ↑ Under this head may be noticed a part which appears to have been overlooked in the fossil. On an excellent cast, supplied by Mr. Gregory, of Goldensquare, London, there occurs on the right side and in front of the squamosal impression a raised flattened plate, whicli looks hke the upper portion of the alisphenoid (see Plate I. Fig. 1, b): the forward situation of this plate prevents it being taken for the anterior part of the temporal besides, its posterior side exhibits what appears to be the impression of the squamosal. The anterior margin of the supposed alisphenoid is about an inch behind the outer orbital process. Dr. Knox long ago pointed out in a Tasmanian skull a square-shaped bone, nearly an inch in extent, interposed between the alisphenoid and the parietal. I perceive that this abnormality in a Tasmanian skull is represented in Fig. 225 of the beautiful edition, just published by Renshaw, of Dr. Knox's translation of Milne-Edwards' 'Manuel de Zoologie.' I have also seen the same bone, but only on the 'left side, of an "Australian" skull belonging to the Dublin University Museum. Perhaps this interposed bone corresponds, in nature as well as situation, to the flattened plate observable in the Neanderthal fossil.
