From the structure of the female Bushman pelvis, given by G. Cuvier, in Hist. Nat. des Mammiferes, Dr. Vrolik draws the conclu sion, that it presents greater anitnality of composition than even the Negro, as shown in the extreme vertical direction, narrow ness, and height of the ilia, and the cylindrical forra of the whole pelvis. The height of the ilia was much greater than in European females, while the width between the anterior iliac spines was less than even the smallest Negro pelvis. The spines of the ischia were, however, much wider apart, the sacrum more curved vertically, and the thinness of the iliac centres as little marked as in the Negro. The sacrum projected much forward at the base, and posteriorly was remarkable for the thick ness and tuberosity of the lateral parts, and the posterior elevation of the coccygeal ar ticulation, which were supposed to be for the purpose of affording attachment to the large gluteal masses of fat, characteristic of the Bushrnan race. The thickness, breadth, and posterior elevation of the ischial tuberosities, the posterior inclination of the cotyloid ca vities, the prominence of the pubic symphysis, and the greater sub-pubic angle, were also remarked by Vrolik.
In the pelvis of a male Bushman recently added to the Hunterian Museum, I find the iliac wings to be short, broad, not much expanded, but considerably curved antero posteriorly ; with a crest arched, f-shaped, and reaching as high as the middle of the fourth lumbar vertebra. The centres of the iliac wings are not thicker than is propor tional, and there is a well-formed and deep internal concavity or venter. The pectineal eminence is well marked, but the ischial spines not so, and the ischial tuberosities are small and slender. The sacrum is short, much curved vertically, and elevated in feriorly, so as to project much behind, and diverging widely from the ischia, giving a wide and short appearance to the sacro-sciatic notch. The posterior lateral parts of the sacrum are not unusually thickened, but the sacral spinous processes are well marked and proportionally large, the two upper being very distinct, and separated from the crest. The shape of the brim is somewhat oblong and inclined to the Negro type, as 'nay be seen from the measurements in the adjoining com parative table. The %%hole pelvis has a sym metrical, though a light, slender, and diminu tive aspect corresponding to the diminutive stature of the individual. The breadth of the sacrum is even less than in the Negro, being exactly the same as the Iiran-utan. The distance between the ischial spines is, however, greater, though that of the ischial tuberosities is less than in the Negro.
The pelvi-vertebral angle in this skeleton seems to be less than usual, as far as one may venture to a conclusion from a dned skeleton. In a cast of a female Bojes man recently added to the King's College Museum, however, the vulva seems to be placed unusually far back, which _may pro bably depend upon great obliquity of the pelvis.
The measurements of the Tahitian male pelvis, given in the table, corresponds, in the proximity of the ischial spines and narrow ness of the sacrum, with the Negro and the Bushman, though its transverse diameters, unlike the Negro, are larger than the antero posterior. In this respect, the Bushman more nearly approaches the Negro. The great antero-posterior diameter of the cavity shows a great vertical curvature of the sacrum. In the sacro-vertebral and pelvi vertebral angles, the Bushman and Tahitian are nearly alike.
The pelvis of the fensale Australian, also in the Hunterian Museum, presents a very re markable shallowness of the true pelvis. Otherwise, it is light and roomy, with well expanded and very short ilia. The shape of the superior opening is of a perfect oval, with the transverse diameter half an inch larger than the antero-posterior. Though a much larger pelvis than that of the Bushman, its total depth is nearly as limited, and very much more so than in European female pelves of equal horizontal diameters.
In these specimens of races, considered by some to be more nearly related to the apes than the European, an examination of the adjoining table will show a very great pelvic difference between them and the highest apes, in the less proportionate preponderance of the antero-posterior over the transverse dia meters, the shortness and expansion of the ilia, the less depth of the true pelvis both in front, sides, and behind, and especially in the more marked sacro-vertebral angle.
M. Vrolik describes the pelvis of the Javanese as very light in structure, of small size, and of a characteristic circular form at the superior opening, the bones being like those of a very young person, and the muscles correspondingly feeble. The small projec tion of the sacral promontory was also re markable, as well as the great inward projec tion of the ischial spines, more marked, he says, than in the pelves of any other nation, and quite characteristic.
By the comparative measurement of many human pelves of different races, Professor W eber reduced them to four principal forms, distinguished by the general shape of the pelvic openings.