Skull growth from birth to adulthood in Gilbertese on Betio.

The growth of the skull from birth till adulthood was studied among Gilbertese from Betio. With few exceptions the average head circumference was bigger in males than in females, but rarely at statistically significant levels. After the age of six months the mean head circumference of the Gilbertese fell almost invariably below the third percentile of a North American standard. The rate of growth of the skull in Gilbertese was also smaller than in North Americans, both absolutely and relative to the head circumference at birth. The possible role of early protein-energy malnutrition remained obscure.