VARIETIES OF MANKIND. 



1323 



The orbits in these skulls are large and deep ; 

 and the peculiar conformation of the bones 

 which sui-rouiid them give to the aperture of 

 the lids an appearance of obliquity, the inner 

 angle being directed downwards (Jig. 814). 



Fig. 814. 



Portrait of one of the "Siamese Twing." (Taken in 

 Paris in 1830.) 



The whole face, instead of approaching the oval, 

 as in Europeans, is of a lozenge-shape; and the 

 greater relative development of the zygomatic 

 bones, and of the bones of the face altogether, 

 when compared with the capacity of the 

 cranium, indicate in the pyramidal skull, as 

 in the prognathous, a more ample develop- 

 ment of the organs immediately subservient 

 to sensation ; the lateral expansion being 

 attended with a similar result in this respect, 

 to that which is consequent upon the forward 

 prolongation of the prognathous skulls. In 

 the breadth of the lower jaw (Jig. 813) a 

 remarkable contrast will be noticed with that 



of the prognathous type (fg. 809). The 

 greater part of the races representing the 

 pyramidal type in a well marked degree, may 

 be designated as pastoral nomades ; some of 

 them wandering with their flocks and herds 

 over the vast plains of high Asia, whilst 

 others creep along the shores of the Icy sea, 

 supporting themselves partly by fishing, but 

 living in part upon the flesh of their rein-deer. 

 As in the preceding case, however, the same 

 type is encountered in a remote quarter of 

 the globe, among tribes whose descent would 

 seem to be altogether different, yet which 

 closely corresponds with the nomadic races 

 of high Asia as to the physical conditions 

 under which they live ; namely, the Hottentots 

 of South Africa, whose resemblance to Mon- 

 golians in cranial conformation, as well as in 

 complexion, hair, and several other charac- 

 ters, is so striking as to have been noticed by 

 all travellers familiar with both, and to have 

 given rise to many speculations as to their 

 possible blood-relationship. It will be here- 

 after shown, however, that there is no valid 

 reason for separating the Hottentots from 

 the general mass of the African nations ; and 

 just as the Australians repeat the progna- 

 thous type at a distance from its chief centre, 

 with a slight admixture of the pyramidal, so 

 do the Hottentots in some degree repeat the 

 pyramidal, with an admixture of the prog- 

 nathous. 



Of the Oval or Elliptical type. This form 

 of cranial configuration at once approves 

 itself to the educated eye, as distinguished 

 by its symmetrical contour; neither the muzzle 

 nor the zygomatic arches having an undue 

 prominence, whilst, on the other hand, there 

 is no appearance of flattening or compression. 

 The cranium, in its fullest development, may 

 be said to have the length of that of the Negro 

 with the breadth of that of the Mongolian ; 

 and it is particularly distinguished by the 

 lateral fulness, as well as by the elevation, of 

 the forehead. This will be especially appa- 

 rent on the comparison of 7%. 815 with 



Fig. 815. 



Fig. 816. 



Fig. 817. 



Elliptical Cranium of European. (From a specimen in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons.") 



the corresponding view injigs. 807. and 81 1.; 

 for in the former it will be seen that the 

 breadth continues to increase above the 

 orbits, and that the cranial vault is rounded 

 and capacious ; whilst in the other two, the 

 breadth diminishes rapidly, especially in the 



frontal region, from the floor of the orbits 

 upwards. The form of the zygomatic arches 

 is such, that in the facial view they do not 

 project laterally beyond the general boundary 

 line, as they do in the Mongolian ; whilst the 

 conformation of the jaws is such, that they 



