DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERS HABITS OF LIFE. 993 



ance of obliquity, the inner angle seeming to be directed downwards. The 

 whole face instead of presenting an oval form, as in most Europeans and 

 Africans, is of a lozenge-shape. The greater relative development of the 

 zyiromatic bones, and of the bones of the face altogether, when compared 

 with the capacity of the cranium, indicates in the pyramidal skull a more 

 ample extension of the organs subservient to sensation ; the same effect 

 being thus produced by lateral expansion, as by the forward extension of 

 the facial bones in the prognathous skulls. 



836. The most civilized races, those which live by agriculture and the 

 arts of cultivated life, all the most intellectually improved nations of Eu- 

 rope and Asia, have a shape of the head which differs from both the pre- 

 ceding, and which may be termed oval or elliptical. This at once approves 

 itself as a more symmetrical form ; no part having an excessive prominence; 

 whilst, on the other hand, there is nowhere an appearance of undue flatten- 

 ing or compression. The head is altogether of a rounder shape than in the 

 other varieties, and the forehead is more expanded ; while the maxillary 

 bones and the zygomatic arches are so formed as to give the face an oval 

 shape, nearly on a plane with the forehead and cheek-bones, and not pro- 

 jecting towards the lower part. Owing to the more perpendicular direction 

 of the alveolar processes, the front teeth are fixed in planes which are 

 nearly or quite parallel to each other. The principal features in this form 

 of cranium are those of a negative character; the chief positive distinction is 

 the large development of the cranial cavity, and especially the fulness and 

 elevation of the forehead, in proportion to the size of the face : indicating 

 the predominance of the intellectual powers over those merely instinctive 

 propensities which are more directly connected with sensations. Among 

 European nations, the Greeks have probably displayed the greatest sym- 

 metry and perfection in the form of the head ; but various departures may 

 be traced towards the preceding forms, when we compare the crania of dif- 

 ferent races, and even of individuals, belonging to the same stock, some 

 approaching the pyramidal form of the Northern Asiatics, whilst others 

 approximate to the prognathous type of the Negro. 



837. The influence of habits of' life, continued from generation to genera- 

 tion, upon the form of the head, is remarkably evinced by the transition 

 from one type to another, which may be observed in nations that have 

 undergone a change in their manners and customs, and have made an 

 advance in civilization. Thus, to mention but one instance, the Turks at 

 present inhabiting the Ottoman and Persian empires, are undoubtedly de- 

 scended from the same stock with those Nomadic races which are still spread 

 through Central Asia ( 849). The former, however, having conquered the 

 countries which they now inhabit, eight centuries since, have gradually set- 

 tled down to the fixed and regular habits of the Indo-European race, and 

 have made corresponding advances in civilization ; whilst the latter have 

 continued their wandering mode of life, and can scarcely be said to have 

 made any decided advance during the same interval. Now the long-since 

 civilized Turks have undergone a complete transformation into the likeness 

 of Europeans ; whilst their nomadic relatives retain the pyramidal configu- 

 ration of the skull in a very marked degree. Some have attributed this 

 change in the physical structure of the Turkish race to the introduction of 

 Circassian slaves into the harems of the Turks ; but this could only affect 

 the opulent and powerful amongst the race ; and the great mass of the 

 Turkish population have always intermarried among themselves. The dif- 

 ference of religion and manners must have kept them separate from those 

 Greeks whom they subdued in the new Ottoman countries; as in Persia, the 

 Tajiks, or real Persians, still remain quite distinct from their Turkish rulers, 



