172 A FEW GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 



Parry, Ross, Sabine, and other travellers in the Hyperborean 

 nations, where the scale of intellect appears extremely limited. 

 The skulls of different nations, it is here requisite to observe, 

 vary considerably ; thus the cranium of the Esquimaux, Hottentot, 

 or Negro, assimilates more nearly with that of the ourang-outang 

 than the skulls of the whites, or the red men of North America. 

 The inhabitants of South America,* by means of pressure in 

 infancy, distort the skull into a most fantastic form, something 

 resembling a sugar-loaf, therefore there is no data on which to 

 found an opinion respecting them. 



Some years since I accompanied one of the first physicians in 

 London and his family, to see those portions of the late Dr. 

 Hunter's museum, which he judged might be improving to us. 

 Amongst much valuable instruction which he kindly com- 

 municated, he pointed out a collection of skulls of almost every 

 nation, from the fully developed cranium of the European, 

 through all the various gradations, down to the ourang-outang, 

 which latter differs, though slightly in form, from that of mankind. 

 The skull of the Simia resembled more closely that of the 

 Hottentot than any other; and on the same shelf was the skull 

 of an unfortunate ideot, which was more compressed even than 

 that of the ape. The ourang-outang in structure nearly resembles 

 the human race, the principal difference consisting in the number 

 of ribs, the ourang-outang having thirteen on each side, and 

 mankind only twelve ;f and from the formation of the larynx 

 and throat they are not able to articulate, consequently they 

 cannot acquire the power of speech. The Simia, then, is the 

 first connecting link between man and animals. It is difficult to 

 say where reason ends and instinct commences. The latter may 

 be defined as "an impulse implanted by Providence, which 

 compels every animal of the same species when unrestrained, and 

 under the same circumstances, to perform the same operations."! 

 That animals have like passions with ourselves — fear, grief, rage, 

 aflfection for their offspring, and strong attachments, is self- 

 evident. An anecdote related to me by an officer will con- 

 firm this fact. Major S. was shooting near a ghaut in Northern 

 India, when he perceived a small, and to him unknown animal, 

 lying coiled round amidst some leaves. Owing to the inequality 

 of the descent between the trees, he did not ascertain its de- 

 scription before he fired. The creature appeared severely- 

 wounded. Suddenly a tall and nearly erect being darted from 

 amidst the reeds and canes. Springing forward with threatening 

 gestures, she abruptly paused, and burst into a most violent 

 flood of tears, as a bereft mother might be supposed to weep 



* Particularly near the banks of the Columbia. Vide Ross Cox's Travels, 

 t Vide Naturalist's Magazine. 



I I do not remember in what work I met with this definition, but it pleased me at 

 the time. 



