148 Wisconsm Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



ever may be thougiit of tlie teclmicalities of tlie doctrines of 

 Gall and Spurzlieim, the general truth that the form of the 

 brain indicates the form of the character can scarcely be ques- 

 tioned. The force of observations in this direction will be 

 measured somewhat accurately by the degree of develoj^ment 

 of the organ, the form being most significant when the devel- 

 opment is highest. 



9th. Relative position and amount of grey and lohite matter. 



The general position is not a variable element, but is worthy 

 of notice as indicating the functions of the several parts ; the 

 tendency of the grey matter being toward the outside for the 

 higher functions and toward the inside for the lower. No 

 especial value is attached to this. 



The presence, number and depth of the convolutions have 

 been regarded as especially characteristic of rank. The varia- 

 tions of the human brain in this respect, and its correspond- 

 ence with character have been appealed to ; as also the fact of 

 their late introduction into the scale of creation. A compari- 

 son of man with other mammals, with birds, with reptiles, with 

 fishes, is conclusive as to the general truth that numerous and 

 deep convolutions signify elevation of rank. This rule, how- 

 ever, taken by itself would elevate the cerebellum above the 

 cerebrum, and, if the general way in which Prof. Huxley states 

 the facts does not deceive me, aquatic carnivora above terres- 

 trial, and would give a much higher rank to the cetacea than 

 is usually accorded them. But in the cetacea on the other 

 hand the limited development of the commissures indicates 

 low rank, so that here, as elsewhere, the indications of differ- 

 ent parts are not always in harmony, which shows the necessity 

 of collating and combining all the indices. On this subject a 

 word at the close of the article. 



The amount of vesicular matter is an important item. The 

 functional power of the organ is doubtless more accurately 

 indicated by this than by the entire mass. 



