-jS THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



lowest vertebrate forms to the highest, we see the absurdity of making 

 either of these lines the basis of an angle in relation to the other. Take 

 the novel rule, that for the true facial angle '' the relation of the [front] 

 face is not to the base of the skull, but to the axis of the body," and, 

 for example, aj)ply it to the camel ! What sort of work would we make 

 in deciphering such a hieroglyphical facial angle as that ? But, con- 

 sidering the invariable straightness of the base of the skull, and its 

 horizontal position in the attitude of attention, or in the social exer- 

 cise of the external and internal senses and emotions, and considering 

 at the same time the infinite variety of forms and motions given by 

 these faculties to the features and muscles of the face and to the spinal 

 column and its appendages, we see the propriety of making the base-line 

 the standard of comparison for the two other lines in the construction 

 of our facial angles and in our method of using them. All things con- 

 sidered, we may plant ourselves anew on the base-line of the old facial 

 angle, assured that it is what its name signifies — fundamental, the 

 centre of support and dependence between the transitional and vari- 

 able lines, and presenting fixed extremities, constituting axial centres, 

 in relation to which the movable lines are radii, forming with the base- 

 line angles of all degrees between one and ninety in the development 

 of animal life, from the lowest vertebrate form up to its highest and 

 most perfect type. No one can read Camper's work " On the Connec- 

 tion between the Science of Anatomy and the Arts of Drawing, Paint- 

 ing, and Statuary," and examine its numerous and scrupulously accu- 

 rate illustrations, without being convinced that the facial angle there 

 described is founded in ISTature, in spite of all the criticisms he or 

 others may be able to pass upon it. K it be true, as Herbert Spencer 

 says, that science is distinguished from common knowledge by being 

 a more accurate system of measurements of ordinary phenomena, 

 guided by more accurately understood and applied principles of gen- 

 eralization. Camper's facial angle may be regarded as the first step of 

 a strictly scientific mind in the erection of a positive science of Com- 

 parative Physico-Psychology ; and we have only to learn its true sig- 

 nificance better than the master, by following the same induction of 

 generals in regard to each particular line of it that he followed in 

 regard to the whole, in order to complete the magnificent superstruct- 

 ure for which he laid so solid a foundation. 



