22 THE VARIETIES OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 



error, that of regarding certain forms which are typically normal, 

 as pathological, as I shall have occasion to demonstrate in the 

 future when I speak of classified forms. This is apt to happen 

 when new and unrecognized forms are placed before the observer. 



One of the important characteristics in classifying the cranial 

 varieties of man is the cranial capacity, which has a direct relation 

 to the volume and weight of the brain; hence classification by 

 crania means the classification of brains estimated by their form 

 and external configuration. Its importance is for us increased by 

 the fact that that which we find among races of animals occurs 

 also in man; that there are races of small and large animals, races 

 differing in size. This is also repeated in man, and we therefore 

 have large, medium and small varieties, as measured by stature. 

 The origin of such varieties is perfectly analogous to that in other 

 animals. Nor is it an accidental phenomenon, because it is con- 

 firmed by heredity, through numerous and indefinite generations. 



I have concluded, in studying cranial varieties morphologically 

 as human varieties, that is, by their characteristic structures, that 

 the volume has a direct relation to the form, that is, many forms 

 have limited and definite capacities, while other forms have sub- 

 varieties dififering in capacity. Such varieties are analogous to 

 the stature of the large and small varieties of animals. The 

 cranial capacity, therefore, while it is one of the integral character- 

 istics of the cranium in regard to its classification, is also the indi- 

 cation of different varieties according to size. I discovered this 

 fact when I classified for the first time the crania of Melanesia, and 

 subsequently I defined it more accurately when I examined and 

 classified thousands of other human crania. 



This fact points to a correction of the value' of cranial capacity 

 and therefore of the weight of the brain, until now calculated by 

 the average without distinction among different varieties. The 

 cranial capacity of man varies from looo cc. to about 2000 cc. in 

 the masculine sex; this enormous difference is admitted as indi- 

 vidual variation, and it is thus conceded that there may be a least 

 limit of normality possible which can be ascribed to the function of 

 the brain, crania which descend to 1 1 50 cc. being considered as 

 pathological microcephali, according to Broca, and more or less 

 according to other anthropologists; giving, on the other hand, a 

 great value to a large capacity. Both conclusions are contrary to 



