222 Biographical Sketch of Dr Prichard. 



In this Edition Dr Prichard introduced the distinctive appel- 

 lations of Stenobregmate and Platybregmate, as character- 

 istics of different forms of skull ; and he subsequently gave 

 directions for the different aspects in which skulls are to be 

 viewed for the purpose of noticing ethnological points. A 

 somewhat analogous service has been performed by the dis- 

 tinguished Professor Retzius of Stockholm, who, having de- 

 voted special attention to this part of Ethnology, has classified 

 nations according to the prevalent forms of their heads, and 

 employed the distinctive terms, Dolico-cephalic and Brachy- 

 eephalic, each of which are again divided into Prognate and 

 Orthognate. 



Having myself paid some attention to the ethnological 

 grouping of human skulls, I must confess that I have found 

 very considerable difficulty in adopting points of character- 

 istic difference ; and in this very difficulty I find an argument 

 in favour of the unity of our species, and of the difterences 

 which we observe being those of variety only. I cannot ad- 

 ■ duce a better illustration of this remark than that which is 

 afibrded by the skulls and portraits of American Indians. 

 The unmixed Indians of North and South America form as 

 well marked and distinct a group of the human race as can 

 be pointed out ; and I have noticed greater diff"erences in the 

 form of the head between individuals of the same tribe, than 

 between those of individuals of different tribes, separated 

 from each other by thousands of miles, and between which 

 the most remote connection cannot be traced. 



Having ali'eady noticed the principal divisions of the sub- 

 ject in speaking of the Doctor's previous writings, I will not 

 now trespass on the time of the Society with any furtlier ob- 

 servations on this third edition. Whilst the publication of 

 this great work was in progress, Dr Prichard produced a 

 smaller one on the same subject, which appeared in illustrated 

 numbers, designed to encourage and popularize the study of 

 ethnology by consulting the taste of the day. On the com- 

 pletion of the larger work, Dr Prichard observed that he con- 

 sidered his literary labours as accomplished ; yet we cannot 

 doubt, that, had his life and health been spared, his ever active 

 mind and confirmed habits of study and labour would have 



