156 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



an angle, which, according to the number of degrees it 

 is found to open in Camper's hypothesis, advances the 

 forehead towards a vertical structure, gives prominence 

 to the anterior lobes of the brain, and consequently 

 developes intellectual capacity. But this criterion, 

 though generally true in all mammalia, if the question 

 be referred to man, is liable to the objection, that 

 whole races have the orbital crests, at their junction, 

 on the lower edge of the frontal, so prominent as to 

 prevent the facial lines touching the forehead, which 

 from that point falls suddenly, both in the natural 

 structure of the flat-headed nations of Asia, and in the 

 heads by nature or artificially depressed, such as occur 

 in America. In other respects, where the facial line 

 can be drawn fairly, there is no doubt of the general 

 correctness of the principle, provided a vertical view 

 upon the skull, according to Blumenbach, and another 

 upon its base the lower jaw being removed as recom- 

 mended by Professor Owen be likewise employed to 

 form a comparison. The highest intellectual bearded 

 nations present, by the Camperian method, individuals 

 rising to eighty-five, and even nearly to ninety degrees. 

 These are, for example, occasionally observed in the 

 Teuto-Sarmatian nobles, and, more rarely, in other 

 European nations ; * but beyond the perpendicular line 



* In a series of portraits, representing Polish, East 

 Prussian, Silesian, Bohemian, and Moravian nobles, they 

 occur frequently. The late Count Harach, from our per- 

 sonal knowledge, was remarkable for this feature : i. e. } a 

 lofty and broad, very nearly vertical forehead ; and, it must 

 be added, that many so distinguished, were conspicuous as 



