THE FACE. 171 



even in members of the same family. The circumstance occa- 

 sionally manifests itself by unusually large and long teeth, and 

 by alveolar processes of corresponding dimensions. Savage 

 nations have almost invariably this peculiarity, which is kept 

 up among them, not only by hereditary influence from father 

 to son, but also by the actual habits of the individual being pro- 

 ductive of, and favourable to this arrangement. It would be 

 interesting to know whether from their articles of food general- 

 ly being harder to masticate than such as are used by civilized 

 people, they do not contribute to, or even produce a greater de- 

 velopment in the organs of mastication. Analogy is in favour 

 of the opinion, because the arms or the legs ar6 always developed 

 in proportion to the vigour and frequency of the exercise to 

 which they are put. Ploughmen have large legs. Blacksmiths 

 have large arms. Persons whose habits of exercise do not call 

 into action any part of the body, to the exclusion of other parts, 

 have finer and more graceful forms than labourers. It is there- 

 fore, probable, that the ease and gracefulness of movement, said 

 to mark the polished and accomplished man of fashion, depend 

 upon the harmonious action of his whole frame, derived from 

 this proportionate development of all its parts. Besides the in- 

 fluence of exercise upon the organs of mastication, the passions 

 or faculties of the mind not unfrequently manifest themselves 

 there. Individuals of unusual ferocity and savageness, have 

 frequently large teeth and alveolar processes. The gnashing 

 of the teeth has, in all ages, been considered one of the most 

 striking signs of anger. 



While speaking of these indications of man in a savage and 

 uncultivated state, it will be understood that I allude to such 

 tribes as are engaged in the chase, and in other active modes of 

 subsistence, and whose habits are not settled down into the agri- 

 cultural or pastoral condition. It is quite possible for one in the 

 latter situation to be equally uninstructed, on every point of 

 mental improvement, and to be much inferior in capacity, to one 

 of the former ; yet his articles of food, and the sensations and 

 passions in which he indulges, will give no very prominent out- 

 line to his face, but only mark it by the general expression of 

 dulness and ignorance. 



The outline of the face is marked also by depressions or fossae. 



