AMERICAN VARIETY. 321 



which the frontal bone, originally very low, presents a 

 broad indentation about its middle. The enumerated cha- 

 racters are, a depressed forehead (frons retropressa) ; orbits 

 sur])rlsingly large, patulous, and looking upwards, as is seen 

 in hydrocephalic patients ; the orbital plate of the frontal 

 bone slanting downwards, and the superciliary margin very 

 obtuse." P. 26. 



In his second decade *, Blumenbach has figured the 

 skull of a female Carib from the same island as the preced- 

 ing, where the forehead is much lower, and the orbits are, in 

 like manner, directed upwards. How strikingly it deviates 

 from the author's expressions : — " prodigiosum plane cra- 

 nium" — "horrida et fere monstrosa hujus capitis distortio." 

 The contraction of the front seems to have been compen- 

 sated by expansion of the lateral and posterior parts ; so 

 that this head, when placed on the vertebral column, must 

 evidently have preponderated backwards. 



A head, in all points very similar to this, is in the posses- 

 sion of Dr. Leach : a broad flat surface above, or rather 

 behind the eyes, seems to mark out the situation and action 

 of the pressure. The preponderance of the parts behind 

 the occipital condyles Is the same. 



The kindness and liberality of Mr. Cline enable me to 

 describe a very interesting specimen in his Collection ; and 

 thus to illustrate, by direct contrast, the difference between 

 the natural and artificial form of the Carib head. The arti- 

 ficial excavation of the frontal bone, and the superficial 

 risings denoting the anterior cerebral lobes, are obvious on 

 the first inspection. It is clear too, that this individual 

 would have had naturally a very low forehead. A violent 

 and unnatural bulge behind and at the sides seems to shew 

 that the contraction- in front has been compensated by an 

 equivalent extension in those quarters. The figure of the 

 occipital bone is so changed, that the external transverse 

 ridge, which naturally forms the posterior boundary of the 

 basis cranii, is now far within that boundary. The face is 



* Tab. 20. p. 15. 

 Y 



