598 



NA TURE 



[April i8, 1895 



ally as human varieties, that if, by their characteristic structures, 

 that the volume has a dirfct relation to the form, in other words, 

 many forms have limited and definite capacities, while other 

 forms have sub\-arieties differing 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 nf the 

 integral characieristics of the cranium in regard to its classifica- 

 tion, is also the indication of diflferent varieties according to size. 

 I discovered this fact when I clafsified for the first time the crania 

 of Melanesia, and sub'e quently I defined it more accurately when 

 I examined and classified thousands of other human crania. 



This fact points to acorrectionof the value of cranial capacity 

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

 the average without disliuciion 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 noimaliiy possible which can be ascribed to the function of 

 the biain, crania which descend to 1150 cc. being considered as 

 pathological microcephali, according to Broca, and more or less 

 according 10 other anthropologists ; giving, on the other hand,' a 

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

 the real significance of the (acts. I have found normal mascu- 

 line capaciiies of 1000 cc. and a little greater, representing 

 small human varieties, not being sporadic and individual phe- 

 nomena ; and, on the other hand, anthropologists have registered 

 for eminent men, like Dante, Gauss, and others, very mediocre 

 capacities, even very low, while for ordinary men they have 

 recorded a much higher capacity. I have found in Melanesia 

 normally constituted heads absolutely microcephalic, together 

 with roegalocephalic heads, belonging to varieties which have 

 the same social value ; they are both inferior, some anthro- 

 pophagous, and live mixed together as one people, That which 

 I have asserted concerning Melanesia may be said of the ancient 

 and modern populations of the Mediterranean, among which are 

 the Sicilians, the Sardinians, and the inhabitants of Central and 

 Southern Italy ; and I do not believe it can be said that there 

 are no signs of human superiority in those regions. There are 

 not, therefore, individual differences so great as from 1000 to 

 1500 cc, and from 1 500 to 2ccocc., but characteristic differences 

 o( variety in human forms. The general average I therefore 

 maintain is inexact and also arbitrary, because it is the 

 average of incommensurate quantities. The exact average is 

 that between irdividu.ils of the same variety, and the diffeience 

 is the tiue individual variation. 



But I here is another error to correct, due to the signification 

 which I am able to give to varieties distinguished by means of 

 my method. It is considered by some a demonstrated fact that 

 the cranial capacity has been increased in the course of social 

 cvolutii-n from prehistoric epochs to historic times. Eminent 

 men have affirmed it, but I have already placed their conclusions 

 in doubt, because the facts do not appear to me evident and 

 affirmative, I wrote some years ago : ' "The most important 

 physical evolution of man would be that which related to the 

 organ of the menial functions, the brain. But the facts are still 

 very doubtful and very obscure which relate to the weight and 

 volume of the brain, and consequently to the cranial capacily. 

 In a recent work of Prof. Schmidt, I find that the cranial 

 capacily of the ancient puie Egyptians is 1394 cc. in the mas- 

 culine, and 1257 in the feDiinine sex; in the pure modern 

 Eg)piians it is 1421 in the males, 1206 in the females. Accord- 

 ing 10 th'te figuies there would be an increase of the cranial 

 capaiiiy nf the modern over the ancient males, but a deciea!>c 

 in the females. The nveise would be true nf the Egjpto- 

 Nubian cianium, which u 1335 in the modtrn males, and 12058 

 in the ftniaes. Broca luuiid that the Egyptians of the IV. 

 D)nast) hail, males 1534, females 1397 cc. ; those of the XI., 

 males 1443, lemalcn 1328; aid. finally, those of the XXIII., 

 the mi'Bi leceni, malea 1464, females 1322. There would be 

 in such a case no increa^e, but decrea!>e, but that is not 

 po>sil>lc ; the causr of these factt lies in the mixtures of races 

 at dUertnl limci. and in diflcrenl proportions. " 



Jvo» 1 cnniluilc from my recent studies upon (he Egyptians 

 of innciciil dynasties, liom the moit ancient to the present, 

 thai iicc4frding 10 n<y niethcifl ol da^'sificalion there ate capaciiies 

 of I260CC., of 1390, iif 1480, of 1550, of 1710, and still other 

 capakitici diflenii|> accoruing to the varietlcii determined.' As 



1 "H.I 



1 "Ol 



(Archives 



11." (Review of Scirntlfic PfiiloBopliy, i83B, Milan.) 

 I'niMiiive Inhabiianu of the MediternincaD." 

 ,;y, Florence, t^i, vul, xxit) 



NO. 13.9, \OL. 51 J 



is easily understood, a general average necessarily alters the 

 facts, according to the number of varieties which enter as 

 components of the average in the different series in anthro- 

 pological museums; hence the curious results above indicated. 



Another important point is as follows : 



" But the fact which surprises us is the high figure of the 

 capacity given by prehistoric crania. The masculine crania of 

 Lozire have given 1606 cc, the feminine 1507 ; aho of Lozere, 

 masculine 157S, feminine 1473 ; crania from the pie/ ra /cvigala, 

 masculine 1531, feminine 1320 ; the contemporaneous Parisians, 

 masculine 1559, feminine 1337. The approximate average of 

 crania from the fietra Irtigala is 1560, equal to that of modern 

 Europeans, as is related by Topinard." ' 



In another of my recent works, I have demonstrated that of 

 the crania of the neolithic age- the IsobatIiyflatycct>halus has a 

 cap.tcity from 1230 to 1405 in the feminine, and the Eiicaiiipylos 

 varies from 1470 to 1564 in the masculine. The two varieties, 

 still persistent in Sicily, do not vary in capacity in the modern 

 series, and at the same time show that in the neolithic epochs, as 

 among modern populations, large and small varieties are found, 

 just as the same types are now found through persistence of forms. 



From this it is evident how much there is to reform in 

 anthropology when we study by natural methods facts until the 

 present misinterpreted, respecting the classification as well as 

 the physical and psychological characteristics of man in time and 

 space. Perhaps in the future, when we know all cranial forms 

 by natural classification, it will be possible to find a correspond- 

 ence of psychological characteristics in populations according to 

 the predominance or superiority of types, a fact which has until 

 now escaped research, because the capacity of the cranium in its 

 absolute sense is not in correlation to the development of the 

 mental functions, notwithstanding what is commonly affirmed. 



The following are the varieties into which Dr. Sergi classifies 

 the forms of skulls in \.)\e norma verticalis of Blumenbach : — 

 (i) Ellipsoid (ellipsoides) ; (2) Pentagonoid (pmtagonoidts) \ 

 (3) Rhomboid (rlwmboides) ; (4) Ovoid (pvoidei) ; (5) Sphenoid 

 (sphenoidts) ; (6) Spheioid (sphicroides) ; (7) Byrsoid (liyrsoidts) ; 

 (8) Parallelepipedoid {paral/eUpipedoidts) ; (9) Cylindroid 

 (cylindroidts) \ (10) Cuboid (.'Kfo/rtt'.r) ; (11) Trapezoid (Irape- 

 zoides) ; (12) Acmonoid (acmoitoides) ; (13) Lophocephalic 

 (lopJwcephalus) ; (14) Chomatocephalus {chomatoctphalus) ; 

 (15) Platycephalic \plalycephaltis); (16) Skopeloid (skopeloides). 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 We have received a verbatim report of the interview which a 

 deputation from the Association of Technical Institutions 

 recenily had with Mr. Atland. Several suggestions were made, 

 some of which have already received the at cntiun of the Science 

 and /.It Department. Prof. Weriheiiner pleaded for an ad- 

 visory voice in the construction of the Department's schemes 

 before they were finally adopted, in a manner similar to that by 

 which the Education Depanmer.t allowed the managers of public 

 elementary schools to express their views on the Co le under 

 which they had to work before it was finally a lopted. Mr. 

 Acl.ind, in the course of his reply, said it was the intention of the 

 Department not to publish near the summer months an) thing 

 which will lie in the nature of an imporlani change. The recent 

 form dealing with organised science schools had been issued 

 early, with a view to emboiiying it in the Diieciory next 

 autumn, the Depariment in the meantime being open to sugges- 

 lions. During ihe course of the Vice-President's remarks, the 

 question of the pulilicaiion of the dales of the May exauiiniiions 

 was laiscdgand, in reply loan inqui y. Sir John Donnellysaid 

 lie saw no difficulty, if the schools wanted it, in publishing in 

 May ihe dates of ihe subsequent May examinations. As 10 the 

 qucsti n of the proper basis tor the calculation of the (iovern- 

 iiicni giant, Mr. Acland exprc^sell the hope that some day a 

 part 01 the principle, which is shuitly to be applied 10 organised 

 science sihools, will aho be applieil to evening classes ; that 

 IS to say, there is every prospect ihat the grants will in a year 

 or two be awarded in. re on the Inspector's lepoits as to the 

 soundness of ihe teaching than on the results of examination. 



TllK.RE are 119 Universities in the world, says the Oxfora 

 Univeisily Exlcmion Gazette. Dr. Kukula in his list names 



1 Sec " Human Evoltilion." 



•1 " Crania uf Ihe Neolithic Age." (Boll. Faletnol. luliana, Parma, i89a.> 



