H8 FACIAL ANGLE. 



Emily. But may not the human brain after all, be 

 absolutely larger than that of any other animal ? 



Dr. B. Such was the belief of the ancient natural- 

 ists, and it is certainly less objectionable on the score of 

 exceptions, than the other, for the elephant is the only 

 one I believe that has been found. 



Another point of comparison has been instituted, which 

 is more satisfactory than either of these. It depends on 

 the ratio of the brain to tile bulk of the nerves which is- 

 sue from it. This view of the matter flatters our pride 

 more than any other, for man possesses positively the 

 largest brain in proportion to the nerves which come out 

 from it. The apes, whose brain resembles man's so 

 much in form and size, present a striking difference in 

 the size of their nerves. The brain of the horse is 14 

 ounces lighter than man's, while the nerves in its base 

 are ten times larger. 



Emily. Is there no other difference . between the 

 brain of man and of the mammiferous animals, than that 

 of size and form ? I should imagine there might be some 

 difference in the organization, the one being more deli- 

 cate and perfect in this respect. 



Dr. B. They all, except the apes, want the poste- 

 rior portions of the cerebrum. In man, all the parts are 

 more developed, the convolutions are deeper and more 

 numerous, and it approaches nearest the spherical shape. 

 But the most striking characteristic of the human brain, 

 is the prodigious developement of the cerebrum, and 

 especially its anterior portion. The proportion between 

 this part, as it is considered to be most closely connect- 

 ed with the mental powers, and the rest of the brain, is 

 a tolerable index of the mental capacity of the animal. 



Emily. But how can we ascertain this, till after the 

 animal is dead ? I do not see how the fact can be of 

 any practical utility, unless we have the means of deter- 

 mining it during life. 



Dr. B. Several rules for this purpose have been 

 laid down by naturalists, but we can mention only that 



