310 SALMONIA. 



the beaver makes a more ingenious use of this 

 part than even of his mouth. Pray, have you 

 ever observed, Poietes, any particular pro- 

 tuberance in the nether parts of any of our 

 distinguished architects ? 



POIET. I am not a craniologist ; but I 

 would have the doctrine overturned by facts, 

 and not by ridicule ; and I have certainly seen 

 some remarkable instances, which were fa- 

 vourable to the system. 



HAL. My experience is entirely on the 

 opposite side; and I once saw a distinguished 

 craniologist in error on a point, which he con- 

 sidered as the most decided. He was shown 

 two children, one of whom was possessed of 

 great mathematical acquirements, the other 

 of extraordinary musical taste. With the ut- 

 most confidence he pronounced judgment, and 

 was mistaken. It appeared to me, that, whilst 

 he was examining the two heads, he hummed 

 an air, which, being out of tune, was not re- 

 sponded to by the musical child ; but some- 

 how struck the fancy of the mathematical 

 one. 



