41 2 HlSTOiiY OF 



In this slight survey, therefoie, I think we may see that all 

 the variations in the human figure, as far as they differ from our 

 own, are produced either by the rigour of the climate, the bad 

 quality or the scantiness of the provisions, or by the savage cus- 



and well rounded. This face is most consonant with our ideas of beauty, and 

 is characteristic in greater or less degrees of perfection of the Caucasian tribes. 



2. Broad and flattish face ; parts ill-distinguished from each otiier ; space 

 between the eyes flat and broad, flat nose ; projecting cheeks ; narrow and 

 oblique eyelids, and chin rather prominent. This is the Mongolian face. 



3. Broad, but not flat visage ; prominent cheek-bones ; short forehead ; 

 eyes deeply fixed j nose flattish, but prominent. Such is the American face. 



4. Narrow face, projecting below; narrow, retreating and arched fore- 

 head ; prominent eyes ; thick nose and lips, &c. Negro face. 



5. Face not so narrow as the last, rather projecting downwards ; bottled 

 nose, and large mouth. Malay countenance. — See Plate V. for specimens of 

 the above varieties. 



Placing these variations of the human countenance thus beside each ether, 

 the difference appears very striking. But we must repeat of the characters 

 of countenance above described, as of those of colour, that they are by no 

 means to be found the same in all the individuals of each respective race ; on 

 the contrary, individual deviations from the given type are numerous. 

 Among the African and American nations, many persons are found with 

 features as regular and as handsome as any Europeans. The same is more 

 especially true of the South-Sea Islanders. Among ourselves how many 

 have tlie characteristic features of other races. It may be observed, however, 

 that rather less deviation from the characteristic model is observable in the 

 Mongolian than in the other varieties. Though even there there is consider, 

 able diflerence, if not in form, at least in expression of features. As for ex- 

 ample, between the Calm\ick aud the Chinese. 



From the features we naturally proceed to the skull. This, in the Cau- 

 casian variety, is more fully developed in the upper and front parts, these 

 forming a large and smooth convexity, a little flattened towards the temples. 

 There is a general softness, harmony, ai;d proportion in the entire coutour 

 of the head. Some differences iu the formation of the skull have been observ. 

 ed in different nations of the Caucasian race : in the Turks, for instance, a 

 singular globularity of this part has been remarked ; and in the Poles and 

 Russians a considerable contraction of the orbits. But wehave notsufllcient 

 information on this subject to lead us to any definite conclusions. 



In the Mongolian variety the head is of a square form, with the forehead 

 low and slanting. The orbits are large and open, and the superciliary 

 arches elevated. 



In the Ethiopian variety the front of the head is laterally compressed and 

 considerably elongated, so that the length of the whole skiiU from the teeth 

 to the occiput is great. It forms a complete contrast to the globular head 

 of some Europeans, and to the square head of the Calmucks. The forehead 

 is wonderfully narrowed off, and the face widened below ; the frontal bone 

 is shorter, and it and the parietal less excavated than m the European. The 

 temporal ridge is higher ; the compression of the front of the skull arises 

 from the strength of the temporal muscles ; the foramen magnum is larger 



