140 THE HUMAN SKULL 



multiplying it by the co-efficient 0.87, first sug- 

 gested by Manouvrier, by which process we obtain 

 a reasonably accurate estimate of the weight of 

 the brain. 



Now from the various weighings and measurings 

 we find that the average weight of the male 

 European brain is 1,361 grammes and of the female 

 1,290. The weights of the Negro brains are not 

 much lower. The difference ascertained by Mano- 

 uvrier from estimation of weight as deduced 

 from cranial capacity between modern Parisians 

 and the lowest races examined was 196 grammes. 

 But weighings even of individuals of the same race 

 give very curious and conflicting results. For 

 example, one observer from the weighing of 

 twenty-eight brains obtained an average for the 

 Englishman of 1,388 grammes. Another observer, 

 from a series of 425 brains, obtained an average 

 for the same race of 1,354 grammes. The differ- 

 ence between these two averages is greater than 

 the differences between the average weight of the 

 European brain and that of the brain of Anna- 

 mites, as determined by a small series of actual 

 weighings ; and it is not much less than the differ- 

 ence between the average European brain and 

 the average Negro brain as determined by actual 

 weighings. As a matter of fact, within limits 

 always, the size and weight of the brain is but little 

 correlated with the intellect of its owner. Even 

 from the physical point of view, the larger part 

 of the brain has little to do with the question, for 

 it is the cortex, with the contained neurons, cells, 

 axis-cylinders and prolongations, which really 



