le « 
ea 
Prof. J. Lovering on the Aneroid Barometer. 249 
tic heads will hardly permit them to be admitted into the com- 
parison. 
5. The Negro brain is nine cubic inches less than the Teutonic, 
and three cubic inches larger than the ancient Egyptian. 
6. The largest brain in the series is that of a Dutch gentleman, 
and gives 114 cubic inches; the smallest head is an old Peruvian, 
of 58 cnbic inches ; the difference between these two extremes is 
no less than 56 cubic inches. 
7. The brain of the Australian and Hottentot falls far below 
the Negro, and measures precisely the same as the ancient Peru- 
vian. 
8. This extended series of measurements fully confirms the 
fact stated by me in the Crania Americana, that the various arti- 
ficial modes of distorting the cranium, occasion no diminution of 
its internal capacity, and consequently do not aflect the size of 
the brain. 
Arr. XXVIL—Remarks on the Aneroid Barometer ; by Pro- 
essor J. Loverine of Harvard University. 
Mosr of the scientific journals of Europe and America have 
published descriptions of the new French barometer, as it is 
called. For the construction of the instrument and the history 
of its invention I may refer to them, particularly to that con- 
tained in this Journal, September, 
The two ordinary statical ways of measuring forces are, Ist, by 
means of gravity, and 2d, by elasticity. Our common balances 
to measure weight employ either the gravity of a known coun- 
terpoise or the elasticity of a spring. In like manner the weight 
of a column of the atmosphere is determined when we know the 
height of a similar column of some known fluid which it 1s able 
to support or the elasticity of some familiar substance with which 
it is in equilibrium. The barometer with which all have Jong 
been familiar employs the first method. The aneroid barometer, 
which, as its name implies, excludes all liquids from its conte 
tion, is based on the last principle, viz., that of measuring weig 
by elasticity. i 
_ This new instrument is already manufactured in large numbers 
in France and Great Britain. Its adoption is recommended on 
the ground of accuracy as well as its great strength and compact- 
hess. Barometers are now extensively used, not only for tracing 
out the grand laws of meteorology, but also as a practical guide 
to the mariner to forewarn him of approaching storms, and an 
indispensable instrument of research to the physical geographer 
and geologist. It is highly important that the mineralogist, the 
Srconp Serres, Vol. IX, No. 26—March, 1850. 32 
