NATURE 



VNov. 5, il 



length of the measurement. This may be avoided by 

 using Flower's craniometer, which has the further ad- 

 vantage that it combines both Broca's instruments in one. 

 The consideration of the characters used in the classi- 

 fication of races is begun in the tenth chapter. The first 

 of these d scussed is the hair. A very concise resumd is 

 given of the anatomy of the hair follicles and the develop- 

 ment of hair, its distribution, size and form in various 

 races. Six types of hair are described, and good illustra- 

 tions of each are given. The characters of the nose are 

 next considered. The anatomy of the soft and hard parts 

 forming it are dcjcribeJ and illustrated by means of 

 beautifully executed woodcuts. The nasal indices of the 

 skulls of various races are tabulated, and show clearly the 

 value of the form of the nasal opening as a race character. 

 In the living subject eight forms of nose are recognised 

 Tud figured. All of these are easily distinguishable, and 

 we would suggest the desirability of having cards with 

 these forms printed separately for the use of travellers as 

 a means of obtaining much more accurate information 

 than we now obtain from descriptions of this part of the 

 face, which are very frequently extremely vague and un- 

 satisfactory. If furnished with such a card the traveller 

 would be able to record the form of the nose by simply 

 noting the number of the type to which the nose of each 

 person examined corresponds. The table of nasal indices 

 in the living will prove useful for comparison with those 

 of the bony parts. 



The colour of the skin, eyes, and hair are dealt with in 

 the following chapter in the same systematic manner as 

 the previous characters treated of. Prof Topinard con- 

 cludes that there aie only two types — the blond and the 

 dark ; that the other so-called types — yellow and red in 

 particular, can only in a very minor degree serve to dis- 

 tinguish races, and that colour as a rule is an .uncertain 

 character, liable to alter in individuals, and difficult to 

 determine and express. As a concession, however, to the 

 general practice, he gives a table of classification of races 

 by their colour under the three denominations — white, 

 yellow, and black. 



The cephalic index, unlike colour, is described as a cha- 

 racter of prime importance in the classification of races^ 

 since it indicates the general form of that portion of the skull 

 which contains the brain. Before the cephalic index can 

 have the same value in all cases, it is absolutely necessary 

 that there should be complete uniformity in the manner 

 of measuring the length and breadth of the cranium, the 

 two measurements from which it is deduced. Unfor- 

 tunately this has not hitherto been the case. French 

 anthropologists have uniformly measured the cranial 

 length as that between the most prominent points of the 

 glabella in front and the occipital behind in the mesial 

 line, and the breadth between the most widely distant 

 points on the same plane of the parietal or squamosal 

 bones at right angles to the length. This we contend is 

 the only satisfactory method of n\easuring these diameters. 

 In England the anterior point of length has been taken 

 until recently from the ophryon, while in Germany the 

 length is measured from the glabella to a point on a line 

 perpendicular to the most posterior part of the occiput 

 at right angles to a plane adopted by the Frankfort agree- 

 ment as the horizontal of the skull. The breadth likewise 

 has been differently measured on the parietal bones or on 



the squamosals. Fortunately the methods of measuring 

 these diameters is uniform now in France, England, and 

 most other countries, except Germany. Skulls are classi- 

 fied according to their cephalic indices into three groups 

 —dolichocephalic, mesaticephalic, and brachycephalic ; 

 but the limits assigned to each group by different anthro- 

 pologists vary very considerably, as the tables in Prof. 

 Topinard's work will show. The limits assigned by the 

 author to each group are such as to commend his classi- 

 fication generally. He subdivides the dolichocephalic 

 and brachycephalic groups — the former into dolicho- 

 cephalic and sub-dolichocephalic, and the latter into sub- 

 brachycephalic and supra-brachycephalic, and gives these 

 subdivisions and the mesaticephalic group each a limit 

 of five units. Thus we have practically five groups — 

 viz. dolichocephalic, where the index is between 65 and 

 69 inclusive ; sub-dolichocephalic, 70-74 inclusive ; mesa- 

 ticephaUc, 75-79 inclusive ; sub-brachycephaUc, 80-84 

 inclusive ; and supra-brachycephalic, 85-89 inclusive. 

 Skulls with indices below or above the extreme limits of 

 these groups are termed ultra-dolichocephalic and ultra- 

 brachycephalic respectively. This classification and the 

 limits of each class agree with the ideas on the subject 

 most generally entertained, and we would earnestly urge 

 their acceptance. In one small point the nomenclature 

 might be improved by the insertion of the word " sus," 

 or in English supra, to distinguish the higher group 

 of the dolichocephalic class (if its omission is not an 

 overlook in the correction of the proof sheets of the 

 work) so as to make the nomenclature of this subdivision 

 correspond to that of the higher division of the brachy- 

 cephalic class — " sus-brachycephalic." The tables of 

 cephalic indices of skulls and of the heads of various 

 races will prove extremely useful for reference. 



Chapters XIII. and XIV. are devoted to statuie. The 

 development of the skeleton and its variations in height 

 are first considered ; then, secondly, the stature of the 

 inhabitants of different countries. These chapters contain 

 much information collected together from many sources. 



The two following chapters treat of the weight and size 

 of the brain at different ages, and in different persons 

 and races, its relation to the weight and stature of the 

 body, and other questions of much interest regarding it, 

 which will well repay perusal by those interested in 

 neurology as well as anthropologists. 



The next chapter (XVII.), on the cubage of the cranial 

 cavity, will be read with much interest, being a subject to 

 which Prof. Topinard has given special attention. It 

 reveals the great diversity of opinion which still exists 

 regarding the best method of measuring the capacity of 

 the encephalon. A system of cubage easy of application 

 which would yield constant results in the hands of different 

 operators, and at the same time indicate the actual size 

 of the encephalon would probably be readily accepted by 

 most anthropologists. Broca's system, which is perhaps 

 the one most generally used, gives constant results, but is 

 somewhat complicated and does not indicate the absolute 

 capacity. Even with its faults Prof. Topinard considers 

 it is the best method we have at present, he however 

 contemplates some modifications of it which will simplify 

 it and make it more satisfactory. This being the case it 

 is needless to criticise the cha^jter further at present, but 

 p.VjS on to the ne.\t s.ibject — viz. the skull itself, its 



