384 PHYSICAL CHARACTERtSTlCS OV tfifi 



satisfied Dr. Prichard. But when commenting on the Ugrians, Turks, 

 and Sclaves of Europe, all of whom he includes in his Orthognathic 

 Brachycephal(B, Retzius remarks : " On different occasions I have 

 met with brachycephalio Scots from northern Scotland, and the isles 

 to the north. During my last sojourn in Scotland, I encountered 

 again divers individuals pertaining to this same type, having an ex- 

 pression altogether peculiar, their visage being often short and some- 

 what large, their hair red, the skin of their faces marked with freckles. 

 Since then I have learned from the reports of travellers, that this type 

 is common in the Highlands, v/here it is indigenous from a remote 

 antiquity. I suppose it has descended from the Finns, or perhaps 

 the Basques." The observations of Professor Retzius are confirmed 

 by those of my friend, Captain Thomas, R.N., whose experienced eye 

 has detected a peculiar type of form and features both in the Orkneys 

 and the Hebrides, equally distinct, as it appears to him from Celt and 

 Scandinavian, which he also conceives to be Finnic. It is well worthy 

 of note, however, that this globular head-form appears to pertain to 

 the Scoto-Scandinavian districts ; for, as will be seen, a similar type 

 prevails in the Gallo-Scandinavian district of Normandy ; and the 

 same type predominates, according to Mr. Wilde, in the region to the 

 north-east of the Shannon, where in like manner the influence of the 

 Northmen may account for the distinction he defines between them 

 and the long-headed Firbolgs beyond that river. When, however. 

 Dr. Retzius quotes vaguely, " The reports of travellers, that this (the 

 brachycephalic) type is common in the Highlands,'' the opinion must 

 be received with caution. My own opportunities of observation led 

 me to an opposite conclusion ; but from the great difficulty of arri^ang 

 at any certain results in reference to the relative proportions of the 

 living head, without actual manipulation and measurement, I feel 

 assured that the reports of ordinary travellers on minute distinctions 

 of the kind in question are valueless. It is of a nearly corresponding 

 type that Dr. Priciiard remarks : " There are some modern English 

 and Welsh heads to be seen of a similar form, but they are not 

 numerous." But the significance of this globular, or brachycephalic 

 head-form will again come under review in other geographical 

 relations. 



Dr. Beddoe, whose observations on the complexion, eyes, and hair 

 of the modern Celt have been already referred to, in a communication 

 to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland on the ancient and modern 



