SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OF MAN. 107 



neath the cranium ; the consequence of this is, that 

 in the human subject the facial angle is, or ap- 

 proaches nearer than in any other, to a right angle. 

 In brutes, on the contrary, as the face is placed in 

 front of the cranium the facial line is oblique, and 

 the facial angle acute. This obliquity of the line 

 and acuteness of the angle increase more and 

 more as we descend in the scale of animated beings, 

 until at last the angle is entirely lost, the cranium 

 and face become completely on a level, and form 

 parts of one horizontal line. 



The idea of stupidity has been generally asso- 

 ciated with the elongation of the snout, or lower 

 part of the face, which necessarily increases the 

 obliquity of the facial line, and the acuteness of the 

 facial angle. 



The elevation of the facial line, on the contrary, 

 both in men and brutes, from what cause soever, 

 produces an air of intelligence, and the attributes of 

 superior sagacity: the reason of which is, that in 

 man, and the quadrumanous animals, where the 

 frontal sinuses are inconsiderable, this elevation is 

 caused for the most part by the convexity of the 

 brain and capacity of the cranium. 



But it must not be forgotten that in many other 

 animals the facial line does not measure the pro- 

 minence of the brain, but that of the frontal 

 sinuses, which, in the carnivora, many of the rumi- 

 nantia, and especially in the elephant are so large 

 as to raise the facial line to a very considerable 

 degree. The practical application of this measure- 



