A Sketch of his Work as a Cra?iiologist. ^3 



interred about the same time, and yet they exhibit considerable 

 variations in cranial form. Again, in the same Journal, Vol. vi., 1 85 8, 

 p. 241, he gives a chronological classification of 104 skulls from 

 various Irish sources which he had measured. From an examina- 

 tion of some prehistoric Irish skulls he came to the conclusion 

 that they were divisible into two distinct groups. The majority 

 were long-headed like the majority of the existing inhabitants, 

 and he considers them Celtic. The minority were round-headed, 

 and Grattan agrees with Retzius in holding that these were of 

 "Turanic" origin, had preceded the Celtic population, and have 

 their living representatives in the Fins or Laplanders. He further 

 concluded from the cranial testimony that the Celtic population of 

 Ireland, no matter by how many immigrations introduced, must 

 be originally from one part stock. 



It will thus be seen that Grattan belonged to that group of 

 scientific investigators who have endeavoured to ascertain the 

 physical characteristics of the prehistoric races of this country 

 and that his own researches and inventions were calculated to aid 

 in the accurate determination of the differences between the 

 various races, of mankind and the zoological position of man 

 himself. 



Grattan was an active member and an important contributor to 

 the Proceedings of this Society about half a century ago, and his 

 researches may serve as a typical illustration of the general 

 character of the work of some of its early supporters. 



This Society was not founded upon any narrow and merely 

 utilitarian basis and has not limited itself to any one department 

 of scientific work. It has welcomed contributions from those 

 interested in any of the physical or biological sciences, and while 

 glad to receive contributions illustrating the practical application 

 of scientific discoveries to the improvements of our arts and 

 manufactures it has shown an equal appreciation for observations 

 and experiments tending to increase our knowledge of nature and 

 its workings, irrespective of whether or not they were likely to 

 increase our wealth or contribute to our material comfort. 



Natural History, Botany, Geology and Ethnology have been 



