56 THE DESCENT OF MAN 



did not equal them in the sharpness of their senses. The 

 same naturalist observes that the cavities in the skull for 

 the reception of the several sense-organs are larger in the 

 American aborigines than in Europeans; and this probably 

 indicates a corresponding difference in the dimensions of the 

 organs themselves. Blumenbach has also remarked on the 

 large size of the nasal cavities in the skulls of the American 

 aborigines, and connects this fact with their remarlcably 

 acute power of smell. The Mongolians of the plains of 

 Northern Asia, according to Pallas, have wonderfully per- 

 fect senses; and Prichard believes that the great breadth 

 of their skulls across the zygomas follows from their highly 

 developed sense-organs.^" 



The Quechua Indians inhabit the lofty plateaus of Peru; 

 and Alcide d'Orbigny states'' that, from continually breath- 

 ing a highly rarefied atmosphere, they have acquired chests 

 and lungs of extraordinary dimensions. The cells, also, of 

 the lungs are larger and more numerous than in Europeans. 

 These observations have been doubted; but Mr. D. Forbes 

 carefully measured many Aymaras, an allied race, living at 

 the height of between ten thousand and fifteen thousand 

 feet; and he informs me" that they differ conspicuously 

 from the men of all other races seen by him in the circum- 

 ference and length of their bodies. In his table of measure- 

 ments the stature of each man is taken at one thousand, and 

 the other measurements are reduced to this standard. It is 

 here seen that the extended arms of the Aymaras are shorter 

 than those of Europeans, and much shorter than those of 

 Negroes. The legs are likewise shorter; and they present 

 this remarkable peculiarity, that in every Aymara measured, 

 the femur is actually shorter than the tibia. On an average, 

 the length of the femur to that of the tibia is as 211 to 252; 



'^ Prichard, "Phys. Hiat. of Mankind," on the authority of Blumenbach, 

 vol. i., 1851, p. 311; for the statement by Pallas, vol. iv., 1844, p. 407. 



'' Quoted by Prichard, "Researches into the Phys. History of Mankind," 

 vol. V. p. 463. 



^ Mr. Forbea's valuable paper is now pubhahed in the "Journal of the 

 Ethnolog. Soc. of London," new aeries, vol. ii., ISTO, p. 193. 



