1844.] Queries respecting the Human Race, 921 



Physical Characters. 



1. State the general stature of the people, and confirm this by some 

 actual measurements. Measurement may be applied to absolute 

 height, and also to proportions, to be referred to in subsequent queries. 

 The weight of individuals, when ascertainable, and extreme cases, as 

 well as the average, will be interesting. What may be the relative 

 differences in stature and dimensions, between males and females? 



2. Is there any prevailing disproportion between different parts of 

 the body ? as, for example, in the size of the head, the deficient or 

 excessive development of upper or lower extremities. 



3. What is the prevailing complexion ? This should be accurately 

 defined, if possible by illustrative and intelligent example, such as by 

 comparison with those whose colour is well known. The colour of 

 the hair should be stated, and its character, whether fine or coarse, 

 straight, curled, or woolly. The colour and character of the eyes should 

 likewise be described. Is there, independently of want of cleanli- 

 ness, any perceptible peculiarity of odour ? 



4. The head is so important as distinctive of race, that particular 

 attention must be paid to it. Is it round or elongated in either direc- 

 tion, and what is the shape of the face, broad, oval, lozenge-shaped, 

 or of any other marked form? It will contribute to facilitate the 

 understanding of other descriptions, to have sketches of several typi- 

 cal specimens. A profile, and also a front view should be given. In 

 the profile, particularly notice the height and angle of the forehead, the 

 situation of the meatus auditorius, and the form of the posterior part of 

 the head. It will also be desirable to depict the external ear, so as 

 to convey the form and proportion of its several parts. The form of 

 the head may be minutety and accurately described by employing 

 the divisions and terms introduced by craniologists, and the corres- 

 ponding development of moral and intellectual character should in 

 conjunction be faithfully stated. So much of the neck should be 

 given with the profile as to show the setting on of the head. The ad- 

 vance or recession of the chin, and the character of the lips and nose, 

 may likewise be given in profile. The front view should exhibit the 

 width of forehead, temples, and cheek-bones, the direction of the eyes, 

 and the width between them : the dimensions of the mouth. When 



