742 THE CRANIA OF THE MOUND-BUILDERS. 
development of the frontal and parietal regions, the outward 
curving of the occiput, the horizontality of the line between the 
occipital ridge and the foramen magnum, and the convexity of 
the squamosal suture. 
It is the preponderance of the brain case over the facial por- 
tion of the head that gives to man his superiority as compared 
with the lower animals; and we estimate the intellectuality and 
capacity for improvement in the several races of men by the same 
standard. The skull in size and outline has a general- conformity 
to the enclosed brain. The bony walls take their shape from 
the nervous tissue, as the shell of the oyster is shaped to accom- 
modate its living tenant. The brain is undoubtedly the seat of 
mental activity; and, without endorsing phrenology in all its 
details, we may affirm that a particular form of skull is indicative 
of particular traits of character. We place the seat of the intel- 
lectual faculties in the anterior lobe; of the propensities which 
link us to the brute in the middle lobe; and of those which 
appertain to the social affections in the posterior lobe. ‘The pre- 
dominance of any one of these divisions in a people would stamp 
them as either eminently intellectual, or eminently cruel, or emi- 
nently social. The mound-builders, assuming these skulls to be 
typical, were doubtless neither eminent for great virtues nor great 
vices, but were a mild, inoffensive race, who would fall an easy 
prey to a crafty and cruel foe. Under the guidance of a superior 
mind, we can imagine that they would be content to toil, without 
weighing deliberately the nature or amount of the reward. Like 
the Chinese they could probably imitate, but not invent; and, 
secure from the irruption of enemies they would, in time, develop 
a rude civilization. 
The Indian possesses a conformation of skull which clearly 
separates him from the prehistoric mound-builder. And such a 
conformation must give rise to different mental traits. His bram 
as compared with the European, according to George Combe, 
differs widely in the proportions of the different parts. The ante- 
rior lobe is small, the middle lobe large, and the central convolu- 
tions on the anterior lobe and upper surface are small. - es 
brain case is box-like with the corners rounded off; the occiput 
extends up vertically ; the frontal ridge is prominent ; the cerebral 
vault is pyramidal; the interparictal diameter is great; the super 
ciliary ridges and zygomatic arches sweep out beyond the pe 
