The Human Head 



repeat that the scientific term for an average head is mesen- 

 cephalic, for a long head dolichocephalic, and for a broad 

 head brachycephalic. The last term is an approach to round- 

 headed, and implies a broad forehead and a large and wide 

 base to the skull. In a mixed population, such as that of 

 England, by far the greater number have medium heads, but 

 well-marked examples of long and round may be met with. If 

 a man is obliged to be very particular as to the fit of his hats 

 he is in all probability dolichocephalic, whereas if he can put 

 on any hat, wear it any way, and above all, if he can turn 

 it round on his head, he is brachycephalic. Shakespeare's 

 portraits represent a round head, that of Sir Walter Scott a 

 head both tall and round, whilst it might be difficult to name 

 any well-known portrait which conspicuously displays dolicho- 

 cephalism, since but few portraits give wholly side views. 

 The portrait of the late Mr. Roebuck, as given in Vanity Fair, 

 offers an extreme example. 



Some curious particulars are given in Wright's " Life of 

 Fitzgerald " as to the peculiarities of the head of Mr. Sped- 

 ding, the editor of " Bacon." Fitzgerald held that his 

 friend's head so much resembled that of Shakespeare that 

 if he had edited Hamlet one portrait might have served as 

 frontispiece for both author and editor. It is added, how- 

 ever, that the resemblance was chiefly in the high fore- 

 head and bald crown. Spedding's forehead was the subject 

 of frequent jokes amongst his friends. It must have been 

 remarkably broad and round as well as high, or perhaps 

 rather than high. Fanny Kemble spoke of " the white, 

 round object which is the head of him." Thackeray drew 

 it rising " with a sober light over Mont Blanc and reflected 

 in the Lake of Geneva." When Spedding visited America 

 Fitzgerald asserted that the sailors in the Channel had 

 mistaken his pate for Beachy Head, and said that he was 

 sure that no Indian would be able to scalp such a forehead. 



Spedding was a very hard worker. He was a literary 

 sportsman, and was said to have come into the world for 

 two purposes, to edit Bacon and to shoot snipe. 



