The Htiman Head 



9 



THE HUMAN HEAD. 



The human brain-case varies much, not only in size but 

 in shape, in different persons. These differences are often 

 characteristic of families or of races, and are to a certain 

 small extent indicative of character and capacity. In the 

 main, however, they imply only descent, and as such they 

 afford valuable data to the student of nationality and race. 

 It must, however, always be remembered that very wide 

 differences may be met with in the same race, and even in the 

 same family. 



The skull may be measured from before backwards and 

 from side to side. If the proportions between these two 

 measurements are those of the majority the skull is said to 

 be of the average, and the fact is expressed by the term Meso- 

 cephalic. If the length is disproportionate to the breadth it is 

 said to be a long skull, and its former or present possessor is 

 described as long-headed, or Dolichocephalic. If the breadth, on 

 the other hand, be disproportionate to the length the skull is 

 said to be broad, and its possessor would belong to broad- 

 heads, or Br achy cephalic. It must be carefully remembered that 

 " long headed " does not mean " tall-headed," but long in the 

 direction from before backwards. These measurements may, 

 of course, be roughly estimated in living men, but when 

 accurate statements are made it is to be assumed that the 

 skull was measured after the scalp, &c, had been removed. 



It is customary to take 100 as the standard of the length, 

 and to compare the breadth with that standard. Thus, if 

 the skull measured as much across as lengthwise it would be 

 igg, and might be nearly round, but if it were only half that, 

 then it would be expressed by and would be extremely 

 dolichocephalic. The Negro races are good examples of 

 the dolichocephalic, and the Turks of the brachycephalic. 



