COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 
Animals of the genus Simla and Lemur 
hold a middle rank between man, who is 
constantly erect, and quadrupeds, whose 
body is supported by four extremities. 
Their structure is by no means calculated, 
like that of man, for the constant main- 
tenance of the erect posture j but they can 
support it with greater facility, and for a 
longer time than other animals. Hence, 
in the orang-outang, the occipital foramen 
is only twice as far from the jaws as from 
the back of the head ; so that Daubenton’s 
angle is only of 37°. It is somewhat 
larger in the other species of Siui®, and 
measures 47° in the lemur. 
The general form of the cranium is most 
materially influenced by the direction, and 
tlie various degrees of prominence of the 
facial bones. 
To determine this with greater precision. 
Camper instituted tlie facial line ; the ap- 
plication of which is most minutely explain- 
ed in his posthumous work, “ On the natural 
Differences of the Features, &c.” Like 
Daubenton, he draws on the profile of the 
cranium two straight lines, which intersect 
each other ; but in different directions from 
those of tlie French anatomist. An horizon- 
tal line passes through the external auditory 
passage, and tlie bottom of the cavity of 
the nose ; this is intersected by a more per- 
pendicular one, proceeding ti om the con- 
vexity of the forehead, to the most pro- 
minent point of tlie upper jaw, or of the in- 
termaxillary bone. The latter is the pro- 
per facial line ; and the angle, which it 
forms with the horizontal line, determines, 
according to Camper, the difterences of the 
crania of animals, as well as the national 
physiognomy of the various races of man- 
kind. 
The two organs which occupy most of 
the face, are those of smelling and tasting 
(including those of mastication, 4Scc). In 
proportion as these parts are more develop- 
ed, the size of the face, compared to that 
of the cranium, is augmented. On the con- 
trary, when the brain is large, the volume 
of the cranium is increased in proportion to 
that of the face. A large cranium and small 
face indicate therefore a large brain, with 
inconsiderable organs of smelling, tasting, 
masticating, &c.; while a small cranium, 
with a large face, shew that these propor- 
tions are reversed. 
The nature and character of each animal 
must depend considerably on the reiative 
energy of its different fiinctions. The brain 
is the common centre of the nervous sys- 
tem. All our perceptions are conveyed to 
tliis part, as a sensoriuin commune : and 
this is the organ by which the mind com- 
bines and compares these perceptions, and 
draws inferences from them ; by which, in 
short, it reflects and thinks. We shall find 
that animals partake in a greater degree of 
this latter faculty, or at least approach more 
nearly to it, in proportion as the mass of 
medullary substance, forming their brain, 
exceeds that which constitutes the rest of 
the nervous system ; or, in other words, in 
proportion as the organ of the mind ex- 
ceeds those of the senses. Since then the 
relative proportions of the cranium and 
face indicate also those of the brain and 
the two principal external organs, we shall 
not be surprised to find that they point out 
to us, in great measure, the general charac- 
ter of animals ; the degree of instinct and 
docility which they possess. Man com- 
bines by far the largest cranium, witli the 
smallest face; and animals deviate from 
these relations in proportion as they in- 
crease ill stupidity and ferocity. 
One of the most simple metliods (though 
sometimes indeed insufficient) of expressing 
the relative proportions of these parts, is by 
means of the facial line which has been 
already described. This angle is most open, 
or approaches most nearly to a right angle 
in the human subject; it becomes con- 
stantly more acute, as we descend in the 
scale from man ; and in several birds, rep- 
tiles, and fishes, it is lost altogether, as the 
cranium and face are completely on a level. 
The idea of stupidity is associated, even by 
the vulgar, with the elongation of the snout : 
hence the crane and snipe have become 
proverbial. On the Contraiy, when the 
facial line is elevated by any cause which 
does not increase the capacity of the cra- 
nium, as in the elephant and owl, by the 
cells which separate the two tables, tlie 
animal acquires a particular air of intelli- 
gence, and gains the credit of qualities 
which he does not in reality possess. Hence 
the latter animal has been selected as tlie 
emblem of the goddess of wisdom. The ui- 
valuable remains of Grecian art shew that 
the ancients were well acquainted with 
these circumstances : tliey were aware that 
an elevated facial line formed one of the 
grdiid characters of beauty, and indicated a 
noble and generous nature. Hence they 
have extended the facial angle to 90 de- 
grees in tlie representation of men, on 
whom they wished to bestow an august 
character. And in tlie representations of 
