SELF-PRESERVATION. 
those which presented the highest degree of development, such are the Ape, the 
Fox, the Badger, the Cat, the Fitchet and Marten Weasels, the Marmot, the 
Hare. It is enormous in the Stag and Roebuck. 
The region of the cranium in which this organ in quadrupeds is lodged, is the 
lateral sphenoidal fossa. In man its situation is the same. It occupies in the 
latter all the portion of the sphenoidal bone marked 2 and 3, fig. 6, PI. xi, bis ; 
the anterior half of the cerebral surface of the temporal bone indicated by No. 3, 
id. pi., fig. 8. Its innermost surface will cover the two anterior thirds of the 
upper face of the petrous portion of the same bone. 
An old gunner, who died in the Val-de-Grace, was one of the greatest bullies 
that ever existed, and so regardless of his life, that he exposed it daily in nu¬ 
merous duels. In his skull, presented to me by Dr. Gaubert, the region before 
specified is not only very narrow, but has little depth. I have compared this 
skull with others in my possession, and the difference in extent and depth in this 
region is well marked. I have not met with the skull of any person who had a 
propensity to self-destruction without disease of the brain, and therefore cannot 
speak of the development of the organ in suicides. 
I am strongly disposed to believe that the sentiment of fear, which Dr. Gall 
attributes to want of courage, and which Dr. Spurzheim made to,depend on cau¬ 
tiousness, may be, on the contrary, an affection of the organ of self-preservation. 
When a man considers his existence threatened by a body above him, he, by a 
movement truly instinctive, stoops his head and forms a kind of arch with his 
back. This movement coincides with the situation of the organ. Persons who 
feel uneasy on the top of a tower or steeple, crouch down in the same manner. 
I believe that the disagreeable impression which they then experience is referable 
to an affection of the organ of self-preservation, and that it is this affection which 
gives rise to the gesture above described. 
I consider that the sphere of action of the faculty is more extensive. It gives 
a character of egotism to the mind. I have constantly found more egotists among 
bachelors than among married persons. In France there are more egotists among 
priests than in any other class of society, which I attribute to the retired life they 
lead. Contempt of life and generous actions should depend on a small development 
of the organ, particularly if other faculties are in a sufficient state of development. 
[]This subject—namely, that of Phrenology—though hitherto little attended to 
by naturalists, is one of the highest interest and importance; and such is the 
value and the novelty of Dr. Vimont’s observations, that we feel assured they 
cannot fail to strike our readers. We are inclined to believe, with Dr. V., that 
self-preservation is a distinct faculty, but cannot agree with him in the opinion 
that it embraces Cautiousness.—Dr. Combe described this organ (which he termed 
Vitativeness) m his Irother s of'Phrenology^ about the same time that 
No. 9, Vol.II. u 
