New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-10
NJ. Smifh,s Lectures on Geology.

uars, between Men inhabiting different portions OF
the Earth's surface. The FIRST general difference
remarked by scientific men between different spe-
cies of animals was the fact that in the various
grades the head was placed upon the neck IN dit
ferent position In man, for instance, the head Is
directly above the neck, and so nicely balanced
that it vibrates with equal ease in any direction
AS we descend to the lower animals we ind the
neck more and more behind and upon level with
The head, until we find in birds that it is directly
behind it.
Soon after this was made known, it was re-
marked by painter that, in painting portraits OF
negroes, the only difference between their heads
and those of white nen, as represented that day.
was in the color. Bat he perceived that this did
not in fact represent negroes; and his observation
led him to the construction Of the facial angle,
which. although it measures directly only the pro-
lection of the forehead, is always found to indicate
the capacity of the skull. This angle is defined
by the intersection Of two lines drawn from
the lower part Of the ear to the nostril, supposed
TO be horizontal and the other from the nostrl TO
the forehead. Now in the different animals, the
angle included between the two lines thus drawn
is found TO vary, in adults of our race averaging
$50, Though in children Of three or four years old
it often reaches 90, and becoming more and more
acute as we descend TO the lower animals. so
generally has it been understood that this angle
measures the capacity Of the skull, and therefore
the powers of the intellect that the ancient Greeks,
in their representations of gods and heroes, made
it 1907; and thus was the portrait of Alexander
painted when he was dei6ed
1t was for long time supposed that man had Q
larger brain than any other animal: but it was
soon found that he excelled in this by the ele-
plant and the whale. Then it was believed that
It's size in proportion to that of his body was the
greatest, but it ascertained that, while the
brain of man is in bulk to his body as to 80, that
of the Canary bird IS to its body Is to so; and
yet the bird is not remarkable for its sagacty The
proportion of alligators brain to his bodyis that
of to 1000 and yet Audubon tells that this
creature has an ordinary amount of intellect. The
true anatomical difference between man and other
animals Isl that his nervous system as more entire
ly collected IN q mass than theirs.
The face in man is smaller in proportion to
the size of his head than that of any other animal
1t bears the proportion of about one to four, while
if we descend the proportion becomes much great
er, and in the horse it IS enormous.
Anatomsts divide mankind into different classes.
Some French authors distribute them into IL or Is
different races, while others make only sic. DR..
SMITH said he had centented himself with four,
while CUvIER had but tnco, namely, those who are
white and those who are not white. DR.. S. said
he followed essentially the differences of the globe
and maintained that there were four races of men
namely, the Caucasian, the American, the Asiatic
and the African.
The Caucasian is the race to which we belong;
and it nigh, Justly be said to stand at the head of
all the races of the EARTH possessing the highest
intellectual power the elements of all improve
ment, and by far the most mental and moral
strength Of them all. The hair of the race is long
and of different colors in different individuals the
eyes are also of different hues the skin is thin and
the complexion beautiful than that OF any 9TH
err and we have physically fewer points or projec-
tions about us-the cheek bones not being promi-
nent and the whole frame being rounded off in the
finest style. The Caucasian race has included all
the most distinguished nations of the earth, the
Phnnicians, the Jews, the Arabs, Greeks and Ro-
mans and even on opening the mummies Of
Egyst, the Caucasian with the African and Asiat-
&c, was found among them.
OF the other races fewer words are necessary.
The Asia,ics ore bv no means SO well made: the
face being broader, the cheek bones higher, their
bodies more feeble, and their intellect but of mod
craze power.
The Indians of our Continent are very strongly
marked: their bair is long and harsh, their ply
steal powers are upon small scale, and they are,
in intellect, BY no means the equals of the Cauca-
sian race
plan race. Their color and the character of their
~ ars VOL Known as we'll as the thickness of