Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-03-25
JUDGING BY THE HEAD.

JUDGING BY THE HEAD.
One of the most noticeable movements
OF modern science is the tendency to
rank and arrange animals according to
the development of the head. In pro-
norton as the "hcad" or upper ex-
tr.mity of the body is fully developed,
an animal Is considered as higher in the
scale Of being than where the develop
ment is towards tho posterior extremity.
This latter is an indication of n proper
tionably low rank in creation. In the
Yale Scientific School, the tendency to
make this the ultimate basis Of claSsit-
cation and arrangement is very marked.
disqualification" is the term frequently
used to designate this system, or the
arrangement Of animals according to
tho prominence of the head. A good,
broad pair Of shoulders are not to be
despised; but a large rad well devei-
oped head is the crowniug mark, while
a long and prominent tail marks q cor
responding decline in the scale of being.
Where, again, the upper limbs, from
being means of locomotion, become in
stead instruments to carry out the de-
signs Of the brain, or to convoy food TO
the mouth, they become strong indica-
tons of n proportionably high degree OF
elevation I; but where the arms are sim-
ply used as legs, and are but little con-
nected with securing food, tho animal
ranks lower in proportion.
Tho height Of the head or anterior
extremity Of the body, is also regarded
as n cardinal matter in ranking animals.
In the fish, the body lies horizontal in
the reptile, the head is slightly elevated
in the bird, still more in quadrupeds,
q little higher but man walks erect,
his arms and hands are used for loco.
motion scarcely in any degree, the whole
mau stands upright. On this account,
be may be considered rs belonging to a
distinct order. In him, animal life rises
to its highest and most perfect conceiv-
able form, the spinal column is erect,
the head developed forward, the arm is
not used for loeomotion, aud the hand
is the instrument with which he pro-
cures his food, and is the instrument o.
the. mind itself. Man, therefore, stands
alone, seemingly SC perfect that we can
not conceive Of any lines Of advance oil
further development All creation looks
aud tends upward, to man as its visible
head, but there would seem to be no
point beyond to which my other order
Of beings, with a physical nature, car
ever advance superior to him in form.
It has, therefore, been thought tina
this will be found the most fit aud nat
ural method Of arranging all animals
and tho true index Of their rank in the
scale of being, and the best BASIS I .
real and substantial system Of naturn,
history. Capitalization may thus b'
found to furnish something far more val
liable than q mere name, and prove thu
basis of a more truly scientific and uni
versal system Of classifying all living
animals than has yet been brought e
view. Perhaps it may be added, tina
all true SCIENCE is becoming every yea'
more simple in its ultimate principles
aud more comprehensive of an immense
variety of details in a few clear and I'll
innate facts. The result is, that with
good, plain education, such as ever,
boy receives ut common schools, will
thought and study, the most profound
scientific knowledge becomes more &C
ces,ible to him now than those Of the
most careful education found it fifty
years ago.