C R A N I A B R I T A N N I C A .
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
Craiiionim inquam quibus ad gentilitias varietates distinguendas et defiiilendas nulla alia Immani corporis pars aptior
videtur, cum caput osseum (preeterquam quod animEe domicilium et officina, imo vero interpres quasi et explanator ejus sit,
utpote universse physiognomise basiu et firmamentum constituens) stabilitati sute masimam conformatiouis et partium relativffi
proportionis varietatem juuctam liabeat, unde cliaracteres natiouum certissimas desumere licet.—BLUMENBACHII Decas
Crau. i. 5.
B l u m e n b a c h , from a comparatively few specimens of skuUs, deduced the cranial peculiarities
of the leading Races of Mankind. Lawence suggested the application of the same
principle of study to detect differences in nearly approximated nations. Pricliard expressed a
hope that the skulls of ancient Britons, recovered from caii-ns and other places of sepulture,
might not be suffered to fall into decay, and himself contemplated a collection of plates of
human crania, in wliich, no doubt, these precious British examples would have found permanent
representation. Morton accumulated ample materials, and established fu-mly, if he did
not precisely found, a science of Comparative Cranioscopy, which, by his own researches, he
showed to be fertile in curious results, both in its ethnic and archasological departments. He
has the rare merit, after the distinguished G-ottingen Professor, of having by his genius laid the
proper basis of this science, and by his labours raised upon this foundation the two fli-st permanent
and beautiful superstructures, in the ' Crania Americana,' and the ' Crania Jigyptiaca.'
It now remains to be essayed, whether a further effort will have such sureness and conformity
to nature, as to deserve to rank in the same class.
It is intended to apply the study of the minuter diversities in the form of the skuU to
S