narrow and depressed forehead; whereas a large capacious forehead
is held to be the v least equivocal mark of perfection in the
head.
By this more accurate method of measuring the skull having
been brought to observe distinctions not only in the cranium and
bones of the face, but in the face itself, and in the cranium independently
of the face, I wished in the next place to consider more
at large the varieties in the form of the face, and the reason of the
secret influence of certain forms on our judgment of beauty.
From the examination of the heads both of men and brutes,
and of the skulls of a variety of animals, I think there is reason to
say, that the external character both of man and brutes consists
more in the relative proportions of the parts of the face to each
other, than has been admitted. On first consideration we are apt
to say, that in the beautiful form of the human countenance the
likeness of the brute is inadmissible; that wherever we see the
resemblance to the brute in the form of the whole countenance, or
in the particular features of man, it implies degradation. But this
is true to a limited extent only: and how far it extends, the
examination of the uses of the parts will inform us.
We have first to inquire which are the nobler features of the
face, and what belong to the inferior functions.
In examining the mouth and jaws of animals we shall be immediately
convinced that the form of the bones is adapted to the
necessities of the animal, independently altogether of the sense of
taste. We see that in man, whose jaw-bones are smaller than
those of other animals, the sense of taste is most perfect, most
exquisite in degree, and suited to the greatest variety in the exercise
of the sense. Turning to the skulls of the horse and the
lion, we see that the size of the one is fitted for powerful mastication,
and that of the other for tearing and lacerating, not for cutting
or grinding. But if we examine the form of the teeth more narrowly,
we shall see that there must necessarily be a form of the jaw
corresponding to the occasions of the animal and its mode of life.
In the lion, the tiger, and all carnivorous animals, much of the
character of the face lies in the depth of the jaw forward. But this
is necessary for the deep socketing of the long c a n in e t e e t h ,
whilst the backmost teeth are small. When, on the contrary, the
jaw is deep and strong towards the back part, it is for the deep
socketing of the g r i n d i n g teeth, and is peculiarly characteristic of
the form of the head of the horse, and of all graminivorous animals.
There is a form of the cutting teeth (as in-the rodentia, and such
animals as have to pierce shells for their food, and in monkeys)
which, from the angle of their projection forward, bestows a peculiar
expression.
Now it certainly is by that unconscious operation of the fancy,
that associating power which incessantly produces its influence