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Symbolism › Vertebrae As Undeveloped Skulls

Vertebrae As Undeveloped Skulls

1 passage in the novel carry this mark, in the order they appear.

If you attentively regard almost any quadruped’s spine, you will be struck with the resemblance of its vertebræ to a strung necklace of dwarfed skulls, all bearing rudimental resemblance to the skull proper. It is a German conceit, that the vertebræ are absolutely undeveloped skulls. But the curious external resemblance, I take it the Germans were not the first men to perceive.

Chapter 80, The Nut · verse 6

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