The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15


and limiting our comparison to smaller circle
OF kinfolk the so-called Catarhine. or apes Of
the Old World. Even within this small group
Of mammals we find the differences OF structure
between the higher and lower narrow-nosed
apes. as, for instance. between the gorilla and
the baboon, much greater than tho differences
between the Anthropoid apes and man. When
in addition. We now turn to ontogony and learn
that the embryos OF men, and Of tho above
named anthropods. arc identical for a longer
period than are the embryos OF the highest and
the lowest apes, we are certainly constrained to
bring ourselves. whether with a good or pad
grace. to acknowledge our origin from the ape
order. From the facts exhibited by compare
tive anatomy we can fashion. in imagination.
an approx innate image OF the structure OF our
ancestors in the older tertiary period: but.
fill out the details we will. this image will be
genuine ape and true catarhine. We must
therefore refer the origin OF man TO the Eastern
Continent. for the entire group OF the catarhine
apes has as yet been confined to the Old World.
just 40 the group Of the platyrhine apes has
been limited to the New. Only the earliest root
form. that from which both groups sprang.
probably originated from the somi-apes Of the
Old World.
Before glanclng at what Prof. Haeckel has to
say regarding the probable place and epoch ut
which the ape-man pranched OF from his
siman parent. II may be well to look more
infinitely into his points OF identity with those
anthropoid varieties which are classed with
him In tho catarhino sub-ordcr. In everv
morphological respect man appears as mem
Der OF the order OF apes. and cannot DO sepa-
rated from tho latter. Their assignment by
Cuvler to distinct groups called "two-handed
and four-handed animals " can no longer be
maintained. 80 long ago rs 1868 Huxley proved
that apes are as truly two-handed as men,
or conversely that men are as four-handed"
as apes. He showed that the ideas previously
held OF tho hand and foot we're Incorrectly
founded on physiological instead Of morpho-
logical distinctions. A false inference has been
drawn from the circumstance that in the hand
tho thumb may be opposed to tho oth0r four
fingers thus permitting the act OF grusping.
while in the case OF civilized man the CORE
spending great toe cannot be thus used this
circumstance being contrasted with the ability
Of apes to grasp with tho hind foot rs well with
tho fore foot. It turns out. however. that
many tribes among the lower races OF men,
especially many negro tribes. use the foot in
the same way as the hand In conse-
quence Of carly habit and continued prac-
tice they are able to grasp as well
with ono member rs with tho other
for example. in climbing trees. Even new
born children Of our own race have strong
prehensile power in the great toe with which
they can hold a spoon ~ fast as with the hand.
We may add that armess men have been known
10 develop tho same latent faculty in high de-
gree. not only holding pair OF scissors be-
tween the great toe and the second digit. but
actually cutting silhouettcs with them. In n
word the prehcnslle distinction between hand
and foot ia purely physiological. and cannot
therefore DO employed TO diIorcntiate species.
There is. however. a sharp neurological diver
gence founded on anatomical structure between
tho anterior and the postcrior limbs-tor in
stance an essential difference In the arrange
ment and number OF the wrist bones and Of the
ankle bones, This scientific discrepancy how
ever happens to DO produced with absolute
correspondence In man and in the ape.
As we have said. the order OF true apes
lsminl is divided into two sub-Rroups. man
belonging TO the eastern variety found in Asia
Africa. and formerly in Europe. Among the
characteristics shared by all the apes Of the old
world in common with man. Prof Haeckei as
signs special prominence To the dental struc-
ture He points out that the number. form and
| disposition Of the teeth are trans mitted much
more accurately within the respective orders OF
| tho mammals than are most other geological
! characteristics. The number. shape. situation.
time OF appearance. and distribution into
! molars, biouspids. and incisors. all these char
acteristics OF the dental furniture are precisely
| identical in man. on the one hand. and. on the
! other in all apes which have as yet been found,
either living or in FOSSILS in Asia. Europe, or
! Africa. All American apes. on the contrary.
have an extra bicuspid tooth on both sides Of
each jaw. making thirty -six teeth in all.
The correspondence in the structure OF the
nose between the ape man and the cognute
anthropoid varieties is no less striking and
suggestive. In all Old World apes the nasal
structure is the same IA In man. namely. a com
| paratively narrow partition Of the two halves
so that the nostrs are directed downward. In
some Eastern apes, indeed, the nose projects
quite rs prominently. and Prof. Haeckel gives II
cut OF the nose ape Of Borneo. which has Il long,
| we'll curved organ Of a true Caucasian type. On
the other hand. American apes present in this
respect n very different formation. In them the
| partition IL peculiarly broadened and thickencd
below. and the wings Of the nose are not devel-
oped. the nostrils. accordingly. being turned
outward. This characteristic difference is
transmitted with singular tenaeity. accompanied
by a general inferiority in organization on thu
part OF tho at-nosed group.
twas long believed that man had ut least some
entirely peculiar organs within the crania cavity
which arc wanting in all other animals. Close
investigation and comparison have shown that
this ia not the case but that rather the dlstinc-
tive qualities OF the human brain exist In ru-
dimontnry state even in the lower apes and arr
developed TO n greater or less degree in the an
thropoids. Our author considers that Huxley
has conclusivey demonstrated that within the
simian order. tho differences in the formation
OF the brain are greater than between the higher
and lower apes and man. This statement is. We
are assured equally true Of all the other parts
and functions OF the body. but certainly the fact
that ii Ia affirmed Of the central marrow is s9e,
eially important. Among minor marks o. iden,
tity we may remind the reader that the Rnthro
poids. like man, are tailless. but also like man
disclose to the anatomist n useless rudiment
airy organ at the foot Of the vertebral column
thus affordng striking evidence OF their com
mon descent from long tailed apes. Her,
we may likewise point out that many Of thu
higher apes resemble man in the thin coat o
hair which clothes certain parts Of their body
In the higher catarhnes the face IL nearly. Of
even quite bare, or else covered with hair NJ
thin and short rs that OF men. In these an
thropods also. Just as In the ape man. the hal
on the back OF the head IL usually distinguish,
by its length. and the males often have mucl
beard and whisker. The breast is less hirsut
tnan we mot unfFpuupntly sec il I'm men Of I'M