Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-20

comes from no less parsonage than one
Of Americas most distinguished naturaists
whose words are said to be always care
fully weighed before uttered.
This naturalist Is Prof O. c.. Marsh Of
New Haven He recently brought to this
city, for exhibition to fellow-naturalists
the plaster reproduction of a portion of the
remains of the strange creature which be
believes to have been the missing link -
The remains were recently found by a
Dutch army surgeon and paleontologist
named Dr. Eugene Dubois. DIR. Dubois has
been stationed in Java for several years,
and some time ago, while eXcavating for
fossil Vertebrates. he unearthed the portion
OF skull. whole thigh bone and two
molar teeth of the animal in which Pro-
lessor Marsh is interested During recent
trip to South Holland in company with
several noted European naturalists Prof
Marsh met DIR. Dubois, and was per-
mitted to thoroughly examine the remains
OF the alleged missing link Suisse
quently, on his return to this country, he
received from the discoverer the plaster
cast Of the creatures skull.
Between Man and the Higher Apes.
AS a result of Prof Marsh's examination
he believes that the bones are those of the
same creature, not human, but intermediate
between man and the higher apes Dr.
Dubois. he says, discovered the remains in
the bank of the river Bengawan, near
Trinil. In the central part of the island.
The bones lay in bed of lapili rock from
about thirteen to fifteen yards below the
surface of the vegetable soil of the bank
and slight distance below the river level
at dry season.
OF the skull Prof. Marsh says the upper
portion Is alone preserved, the lower and
more deiica te parts having probably
crumbled away centuries ago. The two
teeth are molars belonging to fully grown
but not very old Animal. The thigh bone
is from the left side. The professor says
he was greatly surprised on seeing the
original Specimens. They We're evidently
very much older than descriptions he had
previously received from DIR. Dubois. All
We're of dark color and thoroughly petr-
fed. 1t mad been difficult to remove the
surrounding earth. which. during the ages
elapsins since the creature died. had COM
pletely turned to solid rock.
The brain cavity of the missing links"
skull, Prof. Marsh says in proportion to
the other remains. is absolutely larger and
more capacious than that of the man-like
ape The skull capacity. at the same time.
ne estimates to be about two-thirds that of
man. Externally the skull appears much
larger than that Of any of the man-like
apes. The arcEirg of the top of the head
is much higher and more rounded than
that of the latter animal. From a top
view the Uranium Is elongated oval in
outline. and unlike that of the ape-nar-
row in proportion to it's length This
rOW1eSS WOuiI distinguish the animal from
the orang-outans. which is decidedly broad
headed. The outside surface of the skull
is smooth, like that of man, without the
ridges of bone which hold in place the
upon the gorilla. The general form Of the
skull, however. the professor says, resembles
that Of the little gibbon monkey.
Upright Like Man.
The left thigh bone is Of the same size
and shape as that Of man. aid is. there
fore, proof that the strange creature
walked in an upright position. No ape no
matter how manlike, was ever known to
habitually walk uEon two legs. Only a
careful examination of this leg bone. the
naturalist says, would distinguish it from
that of man. Its owner and user was
fully adult individual AS to the two molar
teeth, he says, they resemble those of man
in that they are hollow at the crown, yet
their roots divergc like those of the ape
The geological strata in which the bones
We're found Prof Marsh believes to be the
pliocene, the most recent of the divisions
of the tertiary.
Presenting that Prof. Marsh's theory is
correct, many interesting deductions might
be made concerning the missing link
which has been christened by its discoverer
the "Pithecanthropus erectus'-or, more
literally, the erect monkey man. To be
sure, he was more imposing individual
for evolutionists to claim as a direct
ape family. Although but one fossil skele-
ton representing is kind is alleged to have
been found, it would be unsafe to assume
that he was the sole representative of his
tribe. Perhaps Java at one time-ters Of
thousands of years ago-was Inhabited by
a great nation Of Pithecanthropidae, yet to
be unearthed In the rocks since formed by
the dust of ages.
AS to the intellectual of Pithecan-
thropus, If his brain cavity were filed with
the brain of man he would have been the
most pitiable idiot ever known to science.
Living as he did In tropical Java he In all
probability never felt tho need Of clothing,
nor did he understand the use of fire. His
best weapons doubtless. were stones, con-
veniently shaped by nature. or wood
crude weapons Which, ACCORDING s to use some ne
evolutionists. proved the primary cause
Of the development of man from the ape.
Views of DR., GIL.
DR.. Theo Gill of the Smithsonian says
that man descended from a form much
like the chimpanzee of the present day.
He once learned to use sticks and clubs
for warfare. and his descendants, Inherit
ing this accomplishment, developed shorter
arms. which were more convenient for
handling clubs and less convenient for
climbing trees. Those welding the clubs
being the f1ttest survived and multiplied.
Their arms finally became so short that
they found 1t most convenient to walk
ape became diminished as his descendants
ceased using them in warfare, and they
were reduced to a level with the Others
The jaws likewise became smaller, and
the teeth crowded closer together as are
mans. Intelligence became greater IL
these progressive apes as they multiplied,
and their brains grew larger and larger
as they responded to It's demands, the
skull expanding all the while. Through
such course of evolution, in Dr. Giii's
opinion. did the descendants Of the ape
reach the threshold Of mans Eden, so to
speak.
Interest in the missing link has not been
revived in the scientific mind by archaeo-
logical discovery since 1857. In that year
prehistoric skeleton was Inearthed in
the Neanderthal valley, Prussia Tn to
this time the skull Of Neanderthal man has
been regarded as more apelike than any
other skull classed as human. At the time
of its discovery the missing link theory
arose, but failed to receive the indorse-
ment of scientists of any great reputation.
The Neanderthal skull was more complete
than that found by Dubois The roof of the
skull Is much more shallow than any other
form ever hitherto considered as a human
Uranium. The roof Of the skull of Pithecan-
thropus, however. Is considerably more
shallow. In the front and on top, though
very slightly higher in the back. BY maxi
iEg composite diagram of the profile out.
lines Of the skulls Of the lowest men and