SEMI-APES AND APES. 297 



n n K 



cheek-teeth, not -^. Even the earliest 

 6 6 5 5 



Miocene apes of Europe and Asia show a reduction 

 in the dentition, hence the American apes stand 

 nearer to the primary forms. Further, the genera 

 with six cheek-teeth, it seems to us, point more 

 probably to ancestors of the Insectivorous species 

 than to the Pachyderma. It is, therefore, not 

 only possible, but has come to seem probable, that 

 our present apes, in regard to their descent, have 

 met from two entirely distinct origins : the American 

 group from the Insectivora, the Europe- Asiatic line, 

 with the Anthropomorphge, from ancestors of the 

 Pachydermata species. 



This would lead up to the question as to whether 

 our own ancestors belonged to the thick-skinned 

 group. But the very title of our book withholds us 

 from entering upon this subject, and we are all 

 the more justified in postponing any such discussion, 

 as the study of anthropology can in no way boast 

 of having made any definite progress during the 

 last ten years. 1 



1 The relation between the Anthropomorphoid Apes and Man 

 has been admirably discussed by Hartmann, ' Die mensch- 

 ahnlichen Affen.,' Internat. wissenschaft. Bibliothek, 60 Bd. 

 Leipzig, 1883. For further accounts of this subject we would 

 refer the reader to Schlosser and Seler, Die ersten Menschen und 

 27 



