DERMATOGLYPHICS IN PEIMATES 147 



been calculated within these three groups. In this one ap- 

 plication, involving individual configurational fields, the 

 weighted averages were thought to be preferable since the 

 direct averages give undue value to the genera represented 

 by smaller numbers. The disadvantage of discounting pos- 

 sible distinctions of some genera seems to be of lesser im- 

 portance than the shortcomings of the direct average. Figure 

 602 presents a condensation of these findings. To emphasize 

 the topography of fields showing right or left ascendancy of 

 pattern intensity, broken lines are inserted as boundaries of 

 such fields. It is noteworthy that these territories seem to 

 resolve naturally, requiring no irregularities of zonation. As 

 in other comparisons, sight must not be lost of the fact that 

 we are dealing with quantitative determinations of highly 

 variable traits in series which are too small to yield absolutely 

 dependable values. 



Because of familiarity with human bimanual differences, 

 it may be well to begin the discussion with the distinctions 

 between right and left palms in man. In this instance there 

 is assurance of stability of such differences inasmuch as they 

 have been repeatedly shown in large collections of material. 

 As pointed out by Cummins, Leche and McClure, ascendancy 

 of patterns (higher percentile frequencies) in left hands oc- 

 cupies a diagonal field embracing Th, I and IV, thus isolating 

 the two regions in which patterns are more frequent in right 

 hands. Conversion of the determinations to pattern intensity 

 values yields the same distribution, shown in figure 602. 

 No one of the non-human primate groups exactly parallels the 

 conditions in the human palm, yet in the New World monkeys 

 the only significant departure is the ascendancy on the right 

 hand of interdigital IV. The great apes display a complete 

 transposition of the conditions in Old World monkeys, the 

 fields of right and left ascendancy being reversed in all 

 regions, if the bilateral equality of H p of Old World monkeys 

 be regarded as a partial obliteration of right ascendancy. 

 Compared to New World monkeys, great apes differ only in 

 that the field of left ascendancy is shifted distally to involve 



