DERMATOGLYPHICS IN PRIMATES 169 



and Gr. beringei) are increased. The likelihood of specific dif- 

 ferences is strengthened by the existence of sometimes marked 

 differences of dermatoglyphics in human races, though with- 

 out having large series of specimens it is impossible to demon- 

 strate the distinctions of species. Certainly it is true that 

 differences may occur even in genera otherwise closely re- 

 lated. Symphalangus, for instance, is distinguished from 

 Hylobates by a much higher pattern intensity in the plantar 

 H p and I areas, as well as more abundant calcar patterns. 

 (The dermatogiyphic distinctions of these two genera further 

 enforce the gap between them which is emphasized by Schultz, 

 '30, on the basis of skeletal characters.) 



Since the characteristics of dermatoglyphics are known to 

 be inherited in man, it may be taken for granted that the same 

 genetic principles apply in other primates. Hence it is con- 

 ceivable that "racial" distinctions in a species of non-human 

 primate might be evolved in a particular habitat, just as a 

 human family may show trends distinguishing it from the 

 general population of the same race and nation ( Cummins and 

 Steggerda). It might happen, therefore, that a local collec- 

 tion of specimens would differ from a series obtained in 

 another region. We have not determined the sources of 

 specimens used in this study, since even with this information 

 the comparison of animals from different localities would be 

 precluded by limitations of number, as it is even in the case 

 of species. 



All the foregoing points must be kept in mind, and, since 

 the material must be handled as it is or not at all, the only 

 corrective for inadequacies is due caution in drawing 

 conclusions. 



The affinities of primates are to be traced in the light of the 

 mechanisms which condition the configurations of epidermal 

 ridges. These mechanisms have been discussed and it is now 

 necessary to examine in greater detail the role of volar pads 

 in the evolution of particular dermatogiyphic configurations. 



The volar pads in adult primates attain their highest 

 development in some prosimians and in most of the monkeys. 



