464? Zoological Society : Mr. Owen on the 



more largely developed in consequence of the great size of the 

 laniary teeth ; and the incisor teeth project more obliquely forwards 

 than in tlie Chimpanzee. 



*' In all the peculiarities," Mr. Owen observes, " of the Orang's 

 skull, which are independent of the changes consequent on the se- 

 cond dentition, we find an exact correspondence between the Simia 

 Satyrus, or young animal, and the Pongo, or adult. The crania equally 

 exhibit the absence of the projecting supraciHary ridges ; the presence 

 of the double anterior condyloid foramina ; the numerous infra- 

 orbitary /omwma, and those in the malar bone ; the same disposi- 

 tion of the cranial sutures ; the same form of the os nasi; and con- 

 traction of the inter-orbital space. The character of the lower jaw 

 by which it differs from the Chimpanzee, viz. the greater height and 

 breadth of the rami, and the greater depth of the sym,physis, are 

 equally manifested in the young as in the old Simia Satyrus. In 

 followinor out the same observations with regard to the germs of the 

 permanent teeth in the young Orang, the same satisfactory results 

 are obtained in reference to their identity with those which are fully 

 developed in the old animals, as were previously detailed in the ac- 

 count of the Chimpanzee," 



Mr. Owen then proceeds to describe in detail the appearances 

 presented by the germs of the permanent teeth, and to compare them 

 with the adult; and concludes this part of his subject by some ob- 

 servations on the apparent confusion in which these germs lie hid- 

 den within the jaw, and on the admirable and orderly arrangement 

 by which the most perfect regularity is established in their ultimate 

 position. Applying these observations to the replacement of the 

 teeth in man, he inquires, how it happens that when the chances of 

 disarrangement are so much fewer, the mal-position of the perma- 

 nent teeth is of so frequent occurrence, and finds the solution of 

 this problem in a mischievous interference with the agents to which 

 the necessary changes have been entrusted. "The means by which 

 the growth of the permanent teeth are kept in due restraint are too 

 often prematurely removed by anticipating the natural period of the 

 extraction of the temporary teeth; the act of extraction accelerates 

 the growth of the concealed teeth, both by the removal of the check 

 which nature has imposed upon it, and by the irritation induced in 

 the surrounding parts: and their full development being consequent- 

 ly acquired before the jaws have been sufficiently enlarged, they 

 occupy more or less of the relative position which they had when 

 half formed within their bony cavities." 



The conditions of the superior development of the spinous pro- 

 cesses of the cervical vertehrce in the Orang, are obviously the back- 

 ward position of the occipital /oramen, the disproportionate develop- 

 ment of the face, and the general anterior inclination of the vertehrce 

 themselves. Those of the sixth and seventh vertebrce have a slight 

 inclination towards the head, indicating that the centre of motion in 

 this region is nearer the head than in Man. I'he whole of the cer- 

 vical region is proportionally shorter, and consequently better adapted 

 to support the head ; and the entire vertebral column has one gene- 



