RECORDS OF MFJ/nxa^ 351 



here is the long spout-like tympanic. Passing on the right to the human 

 skull, notwithstanding its marked differences in the proportion of vari- 

 ous parts, we see a fundamental agreement with the anthropoids and 

 with all the Old World monkeys in the auditory region. Here again is 

 the auditory bulla pierced by the carotid canal, now greatly enlarged, 

 and here again is the long spout-like tympanic somewhat altered in ex- 

 ternal contour. 



If this agreement stood by itself it might be ascribed to convergent 

 evolution, but taken in connection with hundreds, even thousands, of 

 other agreements it can onlv mean common ancestrv with the anthro- 

 poids and the Old World monkeys. 



The Piltdown skull fortunately preserves a portion of the auditory 

 region together with the articulation for the lower jaw. It conforms, 

 as do all other human skulls, to the type common to the Old World mon- 

 keys, the anthropoids and man. In the form of the articulation for the 

 lower jaw it is very man-like, but in the form of the lower jaw itself it 

 is more orang-like. It is thus a synthetic type combining in a way not 

 hitherto known the characters of m;an and of apes. 



Conclusion. If any of you may think that I have overestimated the 

 significance of this fundamental agreement in the structure of the audi- 

 tory region in man and the Old AVorld monkeys and anthropoid apes, I 

 can only reply that the study of evolutionary relationships is a science in 

 itself, that by long experience the facts force themselves upon us and 

 compel us to place certain values upon them. 



The conclusion that mankind is related by common origin with the 

 Old World monkeys and anthropoids is irresistibly forced upon palaeon- 

 tologists, who are familiar with scores of other well-established evolu- 

 tionary series. But in view of the incredulous attitude of many it is the 

 duty of those who are famjiliar with the facts to place them before the 

 public. 



The conference was followed by a collation which was served in the 

 Eskimo Hall. The Section then adjourned. 



William K. Gregory, 



Secretary. 



SECTIOX OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY 



26 January, 1914 



Section met in conjunction with the American Ethnological Society at 

 8:15 p. M., Professor Franz Boas presiding. 



