372 



BRITISH MAMMALS 



Genus : HOMO. MAN 



The nearest approach on the part of the anthropoid apes 

 to the genus Homo seems to be represented by Pithecanthropus., 

 that man-like creature whose remains were discovered by Dr. 

 Dubois in Tertiary strata of Java. It is practically certain that 

 man did not descend from any of the existing types of anthro- 

 poid apes — the gorilla, chimpanzee, orang utan, and gibbon. We 

 must go back apparently to the parent form of the anthropoid 

 apes before we can find a common starting-point. In some 

 respects man resembles the least differentiated among existing 

 anthropoids (the gibbons of Asia), but differs from them again 

 by his small canine teeth, a most persistent human character. 

 The genus Homo., from such indications as we possess, would 

 seem to have originated in, or not far from, the peninsula of 

 India, and from that neighbourhood to have branched out into 

 three very distinct types, which, but for their constant inter- 

 mingling, have every claim to be regarded as distinct species. 

 Accepting them, however, as sub-species, the Homo sapiens of 

 Linnasus may for convenience be divided into these three 

 principal types : Homo sapiens athiopicus., H. sapiens caucasicus^ and 

 H. sapiens mongolicus. Perhaps the lowest existing forms of the 

 human race belong to the two first sub-species, and physically 

 these two present more archaic features than the Mongolian. The 

 original stock of Homo sapiens before these divergences took place 

 was (we may postulate from the evidence at our command) not 

 unlike the Australian aboriginal or Veddah of Ceylon : a yellow- 

 skinned, prognathous man, with overhanging brows sheltering 

 largish eyes placed rather close together, with a retreating chin and 

 large teeth, especially as regards incisors and molars. He was high- 

 shouldered, short-necked, with long arms, and slightly bowed 

 legs. He was moderately hairy all over the back and outer 

 aspect of the limbs and breast in the male, but much less hairy in 

 the female. The head hair was equally long in both sexes, black 

 or occasionally red, with a tendency to curl. There was face 

 hair (a moustache, beard, and whiskers in both sexes, though 



