94 



PROC. COTTESWOLD CLUB VOL. xill. (2) 



The annexed 



African children by Mr H. M. Stanley.* 

 block is from an electrotype thereof. 



FIG. I. CHILD 10 MONTHS OLD, ON GARDhN PATH 



After these pictures were taken the child had a slight 

 illness. The weakening effect of this was seen, because 

 she did not afterwards accomplish true quadrupedal pro- 

 gression, but crawled like other children. 



When a four-footed animal tries to walk on its hind legs 

 it shews its want of adaptation for that style of movement, 

 particularly in the bowed character of the knee joint. This 

 may be seen iu the picture of a cat (PI. I. fig. 3) : it has 

 been persuaded to reach up for something, and to stand 

 momentarily on its hind legs. 



Similarly, then, a human baby possessing the heritage 

 from its four-footed ancestors, should, when it first at- 

 tempts bipedal progression, shew the inability to straighten 

 the knee joint, which characterizes four-footed animals 

 under these conditions. 



Fig. 2, PL I., illustrates this perfectly. The child, not 

 yet able to balance itself for long on its hind limbs (note 

 the position of the arm) is trying its best to reach as high 



* October l8th, 1894. 



