22 The Thirty-Fourth General Meeting. 
skeletons have been discovered in the quaternary deposits of a cave 
at Spy, in the province of Namur, and have been reported upon by 
M. Fraipont in the ‘ Bulletin de ’ Academie Royale des Sciences’ in 
Belgium. The following are reported by M. Fraipont to be the 
peculiarities in which these skeletons depart from the human form, 
and approach that of the anthropoid apes. The superciliary ridges 
are more developed, and the forehead more shelving than those of 
any existing race of men, in which respect they resemble the orang, 
gorilla, and chimpanzee. The chin is more receding than those of 
any existing race of men, The forward curve of the femur is also 
greater than in any existing race of men, and the angle and size of 
the articular surface of this bone and the tibia is such as to show 
that the individuals must have walked with their legs slightly bent. 
In other respects the skeletons are pronounced strictly human. 
These appear to be the latest facts revealed to us by the earliest 
specimens of our race. If they militate against some cherished 
dogmas, we have nevertheless no alternative but to accept them if 
they are established on sufficient evidence. I cannot myself see 
how human conduct is likely to be affected disadvantageously by 
recognising the humble origin of mankind. If it teaches us to take 
less pride in our ancestry and to place more reliance on ourselves, 
this cannot fail to serve as an additional incentive to industry and 
respectability. Nor are our relations with the Supreme Power 
presented to us in an unfavourable light by this discovery, for, if 
man was created originally in the image of God, it is obvious that 
the very best of us have greatly degenerated. But if, on the other 
hand, we recognise that we have sprung from inferior beings, then 
there is no cause for anxiety on account of the occasional backsliding 
observable amongst men, and we are encouraged to hope that, with 
the help of Providence, notwithstanding frequent relapses towards 
the primitive condition of our forefathers, we may continue to im- 
prove in the long run as we have done hitherto.” 
Eart Percy said he was sure he should be expressing the opinion 
of the Meeting if he proposed a hearty vote of thanks to General 
Pitt-Rivers for the very interesting lecture he had delivered to them. 
He did not know whether he should call it a lecture or not. He 
