370 MR. R. OWEN ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF 
17. In the shortness and weakness of the thumb, and narrowness of the hand in re- 
lation to its length. 
18. In the shortness of the lower extremities. 
19. In the greater proportional length and narrowness of the foot. 
20. In the small size of the os calcis. 
21. In the shortness and opposable condition of the halluz. 
These differences result from original formation, and are not liable to be weakened 
in any material degree, either, on the one hand, by a degradation of the human species, 
or, on the other hand, by the highest cultivation of which the anthropoid Apes are sus- 
ceptible. 
With respect to the structure of the foot, it has been asserted by the supporters of 
the theory of progressive development and transmutation of species, that the position 
of the great toe, which converts the foot into a hand, is a modifiable character. M. Bory 
de St. Vincent!, assuming that this is the only organic difference between the Orang 
and the human subject, endeavours to invalidate its importance as a zoological character 
by showing that a prehensile property of the foot is gained by Man himself under cer- 
tain circumstances, and that therefore it ought not to disunite the members, as he terms 
them, of the same zoological family. In support of this view he proceeds to relate, that 
in certain districts, as the Landes of Aquitaine, the peasants, who obtain their livelihood 
by collecting the resin of the Pinus maritima, and who are termed Resiniers, acquire a 
power of opposing the great toe to the others, like a hinder thumb ; but supposing the 
extent of motion of the great toe to be sufficiently increased by constant habits of 
climbing, or in connexion with a congenital defect of the upper extremities, yet it does 
not appear that the os calcis or the other bones of the foot have lost any of those pro- 
portions which so unerringly distinguish Man from the Ape. The author of the article 
Oranc in the ‘ Dictionnaire Classique’ seems even to doubt whether the hinder hand of 
the Ape may not be a mark of an organization superior to that of the Bimanous type. 
““C’est un chose digne de remarque, que pour rejeter les Orangs parmi les Singes, et 
ceux-ci parmi les brutes stupides, en conservant a nos pareils la dignité qu’ils s’arrogent 
au sein de immense nature, on ait argué d’un avantage incontestable que posséderaient 
sur nous les Singes et les Orangs. En effet, quatre mains ne vaudraient-elles pas mieux 
que deux comme élémens de perfectibilité?”? To give due force to this proposition 
the four hands of the Ape ought to be independent of any share in stationary sup- 
port or progression ; now it is scarcely necessary to observe, that the perfection of the 
hands of Man results in a great measure from the free use he is enabled to make of them 
in consequence of the organization of the lower members as exclusive instruments for 
sustaining and moving the body. It has, however, been suggested that the hallux of 
the Orang might acquire increased length and strength during the efforts of successive 
' Art. Orang, Dict. Classique d’Hist. Nat., tom. xiii, p. 264. 2 Ibid. p. 264. 
