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BIOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS 



position of spinal column, and support for the arches of the feet. 

 The strain on the internal organs can be met by training the ab- 

 dominal muscles to support their extra burden, and by proper 

 exercise and breathing. All this is but a small price to pay for the 

 human hand. 



Relationship. Contrary to the ideas of some ill-informed people, 

 no scientist has ever claimed that man is " descended from " an 

 ape or any similar form, neither is there any " missing link " to be 

 discovered. On the other hand scientists do agree that both man 



From American Museum of Natural History. 



FIG. 104. Brain case and face in ape and man. In the ape (young gorilla, 

 at the left) the brain case is comparatively low, and the face is shallow; in 

 man (adult white man, at the right) the brain case and the face are both very 

 deep; the face has been retracted beneath the brain case. Figure after Ritge. 



and the apes are descended from a common ancestor from which 

 both lines have developed. This accounts for the very great 

 similarity in structure. In the same way, we resemble our cousins 

 though we are not descended from them, but are related by way 

 of a common ancestor, or grandparent. 

 Aside from man, the primates include: 



1. The gorilla, the largest of the apes, a native of Africa. It 

 is erect, does not climb trees, and resembles man closely in structure, 

 though much stronger. 



2. The chimpanzee, also found in Africa. Though smaller than 



