CHAPTER XIV 



THE RECESSION OF THE SNOUT REGION 



We have seen that one of the things made possible by 

 the emancipation of the fore-limb and the development 

 of the power of grasp is the ability of the animal to seize 

 its food with its hand and convey it to its mouth. These 

 are two separate actions, and although their influence is 

 exerted in the same direction, they are so distinct as to 

 need somewhat separate treatment. The perfected com- 

 bination of these actions doubtless came slowly into the 

 arboreal stock, but the power to seize food with the hands 

 is^present in some quite lowly forms, and the Tree Shrews 

 X (Tupaiadce) already possess the power of raising food to 

 their mouths. In all the Lemurs these actions are 

 perfected, and passing over the degrees to which they are 

 developed in different species, we will study the com])leted 

 process as seen in a typical Primate, and note what 

 correlated changes may be bound up in its full develop- 

 ment. 



We must first turn aside to note that there are other 

 animals than the Primates and their kindred which can 

 grasp food in their hands and convey it to their mouths. 

 There are even animals showing no trace of being arboreal 

 which can do this action with great address. It is the 

 same with all systems and organs, and it is a story to 

 which we shall repeatedly have to turn, for, as we have 

 seen, the fore-limb may receive some degree of emancipa- 

 tion by other activities than tree-climbing. Jumping f 

 and hopping animals, and animals which sit upright, can 

 use their hands for many skilled movements. Jerboas 



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