OQ 
RECENT WORK ON PREHISTORIC MAN. 
The remarkable impetus given in recent years to the study 
of prehistoric man, largely due to the wonderful discoveries 
at Piltdown, Sussex, by Messrs. Dawson and Smith Woodward, 
has resulted in the publication of quite a number of books 
on the subject, some of which have already been referred to 
in these pages. Different authors, interested in the discussion 
upon Eoanthropus dawsont, have made a re-survey of previous 
important discoveries ; result—books. The first of those before 
us, ‘ THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN,’ by Pror. A. KEITH,* is obviously 
a direct result of the controversy he had with Dr. Smith Wood- 
ward as to the proper significance of the Piltdown remains. 
Nearly half the book is occupied by detailed descriptions of 
the Sussex specimens. Prof. Keith points out that most books 
on prehistoric man approach the subject from the point of 
view of the geologist. He therefore deals with it from the 
anatomist’s standpoint. This accounts for the importance 
Prof. Keith gives to the ‘ Ipswich Man’ ; geologists, with their 
knowledge of the deposits in which the remains occurred, are 
of opinion that he is comparatively modern. The same may 
be said for other remains which, had Dr. Keith possessed the 
geological knowledge which is so essential in deciding matters 
of this sort, he would doubtless have treated differently. 
Though generally very interesting, the book is at times a little 
technical and difficult to follow; some amends-are made, 
however, by the wealth of illustration. 
In ‘ PREHISTORIC MAN AND His Story.’t Pror. G. F. 
Scotr ELLIoT covers an enormous field. In fact the ground 
covered is so great and so varying that it naturally follows 
now and again that it gets a bit unstable and swampy, and 
while we will not go so far as to say that the author gets out 
of his depth, yet at times he seems to get along with some diffi- 
culty. The following are the headings to one chapter :— 
‘Embryonic Reasoning and Germs of Morals in Animals— 
Intelligence of Paramoecium, Crayfish, Tortoises and Birds— 
Emotional Possibilities in Birds—Ants which grow Corn and 
Fungi—Puzzle Boxes—-Lemurs and Monkeys which throw 
Sticks and Stones—Oran-Utan—Aye-Aye—Peter and the 
Blackboard—Nest-building among Lemurs and Apes—Socia- 
bility and good and evil qualties of Monkeys—Appreciation of 
the Sun—Essential Differences of Lowest Man and Highest 
Animal Intelligence and Capacity of Brain—Unsatisfactory 
Figures—Weights of Brains—Size of Hat and Wealth—Growth 
of Skull in Gorilla and Man—Effect of Jaw and Neck Muscles— 


* London: Williams & Norgate xx. + 519 pages. tos. 6d. net. 
+ London: Seeley Service & Co., 398 pages, 7s. 6d. net. 
_ » Naturalist, 
