LEFTHANDEDNESS. 473 



metry in. the twisting of both orbits, and partly of the mouth, to one 

 side, that which they present to the light. In the sole it is the right 

 side, in the turbot it is the left side, to which the eyes are turned ; 

 but it is not uncommon to find this reversed, and in the flounder the 

 eyes are found nearly as often on the left as on the right side." The 

 question of anatomical symmetry is, however, a different one from that 

 of equipoise, and the whole question of a preferential rightsided action 

 in the case of the lower animals is still an open one. Dr. P. H. Pye- 

 Smith says, " The primitive human condition we miist suppose to 

 have been one of perfect symmetrical structure and ambidextrous 

 function. For this is the condition of all the higher vertebrates 

 which can be best compared with man ; complete bilateral symmetry 

 of all the organs is the state of the human embryo at an early stage ; 

 and all the simpler actions, such as climbing, rowing, swimming, are 

 performed with both hands. The alternate action of the limbs in the 

 horse, and that of both ^ides together in the camel, would equally 

 imply complete symmetry of the nervous centres ; though even here 

 we seem to have the first step to dififerentiation, indicated by the 

 preference for the right foot to lead with in the canter, which is 

 impressed on saddle-horses for our convenience." The communication 

 of Mr. Shaw, above referred to, is only known to me from the very 

 brief notice of it in a local paper ; but so far as appears, he merely 

 repeated previous statements relative to the preferential use by the 

 elephant of its right tusk. The general result which he is indicated 

 as affirming, in reference to the main question, is that "there is a 

 constitutional reason for the preference given to the right hand ; but 

 this tendency he believed had been much strengthened by habit." 



The archaeological evidence in proof of the antiquity of the use of 

 the right hand may be expected to increase when attention is directed 

 to the subject. The Vez^re relics suggest its prevalence in an ei'a- 

 when man and the mammoth were contemporary in Central Europe. 

 The handle of a bronze sickle found in 1873 at the lake-dwelling of 

 Moringen, on the Lake of Brienne, in Switzerland, still more con- 

 clusively demonstrates the habit in a later, though still prehistoric 

 age. Bronze sickles have long been familiar to the antiquary among 

 the relics of Europe's Bronze Age, and their forms have been shown 

 in various archaeological works, and included among the illustrations 

 of Dr. Ferdinand Keller's " Lake Dwellings ; " but the example now 

 referred to is the first known illustration of the complete hafted 



