FROM THE NEW HEBRIDES. CAMERON. 425 



three eusped type, and the lower molars from the five cusped 

 into the four cusped pattern; and demonstrates very definitely 

 that this reduction process is by no means confined to the 

 higher races of mankind. 



In regard to. the size of the molar teeth, it was noted 

 that in No. 1 skull the 2nd upper molars were definitely smaller 

 than the 1st, while the 2nd lower molars were a very slight 

 degree smaller than the 1st. In the case of No. 2 skull, 

 the 3rd upper mollars were distinctly smaller than the 

 2nd molars, while the 3rd lower molars were practically'' 

 of the same size as the 2nd and both were smaller than 

 the 1st, on each side of the jaw. It will be noted from 

 what has been stated that the dentition was somewhat 

 anomalous in these skulls and may explain why the lower 

 jaws displayed so little evidence of prognathism. Some 

 anthropologists, amongst whom may be specially mentioned 

 Sir. W. Flower, have laid great emphasis on the comparative 

 study of the molar teeth. He showed that they tended to 

 be larger in the primitive races, where they may occup\' in 

 the dental arches relatively the same compass as in an anthro- 

 poid ape like the chimpanzee. Moreover in these lower 

 races the 2nd and 3rd molars tend to approximate to the 

 size of the first, thus showing a reversion to primitive ancestral 

 types. For example, in the lower jaw of the chimpanzee 

 the three molars are all of the same size. In the jaw of 

 Heidelberg man, who stands at a very low level in the human 

 family tree, the three molars are again found to be all prac- 

 tically of the same size. In Neanderthal or Mousterian 

 man, who was also closely allied to Heidelberg man, the 

 2nd and 3rd molars were as large as the first. The 2nd 

 molar of the Piltdown man was slightly smaller than the 

 first. His 3rd molar was never discovered. In the upper 

 and lower jaws of No. 1 skull the 2nd and 3rd molar teeth 

 were likewise certainly smaller than the 1st. Note further 

 that in the jaws of the chimpanzee, Heidelberg man, and 



