24 W ^^^ DESCENT OF MAN 



ihis developments ^^^ occasional appearance at the p: 

 ent day of caniil^ ^^^^^ which project above-lhe oth( 

 with traces of a dir'S^f'^a o^- open space/for the recept 

 of the opposite caninetip-^^ ^"^ ^'1 probability a case of 

 version to a former state, \f'i®'i t^fe-gr!K)genitors of man w 

 provided with these weapons, like so many existing m 

 Quadrumana. It was remarked in a former chapter that 

 man gradually became erect, and continually used his hai 

 and arms for fighting with sticks and stones, as well as 

 tbe other purposes of life, he would have used his jaws s 

 teeth less and less. The jaws, together with their muscl 

 would then have been reduced through disuse, as would 

 teeth through the not well understood principles of corrc 

 tion and economy of growth; for we everywhere see t 

 parts which are no longer of service are reduced in si 

 By such steps the original inequality between the jaws a 

 teeth in the two sexes of mankind would ultimately h£ 

 been obliterated. The case is almost parallel with that 

 many male Euminants in which the canine teeth have be 

 reduced to mere rudiments or have disappeared, apparen 

 in consequence of the development of horns. As the p 

 digious difference between the skulls of the two sexes 

 the orang and gorilla stands in close relation with the ( 

 velopment of the immense canine teeth in the males, 

 may infer that the reduction of the jaws and teeth in 1 

 early male progenitors of man must have led to a m 

 striking and favorable change in his appearance. 



There can be little doubt that the greater size a 

 strength of man, in comparison with woman, together w: 

 his broader shoulders, more developed muscles, rugged o 

 line of body, his greater courage and pugnacity, are all d 

 in chief part to inheritance from his half -human male anc 

 tors. These characters would, however, have been preserv 

 or even augmented during the long ages of man's savagei 

 by the success of the strongest and boldest men, both in t 

 general struggle for life and in their contests for wives; 

 success which would have insured their leaving a mc 



