ORDER PRIMATES. 



147 1 



to those of the Simiidce (compare a and b in fig. 1354) ; although 

 their number and structure are identical. The skull is also remark- 

 able for the great relative size of the cranial, and the shortness of 

 the facial portion. 



Man has certainly existed throughout the Pleistocene period, and 

 there is also evidence of his presence at the epoch of the St Prest 

 beds of the south of France, which are equivalent to the Norfolk 

 Forest-bed, and are referred by some authorities to the base of the 

 Pleistocene, and by others to the top of the Pliocene. Somewhat 

 doubtful evidence of his existence in the true Pliocene of Italy has 



Fig. 1354.— Left lateral view of the skull of (a) the Orang (Simia) and (b) a European. 



Reduced. 



been brought forward ; and it has been asserted that a skull found 

 in Calaveras county, in the United States, is from Pliocene beds. 

 In the latter instance, however, some authorities doubt whether the 

 skull in question was really obtained from these beds, while others 

 consider that the beds themselves are not earlier than the Pleisto- 

 cene. Far stronger proofs than those hitherto brought forward 

 must be forthcoming before the alleged existence of Man in the 

 Middle Miocene of France can be accepted. The evidences of his 

 existence in the Recent period belong rather to the domain of the 

 archaeologist and ethnologist than to that of the palaeontologist. 



In conclusion, it may be mentioned that Professor Cope regards 

 the Hoiiiinidcz as having originated independently of the other An- 

 thropoidea from a Lemuroid stock ■ but much more conclusive 

 evidence than that yet adduced is necessary to support this view. 



