of Mans Evolution. 



27 



and so improving the hand ; of abandoning the forest-life, and 

 so improving the powers of locomotion and proportioning the 

 lower to the upper limbs as in man ; growth of brain by virtue 

 of the stimulus afforded by all the factors in this long-protracted 

 struggle. And to all this I add yet farther that the mountainous 

 character of the region perfected the human characteristics of 

 an erect posture — curving the spine forward in the lumbar 

 region, and widening the pelvis as the result of action in 

 ascending and descending the mountain sides. 



Having completed my argument as respects the region of 

 Man's evolution, I am bold to repeat that the due consideration 

 of the geographical, climatal, and other conditions of this 

 southern portion of the Palaearctic Eegion upon the anthropoid 

 apes which occupied it in later Miocene and Pliocene times, 

 taken in connection with the facts of distribution of the higher 

 Primates, must lead to the conclusion that this region was of all 

 others the most likely to have supplied the conditions necessary 

 to the evolution of the bimanous erect and large-brained form 

 of Man out of the quadrumanous semi-erect and small-brained 

 form of the Ape. 



One word, in conclusion, with respect to the practicability of 

 discovering those remains which my argument goes to show lie 

 entombed in strata of the south of the Palsearctic Region. 



I have already quoted authorities to prove that the whole of 

 this zone had undergone a process of gradual and continuous 

 upheaval during Tertiary time. The lowest of the Tertiary strata, 

 in point of actual altitude, namely, the Eocene, is found at heights 

 from 10,000 to 17,000 feet above sea-level. Since upheaval 

 must at all times be gradual it follows that the continuous 

 rising of the land into what are now lofty mountain-ranges 

 would have the effect of tilting the various layers of strata 

 deposited through Miocene and Pliocene times. 



The inclination of these strata, therefore, gives us every en- 

 couragement to believe in the accessibility of the remains of 

 which we are in quest. Though there is yet much to learn 

 about the geology of the south of the Palsearctic Eegion there is 

 even now abundance of information to guide exploration. 

 Unfortunately, perhaps, for us most of this extensive region is 

 under other than British rule, else we might prosecute inquiries 

 in the Pyrenees or the Caucasus, or in some of the promising- 

 districts of Italy. Our protectorate of Asia Minor, however, 

 might enable us to obtain leave of the Turkish Government to 

 explore any portion of that country that might be deemed 

 fruitful of search. Having retired from Afghanistan we need 

 not indulge the hope of soon exploring that country. But there 

 is India at our command. According to evidence confirmed by 



