22 
THE DESCENT OF MAN. 
Part I. 
which from inhabiting oceanic islands have not been 
exposed to the attacks of beasts of prey, and have con- 
sequently lost the power of using their wings for flight. 
The celebrated sculptor, Mr. Woolner, informs me of 
one little peculiarity in the external ear, which he has 
often observed both in men and women, and of which 
he perceived the full signification. His attention was 
first called to the subject whilst at work on his figure 
of Puck, to which he had given pointed ears. He was 
thus led to examine the ears of various monkeys, and 
subsequently more carefully those of man. The pecu- 
liarity consists in a little blunt point, projecting from 
the inwardly folded margin, or helix. Mr. Woolner 
made an exact model of one such case, and has sent 
me the accompanying drawing. 
(Fig. 2.) These points not only 
project inwards, but often a little 
outwards, so that they are visible 
when the head is viewed from di- 
rectly in front or behind. They 
are variable in size and some- 
what in position, standing either 
a little higher or lower ; and they 
sometimes occur on one ear and 
not on the other. Now the mean- 
ing "of these projections is not, 
I think, doubtful; but it may 
be thought that they offer too 
trifling a character to be worth notice. This thought, 
however, is as false as it is natural. Every character, 
however slight, must be the result of some definite 
cause ; and if it occurs in many individuals deserves 
consideration. The helix obviously consists of the ex- 
treme margin of the ear folded inwards ; and this fold- 
ing appears to be in some manner connected with the 
Fig. 2. Human Ear, modelled 
and drawn by Mr. Woolner. 
a. The projecting point. 
