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thumb is very short in the gorilla, and its muscles much reduced. The long 
flexor is replaced by a tendinous tract, the origin of which is lost in the ten- 
dinous sheaths of the flexors of the other fingers. It follows that the thumb 
has no independent movement of opposition. In the orang, though the 
thumb is shortened, it still is capable of an independent flexion ; but this 
depends on a peculiar disposition which he had lately verified with M. Alix. 
In point of fact, the proper flexor of the thumb is entirely absent in the 
orang ; there is not even found that tendinous tract existing in the gorilla ; 
but by a singular contrivance, the marginal fibres of the adductor muscle of 
the thumb terminate in a tendon which is placed in the axis of the first 
terminal axis. 
The fact which establishes a great relation between man and apes is, that 
in them the optic nerves open directly in the cerebral hemispheres, whilst in 
the other vertebrates these nerves reach the brain only by the intermediation 
of the tubercula quadrigemina. This peculiarity may explain the existence 
of a certain conformity in the manner in which man and ape perceive their 
sensations. But it does not follow that there is an identity in the nature of 
their intelligence ; for though the senses are subservient to the operations of 
the intellect, it cannot be said that they produce it. Man must be placed by 
the side of the ape, but only as an animal. Man is a being apart, just as ail 
other vertebrata must be separated, as they cannot be considered as having 
originated from each other. 
M. Gratiolet added, that as a pupil of Blainville, with whom originated the 
idea of a series in natural history, he felt bound to state how much the ideas 
of his master had become modified. Where Blainville formerly recognized 
transitions from group to group, he, in the latter period of his life, only saw 
maxima and minima of realization for each group. He acknowleged an ideal 
series between types, but not a lineal series between all beings. It is thus 
impossible to invoke the opinions, of Blainville for the support of theories 
tending to reduce to a single stock the numerous species composing the 
animal kingdom. 
M. Broca was of opinion that M. Gratiolet had misunderstood the ideas 
of M. Schaafhausen, who, far from supporting the theory of Darwin, on the 
contrary, commenced by refuting the opinions of Mr. Huxley. M. Schaaf- 
hausen is apparently a partisan of animal series, but there is no necessary 
connexion between this and Darwin’s theory. It may be admitted that all 
families, genera, species, from the monade up to man, are disposed in series, 
and form a continuous scale, without necessarily admitting that the higher 
species are by a progressive evolution issued from the lower. Darwin’s theory 
is a bold attempt to explain the existence of this series. It is the interpreta- 
tion of a fact, and, whilst accepting the fact, we may reject the interpretation 
which was probably M. Schaaf hausen’s stand-point. The views communicated 
to the Society by M. Schaafhausen are both new and important. He shows 
that man is at present constantly engaged in the extermination of species 
which dispute his possession of the soil, and that he was so engaged in the past. 
We know that the superior human races tend to increase at the expense of the 
inferior races, some of which have disappeared within historical times, some 
will disappear, and others must have disappeared in the most remote periods. 
May, then, asks M. Schaafhausen, this destructive intervention of man not 
have contributed to enlarge the interval separating man from the group of 
anthropoid apes ? He is of opinion that the interval was less originally than 
at present, and is less at present than it will be in times to come. The last 
opinion is very probable ; the former is less so, for even if it were demon- 
strated, the question still would remain whether the intermediate types which 
disappeared sufficiently differed from such now limiting the two groups, sen- 
sibly to diminish the distance. At all events, the ingenious idea of M. Schaaf- 
hausen deserved serious consideration. 
