The Descent of Man

ing muscles in the lower animals. (52. Prof.
Macalister (ibid. p. 121) has tabulated his observations,
and finds that muscular abnormalities
are most frequent in the fore-arms, secondly,
in the face, thirdly, in the foot, etc.) Such
resemblances are either perfect or imperfect;
yet in the latter case they are manifestly of a
transitional nature. Certain variations are more
common in man, and others in woman, without
our being able to assign any reason. Mr. Wood,
after describing numerous variations, makes
the following pregnant remark. "Notable departures
from the ordinary type of the muscular
structures run in grooves or directions,
which must be taken to indicate some unknown
factor, of much importance to a comprehensive
knowledge of general and scientific
anatomy." (53. The Rev. Dr. Haughton, after
giving ('Proc. R. Irish Academy,' June 27, 1864,
p. 715) a remarkable case of variation in the
human flexor pollicis longus, adds, "This remarkable
example shews that man may some-