Darwin, and After Darwin, Volumes 1 and 3: An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian QuestionsRomanes, George John
Science
Darwin, and After Darwin, Volumes 1 and 3: An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions
Romanes, George John
Evolution (Biology); Heredity
In the orang it is longer than in man (Fig. 18), as it is also in the
human foetus proportionally compared with the adult. (Fig. 19.) In
some of the lower herbivorous animals it is longer than the entire body.
Like vestigial structures in general, however, this one is highly
variable. Thus the above cut (Fig. 19) serves to show that it may
sometimes be almost as short in the orang as it normally is in man--both
the human subjects of this illustration having been normal.
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--_Appendix vermiformis_ in Orang and in Man.
Drawn from dried inflated specimens in the Cambridge Museum by Mr.
J. J. Lister. _Il_, ilium; _Co_, colon; _C_, cæcum; W, a window cut
in the wall of the cæcum; X X X, the appendix.]
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--The same, showing variation in the Orang.
Drawn from a specimen in the Museum of the Royal College of
Surgeons.]
(7) _Ear._--Mr. Darwin writes:--
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.... The peculiarity consists in a little blunt
point, projecting from the inwardly folded margin, or helix. When
present, it is developed at birth, and, according to Prof. Ludwig
Meyer, more frequently in man than in woman. Mr. Woolner made an
exact model of one such case, and sent me the accompanying
drawing.... The helix obviously consists of the extreme margin of
the ear folded inwards; and the folding appears to be in some
manner connected with the whole external ear being permanently
pressed backwards. In many monkeys, which do not stand high in the
order, as baboons and some species of macacus, the upper portion of
the ear is slightly pointed, and the margin is not at all folded
inwards; but if the margin were to be thus folded, a slight point
would necessarily project towards the centre.... The following
wood-cut is an accurate copy of a photograph of the foetus of an
orang (kindly sent me by Dr. Nitsche), in which it may be seen how
different the pointed outline of the ear is at this period from its
adult condition, when it bears a close general resemblance to that
of man [including even the occasional appearance of the projecting
point shown in the preceding woodcut]. It is evident that the
folding over of the tip of such an ear, unless it changed greatly
during its further development, would give rise to a point
projecting inwards[8].
[8] _Descent of Man_, 2nd ed., pp. 15-16.
[Illustration: FIG. 20.--Human ear, modelled and drawn by Mr.
Woolner. _a_, the projecting point.]
[Illustration: FIG. 21.--Foetus of an Orang. Exact copy of a
photograph, showing the form of the ear at this early stage.]
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