The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex — John Shaqi
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to SexDarwin, Charles
History
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex
Darwin, Charles
Evolution (Biology); Human beings -- Origin; Sex differences; Sexual dimorphism (Animals); Sexual selection in animals
Mr. J. Wood, in his valuable series of papers (48. These papers deserve
careful study by any one who desires to learn how frequently our
muscles vary, and in varying come to resemble those of the Quadrumana.
The following references relate to the few points touched on in my
text: ‘Proc. Royal Soc.’ vol. xiv. 1865, pp. 379-384; vol. xv. 1866,
pp. 241, 242; vol. xv. 1867, p. 544; vol. xvi. 1868, p. 524. I may here
add that Dr. Murie and Mr. St. George Mivart have shewn in their Memoir
on the Lemuroidea (‘Transactions, Zoological Society,’ vol. vii. 1869,
p. 96), how extraordinarily variable some of the muscles are in these
animals, the lowest members of the Primates. Gradations, also, in the
muscles leading to structures found in animals still lower in the
scale, are numerous in the Lemuroidea.), has minutely described a vast
number of muscular variations in man, which resemble normal structures
in the lower animals. The muscles which closely resemble those
regularly present in our nearest allies, the Quadrumana, are too
numerous to be here even specified. In a single male subject, having a
strong bodily frame, and well-formed skull, no less than seven muscular
variations were observed, all of which plainly represented muscles
proper to various kinds of apes. This man, for instance, had on both
sides of his neck a true and powerful “levator claviculae,” such as is
found in all kinds of apes, and which is said to occur in about one out
of sixty human subjects. (49. See also Prof. Macalister in
‘Proceedings, Royal Irish Academy,’ vol. x. 1868, p. 124.) Again, this
man had “a special abductor of the metatarsal bone of the fifth digit,
such as Professor Huxley and Mr. Flower have shewn to exist uniformly
in the higher and lower apes.” I will give only two additional cases;
the acromio-basilar muscle is found in all mammals below man, and seems
to be correlated with a quadrupedal gait, (50. Mr. Champneys in
‘Journal of Anatomy and Physiology,’ Nov. 1871, p. 178.) and it occurs
in about one out of sixty human subjects. In the lower extremities Mr.
Bradley (51. Ibid. May 1872, p. 421.) found an abductor ossis metatarsi
quinti in both feet of man; this muscle had not up to that time been
recorded in mankind, but is always present in the anthropomorphous
apes. The muscles of the hands and arms—parts which are so eminently
characteristic of man—are extremely liable to vary, so as to resemble
the corresponding 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account