Page:George Archdall Reid 1896 The present evolution of man.djvu/65

development of the individual, as for instance the horns of deer and the beards of men, must have appeared late in the evolution of the species. The young hornless deer and the young beardless man should therefore correspond to very recent stages in the evolution of their respective species. Whence if there is any truth in my theory of retrogression by atavism, it follows that comparatively hornless deer and comparatively beardless men ought to be comparatively frequent, for the ancestor reverted to would in either case be comparatively recent. As regards the beard, we know that comparatively beardless men are common in a well-bearded race such as the Anglo-Saxon. As regards the horns of deer I cannot speak with authority, not having sufficient knowledge, but I doubt not that others who have had better opportunities for observation will confirm my conclusion in this matter. I think it will be found, for example, that comparatively hornless deer are much more common than comparatively hairless animals of the species.