The Sense of Touch, in Mammals and Birds, with Special Reference to the Papillary Ridges

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HAVING in a companion volume treated of the direction of the hair in animals Dr.Kidd, in the one now before us, turns his attention to the kindred subject of the structure adn funcntion of the papillary ridges on the tactile surface of their hands and feet. Although the subject is by no means new, the author has studied it in a fuller manner than at least most of his predecessors, and has a new theory with regard to the function of the ridges in the Primates, in which alone these structures attain full development. In monkeys, at any rate, it has been generally considered that the main purpose of the rough surface produced by the papillary ridges is to ensure firm hold in grasping. Without denying that this may be a part of their function, Dr. Kidd is, however, of opinion that there are other important uses, which vary in different groups. In man, for instance, the papillary ridges in the hand alone exercise the function of discriminative sensibility, and those in the foot that of maintaining the equilibrium of the body, whereas in the lower Primates both functions are discharged by the ridges of the two pairs of limbs, although sensibility is less marked in the front pair than in the human hand. The most interesting part of the author's conclusion relates, however, to the papillary ridges of lemurs, which are much more complicated than those of apes and man, and are accordingly believed to be subservient to the necessity for special means of preserving the equilibrium in the case of nocturnal creatures. The Sense of Touch, in Mammals and Birds, with Special Reference to the Papillary Ridges. By Dr. Walter Kidd. Pp. viii + 176; illustrated. (London: A. and C. Black, 1907.) Price 5s. net.