HAIRY HUMANITY.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1811, 22 October 1874, Page 3

HAIRY HUMANITY.

The following description of the Kostvqmas is clipped from a, Scotch journal:—"These singular specimens of humanity were presented at the Wavorley Rooms, Edinburgh, to a select company of gentlemen, embracing prominent members of the medical profession, professors in the University, civic authorities and others. The Kostromas, father and son, were found in the northern regions of Russia, and are distinguished by a profused growth of Hair over the forehead and entire face. The hair has been described as woolly,''but is rather silken in its "softness. On the man's forehead it.grows in profusion, and is brushed, back'over the forehead. It is also abundant on the sides of the nose. -The little boy, three or four years of age> has the same growth of hair over the forehead, down both sides of the nose. The. man submitted with great good humour to examination by thegentlemen present, taking, off his boot to show his foot, and .; laughing good naturedly at the minute inspection of his toes. His muscular development i? very great, but there is an expression of gentleness and repose in the countenance which gives no sign of a nature of barbarism. These two have been spoken of as specimens of the missing link which Darwinianism is in search of. The: suggestion is ridiculous. They are very plainly members of the human family. Both in father and, sOa the hand and foot are., those of our ownL.r?ce. In the hand, the thumb is exactly in ils length and foraa that of the human hand. There is no approximation to the configuration of the monkey, dog, or any of the lower animals. The hand of the child is as neat a hand as one may wish to see. The development of the skull is godd. The father's face wears an expression of great placidity. The boy would be regarded as a pleasant, intelligent, and rather attractive child, who would pass in any gathering without remark :, but for the tuft of soft hair on "each fside of the nose. Both conversed freely in EUss with their attendant, the father explaining to the medical gentlemen that he had caught cold in Liverpool The boy moved about among the company with no evidence of shyness; ■