of an Orang Otang. 477 
of the former. It exceeds ours in height by 6 inches, having an 
altitude of 4 feet 5 inches instead of 3 feet 11: yet, as its arms 
each measure 39 inches and a half, instead of 37 inches, and as 
its chest is broader, its relative height to that of its reach I find 
to be precisely the same,—the latter being a little under 8 feet. 
In its length from the summit of its head to the extremity of the 
os coccygis, it is exactly the same as ours, being 2 feet 2 inches ; 
and the length of its hinder hands is precisely similar, being. 12 
inches. Its bones are however thicker and stronger in propor- 
tion, the head of the humerus measuring 6 inches and one- 
eighth in circumference, and that of the chest at the lower part 
of the sternum no less than 37 inches. ; 
In regard to the relative length of the arms in the Pongo and 
the Satyrus, it stands thus. Jn the Satyrus, when young, the 
fingers may be observed literally to drag upon the ground like 
those of the Gibbons, though the creature be placed erect ; while 
in the Pongo the fingers scarcely reach to the external maleolus. 
Slight differences of this kind undoubtedly take place during the 
growth of animals; yet those who suppose the Pongo to be the 
adult animal, must be prepared to contend for a much greater 
change in the relative proportions of parts during growth than 
can be admitted in other cases. Having mentioned the erect 
position, it is almost unnecessary to add, that it is altogether 
unnatural to these creatures; and that although we see their 
skeletons constantly distorted into human attitudes, one grand 
characteristic between them and us is the impossibility of their 
thigh-bone being brought, by fair means or by the action of their 
own muscles, into the same line as that of the spine. In all in- 
ferior creatures, it is observed to form with it an angle of greater . 
or less magnitude, which is the most convincing of all proofs, 
that their hinder extremities alone were never destined for the 
support of their bodies. 
From 
