72 YEETEBRATA : MAMMALIA. 



SUB-SECTION III. 

 THE ORDER OF QUADRUMANA OR MONKEYS. 



As their name indicates, the animals belonging to this 

 order have each of their four extremities hand-like ; that 

 is, the first digit on each extremity is a thumb, opposable 

 to the finders. The name Quadrumana comes from, the 



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Latin quatuor, four, and inanus, a hand. 



The animals of this order are popularly known^as apes, 

 monkeys, and baboons. Some of them bear a general re- 

 semblance to the members of the human family ; but there 

 are wide differences between the Quadrumana and Man, 

 even when physically considered. 



The erect attitude, as we have seen, is the natural one 

 for Man ; not so with any of the Quadrumana. Although 

 some kinds may stand and even walk somewhat erect, this 

 attitude is unnatural and insecure, the hind feet, or hind 

 ."hands," then resting on their outer edges only, and their 

 narrow pelvis being unfavorable for the maintenance of an 

 equilibrium. 



It is true that the hands of the Quadrumana bear a very 

 close resemblance to human hands ; but, although admira- 

 bly adapted to grasping and climbing, they are greatly in- 

 ferior to the perfect hand of Man, in delicacy of structure 

 and functions. In many species the face presents some- 

 thing human-like in appearance ; but the elongated muzzle, 

 even of the highest species, is far more like that of the 

 ordinary quadrupeds than like that of man. 



