MAN AND HIS STRUCTURAL AFFINITIES. 435 



with the teeth, which is not uncommon among brutal men of some 

 countries considered civilized. But the foot seems at first very differ- 

 ent from a man's, although here again every bone and the determining 

 muscle (peroneus longus) of the foot of man are present. The foot is 

 set more obliquely on the leg and the big-toe is farther from the rest, 

 proportionally shorter and weaker, and, above all, more flexible. Cer- 

 tainly these important differences are connected with its mode of life, 

 which is more arboreal than that of man. 



With its foot the gorilla can steady itself in climbing and hold fast 

 to objects from which the rigid foot of man would slide away. Still our 

 feet are not wholly unfit for grasping, and you may have noticed bare- 

 footed boys cutting up " monkey-shines " on trees with entire safety to 

 themselves, though not to the complete satisfaction of their parents. 

 The female gorilla seems to consider her young one safe when he is up 

 the tree ; but the anxious human mother does not feel easy until the 

 child is on the ground again. Circumstances thus alter cases throughout 

 the range of experience. Again, we are familiar with the fact that men 

 who have lost their arms often learn to write and perform other actions 

 with their feet. But, notwithstanding these important differences be- 

 tween the feet of the gorilla and our own, there is again the greater 

 difference to be considered between the hands and feet of the loAver 

 monkeys and those of the gorilla. The thumb ceases to be opposable 

 in the American monkeys, and is again reduced to a mere rudiment cov- 

 ered by the skin in the spider-monkey. Indeed, we may say that, look- 

 ing through the succession of simian forms, from below up, there is a 

 constant increase of the characters which prepare us for man. And the 

 gorilla exhibits these in their fullest development. From the gorilla 

 it is indeed easy to predicate man much easier than to suppose the 

 gorilla from the lowest monkeys. 



Another interesting man-ape is the chimpanzee (Chimpanza nir/er). 

 Many living specimens have been brought to Europe and lately to New 

 York from Africa, where it inhabits the same territory as the gorilla. 

 It is a smaller species than the gorilla, the head proportionately larger 

 and less prognathic, the arm shorter. The foot is more hand-like, and 

 there is a slight difference in the dentition. In running, the chimpan- 

 zee goes on all-fours, but in walking or carrying anything the position 

 it assumes is nearly erect. In captivity the chimpanzee has developed 

 most amiable qualities. It has been taught to sit at table, and even to 

 conform to what we esteem good manners. It becomes passionately 

 fond of its keeper, clinging to him, and refusing to be separated on any 

 occasion. It is extremely kind to children, showing no trickish or 

 malicious temper, even endeavoring to amuse them, and induce them to 

 plav. As long as there is light in the room the chimpanzee will sit 

 up at night ; as soon as the light is withdrawn it goes to sleep, lying 

 stretched out with its hands under its head if the temperature is pleas- 

 ant, but, if cold, cowering together like a human being under similar 



