IN THE LOWER ANIMALS, ETC. 345 



the canines attain a large size ; and many exclu- 

 sively graminivorous animals are noted for their 

 ferocity. The alimentary canal in man being six 

 times the length of the body, and in the apes 

 nine or ten times that length, it follows that the 

 food of these animals is more exclusively vege- 

 table; and we may therefore conclude that the 

 canine teeth are bestowed for purposes of de- 

 fence, rather than as indicative of carnivorous 

 instincts. 



Notwithstanding the many points of resemblance 

 to the human type, in dentition and general struc- 

 ture, there still exists a wide and impassable 

 barrier, and the great gorilla is but a powerful 

 four-handed beast. The thumb is longer and 

 more opposible to the fingers than in other 

 genera ; but it only constitutes a part of a brute 

 paw — a most inefficient organ when compared 

 with that exquisitely constructed instrument, the 

 human hand. Neither are the hinder extremities 

 true feet, but are prehensile, marking the animal's 

 arboreal habits ; the oblique articulation compel- 

 ling it to walk on the sides, instead of the palms 

 of the hands. The pelvis and spinal column are 

 unfitted for the erect position, and the occipital 

 foramen is still placed so far back, that the weight 

 of the skull and ponderous jaws is throAvn for- 

 wards ; and the larger apes can only maintain an 

 upright position for a limited time, by carrying 

 the long arms behind the neck, but soon instinc- 



