126 MAN AND THE LOWER ANIMALS. n 



weaker, but its metatarsal bone is united by a 

 more moveable joint with the tarsus. At the same 

 time, the foot is set more obliquely upon the leg 

 than in man. 



As to the muscles, there is a short flexor, a 

 short extensor, and a peronceus long us, while the 

 tendons of the long flexors of the great toe and of 

 the other toes are united together and with an ac- 

 cessory fleshy bundle. 



The hind limb of the Gorilla, therefore, ends 

 in a true foot, with a very moveable great toe. It 

 is a prehensile foot, indeed, but is in no sense a 

 hand; it is a foot which differs from that of man 

 not in any fundamental character, but in mere 

 proportions, in the degree of mobility, and in the 

 secondary arrangement of its parts. 



It must not be supposed, however, because I 

 speak of these differences as not fundamental, that 

 I wish to underrate their value. They are im- 

 portant enough in their way, the structure of the 

 foot being in strict correlation with that of the 

 rest of the organism in each case. Nor can it be 

 doubted that the greater division of physiological 

 labour in Man, so that the function of support is 

 thrown wholly on the leg and foot, is an advance 

 in organization of very great moment to him; but, 

 after all, regarded anatomically, the resemblances 

 between the foot of Man and the foot of the Gorilla 

 are far more striking and important than the dif- 

 ferences. 



