60 THE MAX-LIKE APES. i 



" When at rest the sitting posture is that generally 

 assumed. They are sometimes seen standing and walk- 

 ing, but when thus detected, they immediately take to all 

 fours, and flee from the presence of the observer. Such is 

 their organisation that they cannot stand erect, but lean 

 forward. Hence they are seen, when standing, with the 

 hands clasped over the occiput, or the lumbar region, 

 which would seem necessary to balance or ease of posture. 



" The toes of the adult are strongly flexed and turned 

 inwards, and cannot be perfectly straightened. In the 

 attempt the skin gathers into thick folds on the back, 

 showing that the full expansion of the foot, as is necessary 

 in walking, is unnatural. The natural position is on all 

 fours, the body anteriorly resting upon the knuckles. 

 These are greatly enlarged, with the skin protuberant and 

 thickened like the sole of the foot. 



" They are expert climbers, as one would suppose from 

 their organisation. In their gambols they swing from 

 limb to limb to a great distance, and leap with astonish- 

 ing agility. It is not unusual to see the 'old folks' (in 

 the language of an observer) sitting under a tree regaling 

 themselves with fruit and friendly chat, while their ' chil- 

 dren ' are leaping around them, and swinging from tree 

 to tree with boisterous merriment. 



"As seen here, they cannot be called gregarious, sel- 

 dom more than five, or ten at most, being found together. 

 It has been said, on good authority, that they occasionally 

 assemble in large numbers, in gambols. My informant 

 asserts that he saw once not less than fifty so engaged ; 

 hooting, screaming, and drumming with sticks upon old 

 logs, which is done in the latter case with equal facility 

 by the four extremities. They do not appear ever to act 

 on the offensive, and seldom, if ever really, on the de- 

 fensive. When about to be captured, they resist by throw- 

 ing their arms about their opponent, and attempting to 

 draw him into contact with their teeth." (Savage, /. c. 

 ]). 384.) 



