56 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



would be still less reason for doubting its occasional adop- 

 tion of the upright attitude or of aggressive proceedings. 



From the time of Tyson and Tulpius downwards, the 

 habits of the young Chimpanzee in a state of captivity 

 have been abundantly reported and commented upon. 

 But trustworthy evidence as to the manners and customs 

 of adult anthropoids of this species, in their native woods, 

 was almost wanting up to the time of the publication of 

 the paper by Dr. Savage, to which I have already refer- 

 red ; containing notes of the observations which he made, 

 and of the information which he collected from sources 

 which he considered trustworthy, while resident at Cape 

 Palmas, at the northwestern limit of the Bight of Benin. 



The adult Chimpanzees, measured by Dr. Savage, 

 never exceeded, though the males may almost attain, five 

 feet in height. 



" 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 organization 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, 

 shewing 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 organization. In their gambols they swing from 



