BIOLOGICAL BEGINNINGS 35 



are arranged in an encircling zone, while in iMan, the allantois remains 

 comparatively small, and its vascular rootlets are eventually restricted 

 to one disk-like spot. Hence, while the placenta of the Dog is like a girdle, 

 that of Man has the cake-lil^e form, indicated by the name of the organ. 



But, exactly in those respects in which the developing Man differs from 

 the Dog, he resembles the Ape, which, like man, has a spheroidal yelk-sac 

 and a discoidal — sometimes partially lobed-placenta. 



So that it is only quite in the later stages of development that the young 

 human being presents marked differences from the young ape, while the 

 latter departs as much from the dog in its development as the man does. 



Startling as the last assertion may appear to be, it is demonstrably true, 

 and it alone appears to me sufficient to place beyond all doubt the struc- 

 tural unity of man with the rest of the animal world, and more particularly 

 and closely with the apes. 



Thus, identical in the physical processes by which he originates — identical 

 in the early stages of his formation — identical in the mode of his nutrition 

 before and after birth, with the animals which lie immediately below him 

 in the scale — Man, if his adult and perfect structure be compared with 

 theirs, exhibits, as might be expected, a marvellous likeness of organiza- 

 tion. He resembles them as they resemble one another — he differs from 

 them as they differ from one another. And, though these differences and 

 resemblances cannot be weighed and measured, their value may be readily 

 estimated; the scale or standard of judgment, touching that value, being 

 afforded and expressed by the system of classification of animals now cur- 

 rent among zoologists. 



It is quite certain that the Ape which most nearly approaches man, in the 

 totaUty of its organization, is either the Chimpanzee or the Gorilla; and 

 as it makes no practical difference, for the purposes of my present argu- 

 ment, which is selected for comparison, on the one hand, with Man, and 

 on the other hand, with the rest of the Primates,^ I shall select the latter (so 

 far as its organization is known) — as a brute now so celebrated in prose 

 and verse, that all must have heard of him, and have formed some con- 

 ception of his appearance. I shall take up as many of the most important 

 points of difference between man and this remarkable creature, as the 

 space at my disposal will allow me to discuss, and the necessities of the argu- 

 ment demand; and I shall inquire into the value and magnitude of these 

 differences, when placed side by side with those which separate the Gorilla 

 from other animals of the same order. 



In the general proportions of the body and limbs there is a remarkable 

 difference between the Gorilla and Man, which at once strikes the eye. 



1 We are not at present thoroughly acquainted with the brain of the Gorilla, and 

 therefore, in discussing cerebral characters, I shall take that of the Chimpanzee as my 

 highest term among the Apes. 



