Comparative Myology of the Chimpanzee, 369 



Glutaeus maximus. Arises from the border of the lower 

 half of the sacrum and coccyx, from the fascia covering 

 the G. mediiis, from the great sacro-sciatic ligament, and 

 from the tuberosity of the ischium in close connection with 

 the long head of the Biceps. The upper part of the mus- 

 cle is very thin, and chiefly joins the Tensor vagince fem- 

 oris; but the lower portion, especially that from the isch- 

 ium, is very thick and strong, and inserted upon the whole 

 length of the femur from the base of the great trochanter to 

 the outer condyle, at which point it thickens and widens, 

 some of its fibres seeming to mingle with those of the 

 Vastus externns. This ischial portion in the Gorilla is de- 

 scribed by Duvernoy under the name of " Ischio-femorien.^^ 

 Acting alone, it would rotate the thigh outward, so as 

 to allow the sole of the foot to be turned inward, after 

 which it would assist the Adductors in keeping the foot 

 close against the object grasped in climbing, but acting 

 with the Glutceus fuedius, it would help to extend the 

 thigh. 



Glutaeus medius. As in the Quadrumana generally, 

 this is the largest of the three Glutcei, being long and 

 thick from the length and posterior concavity of the ilium. 

 It is attached to the tip of the great trochanter. 



Glutaeus minimus. A thin, flat, radiated muscle cov- 

 ering the posterior border of the acetabulum, and, I think, 

 was attached to the great trochanter; I am not sure 

 whether it arose at all from the coccyx. 



I think there has always been some misapprehension as 

 to the true functions and importance of the two great Glu- 

 tcei as contrasted in man and the Quadrumana. In the 

 latter they are generally described as small and weak ; 

 whence the inability of these animals to stand erect or 

 upon one leg as we do. But, apart from the grave error 

 of stating an effect for a cause, the real distinction seems 

 to me to be not so much in the size as in the position 



JOURNAL B. S. N. H. 47 AUGUST, 1861. 



