MAN AND APES. 



the semi-humanity of the Gorilla, or at least 

 an impression that the Gorilla possesses a very 

 special and exceptional affinity to man. This 

 animal is now popularly supposed to be 

 closely connected with that " missing link ' 

 which, as is asserted, once bridged over the 

 gulf separating man from the apes. The 

 Gorilla, if not the direct ancestor of man, 

 is yet generally thought to be related with 

 exceptional closeness to such direct ancestor, 

 and so to constitute the one existing and 

 visible bond between ourselves and the lower 

 animals. Highest of apes — close ally of the 

 Negro — the Gorilla is by some supposed to 

 surpass and excel the humbler and commoner 

 apes, as man surpasses and excels the Gorilla. 

 It is proposed here, putting aside all pre- 

 judice, to investigate, by the unimpassioned 

 process of enumerating and weighing facts of 

 structure, what is the teaching of nature as to 

 the affinities of various apes to man. It is not, 

 therefore, intended to touch directly upon the 

 question of the ape origin of man considered 



