550 THE HIGHER ANTHROPOIDS 



basket again, made lor tlie tree, climbed c|uickl\ up to the noose, paused a 

 moment Avhilc watching the basket, pulled the string until the I)asket bumped 

 against the ring in the roof, released tiie string, pulled it a second time e\c'n 

 more vigorously so that the basket tujiied over and a banana (ell out. The 

 chimpanzee then came down IVom the tree, but soon ascended once mow now 

 to pull cjuitc violcntlx until the string broke and the whole basket lell to the 

 ground. He then clambered down, took the basket and went off to cat the 

 fruit. Thus Sultan, in a relatively short time, had soKcd this roundabout 

 problem by obtaining his objective in spite of the obstacles pkiced in his way. 

 Although many experimental tests w ere made to estimate the degree to 

 w hich chimpanzees are capable of using implements, in the main such e\i)eri- 

 ments are not necessary in order to induce the animal to handle objects in 

 his immediate sm-roundings in a variety of ways. He has large and powcrtul 

 as well as llc.xible hands which serve as the most natural and uselul link 

 between him and the world of things outside. Besides this, he obtains the 

 necessary amount of niuseular strength and coordination at an early age of 

 development, much earlier than a human child. His feet, although far from 

 being a second pair of hands, may still be used in emergencies in which the 

 feet of the human races would bequite useless. Furthermore, the jaw sand teeth 

 are also ser\iceable, as is the case among man>' African tribes and otiicr primi- 

 tive people, though it ina\' be to a less extent than w ith the anthropoid apes. 

 The casual, every-day handling of objects by the chimpanzee comes almost 

 entirely in the nature of pla\-. In certain instances under the pressure of need, 

 or compelled by the special circumstances of e\|)erimental tests requiring the 

 use of objects or impleimnts, it a|)|)e;irs that tlu' new knowledge acciuired for 

 using objects at play will be utilized to obtain some more ck'finite ol)iective. 

 Primarily this object nia\ ha\e been einplo\ed without the slightest idea ol 

 an immediate gain and only to increase the joy ol li\ iiig. Later, however, it 

 becomes of great j)ractical utility lor purposes serving the needs ol the ani- 



