564 THE HIGHER ANTHROPOIDS 



cases tluir ininiic actions arc characteristic ciioLigh to he distinctly under- 

 stood l:)y their comrades. The chnnpanzee is especiall\ prone to pay close 

 attention to the wounds or injuries received by his fellows. The incentive in 

 this connection can scarcely be considered as mutual aid. They especially 

 like to remove splinters from each other's hands or feet, employing in tliis 

 process the methods usually in vogue among the luimau laity. Two finger- 

 nails are pressed on either side of the splinter w Inch is thus ele\ated until it 

 may be caught and remo\ed by the teeth. Professor Kcihier, ha\ing sulfercd 

 from such an accident, ventured to allow one of the chimpanzees to remove 

 the splinter. On perceiving the condition the chim]Danzee's expression at once 

 assumed the appearance of eager intensity and his attention was entirely 

 concentrated in preparation for his surgical undertaking. He examined the 

 wound, seized the injured hand, forced out the splinter \\ith two skillful, 

 somewhat po\\crful squeezes of his fingernails, and then examined the hand 

 closely to be satisfied that his work was well done. 



Only a very small portion of Professor Kohler's extensi\e obserxations 

 and excellent record during his long experience with these interesting anthro- 

 poids has been given here. Those who may be more interested in this subject 

 are referred to his admirable thesis which now has appeared in an English 

 translation entitled "The Mentality of Apes." 



The ostensible conclusions as the result of studying this company of 

 nine ehimjjanzees under the most favorable circumstances may be sum- 

 marized as lollows: The chimpanzee manilests intelligent behavior of a 

 general kind familiar in human beings. Not all of their intelligi'iit acts are 

 externally similar to human acts, but under well-ehoscn ex])enmental con- 

 ditions the type of intelligent conduct can always be traced. This applies in 

 spite ol very important differences between one animal and another, vwn 

 to the least gifted specimens of the species that have been obscrNcd, and 

 therefore must hold good lor every member of the species as long as it is not 



