J348 M. Vrolik's licsc arches on the Comparative 



are such as to render it worthy of a place by the side of the 

 most remarkable works of the class to which it belongs. 



M. Vrolik enters into no details either respecting the ex- 

 ternal characters or natural history of the Chimpanzee. Sup- 

 posing these to be sufficiently known, he devotes himself to 

 the anatomical examination of this animal, which is rendered 

 singularly interesting by its great resemblance to man. Avail- 

 ing himself of tlie advantages supplied by the fine anatomical 

 collections of Holland, both public and private, as well as 

 those offered by the Zoological Garden of Amsterdam placed 

 under his direction, he has added anatomical observations on 

 many other species of monkeys, compared their organization 

 with that of other quadrupeds, and contrasted it with that of 

 man, in such a manner, that the work we now introduce to 

 the notice of our readers almost amounts to a treatise on the 

 comparative anatomy of the quadrumana, and a pretty com- 

 plete essay on the comparative myology of the Mammifera. 



A work of this nature, whose merits depend chiefly on the 

 number and exactitude of its details, cannot easily be sub- 

 jected to analysis. A few quotations of general interest will 

 render it best known, and will, we doubt not, excite the desire 

 of studying, in the work itself, the very peculiar organization 

 of the large quadrumanous animal in question. The seven 

 beautiful lithographic plates which accompany the descrip- 

 tions, render them, besides, much more intelligible. 



After long and interesting details respecting the osteology 

 and myology of the Chimpanzee, as well as the comparison of 

 the organs of motion among different species of monkeys and 

 other mammifera — between these and the corresponding parts 

 of man — the following are the general considerations arrived 

 at by the Amsterdam Professor : — 



" In short, it appears proved that the muscles of the ante- 

 rior extremities become simplified in proportion as animals re- 

 cede from the human form. Their number and disposition 

 are modified according to the functions for which these ante- 

 rior extremities are adapted. In man they are not intended 

 to support the body. In him they are attached in such a 

 manner, from the top of the head to the heel, that there is no 

 part of the individual to which they cannot reach. By the 



