*4* Obfervations on the Orang Outang.- ' 



lion, into two lateral branches, and continues to the external 

 fide of the upper edge of the orbits. Thefe fmall ridges are 

 more diftind in the ape of Wurmb, and form, with the 

 upper edge of the fockets of the eye, an equilateral triangle. 

 But thefe chara&erifing marks, already fo Angular in this 

 ape, will aftonifti us ftill more by their combination with 

 others at leaft equally ftrange. The head has the form of. 

 half a pyramid, and the auricular apertures are placed far 

 above the os palatinus ; fo that a line let fall from the auri- 

 cular apertures to the internal edge of the os palatinus would 

 form, at the point of its interfe&ion with the horizontal line, 

 an angle of 25°. This has been already obferved in the 

 allouate, where fuch a Angular conformation is necefiary on 

 account of an extraordinary fwelling of the os hioides. 



The anatomical reader will, no doubt, be perfuaded, after 

 what I have faid, that the ape of Wurmb can in no cafe 

 fupport itfelf on its two hind legs, but that it muft always go 

 on all-fours. It is, indeed, on the pofition of the occipital 

 foramen, according to the learned obfervations of Dauben- 

 ton, that the greater or lei's degree of aptitude for walking 

 upright chiefly depends. In man, whofe occipital foramen 

 is nearly in the centre of the bale of the cranium, the head 

 is placed on the vertebral column in an almoll perfect equi- 

 librium ; but if the occipital foramen is removed backwards, 

 and particularly to that point where it is obferved in the ape 

 of Wurmb, the equilibrium is deftroyed ; the weight of 

 the head carries with it the body, and obliges the animal to 

 life for its fupport, and for walking, thofe anterior extremities, 

 which in man ferve only for grafping. 



Before we can draw any conclufion on this point, in re- 

 gard to the ape of Wurmb, and before we affirm, that, ac- 

 cording to the pofition of its occipital foramen, it cannot 

 walk on two legs, let us confider it in its whole organifation. 

 We are not yet acquainted with all the immenfe refources 

 of nature. We do not yet know to what degree it can en- 

 large, and render ufeful, organs the rudiments of which only 



exiit 



