166 Zoological Society. 
pointed out by Tyson, Dr. Traill, and others, but more particularly by 
Mr. Owen, show that the erect, or, more properly speaking, the semi- 
erect position, is not the natural one; though my observations upon 
living Asiatic Orangs and Chimpanzees accord with the inference 
drawn by Mr. Owen from the comparative organization of the lat- 
ter, viz. that the semi-erect position is more easily maintained by the 
Chimpanzee than by any of the other known Simie. 
«The great intelligence and strength of the individual now in the 
menagerie of the Society, added to the state of its dentition, raised 
a doubt in my mind as to the accuracy of the report of its age; and I 
wrote to my friend Mr. Owen my suspicion that he might be older 
than he was said to be. I received the following reply, in which so 
much valuable information is concentrated that I feel it to be due to 
those who may think this memoir worthy of attention to give it as 
I received it. 
‘21st October, 1835. 
««« My dear Broderip,—I feel that we have no data towards deter- 
mining with certainty the exact age of the young Chimpanzee at the 
Gardens: its present state of dentition corresponds to that which 
our own species presents during the period of from 2 to 7 years, viz. 
incisors 4, canines $, molars 4, all of which belong to the deci- 
duous series. The deciduous canines appear in the human jaws be- 
fore the completion of the second year ; and those of the Chimpanzee 
are certainly the temporary ones, but are protruded by the enlarged 
germs of the permanent teeth behind them, so as to appear larger 
than natural. From this circumstance and from the space already 
existing beyond the deciduous molars, I infer that the appearance 
of some of the permanent teeth is near at hand; and we may still 
see an additional molar protruding in each jaw before the winter is 
over, if the poor animal should survive that period. 
«« «The human child acquires the corresponding permanent molars 
at the seventh year; and from the appearances on the jaws of our 
Chimpanzee I conclude that its age tallies with that of 5 or 6 years in 
us. But analogy will be dangerous ground for an inference as to 
precise age, since it is by no means improbable that, where the brain 
is so much less developed, the full use of it may be much earlier ac- 
quired, such as it is; and that the shedding of the teeth may take 
place at a proportionally early period. 
‘ Believe me, &c. * RicHarp Owen.’ 
““T now proceed to the measurements of our male specimen, 
premising that the operation was a work of no small difficulty in 
consequence of the restlessness of the animal. Indeed I am not sure 
now about the height, though I am confirmed in the measurements 
by Mr. Miller and Fuller. The Chimpanzee would keep drawing up 
his legs and putting the musculus scansorius detected by Dr. Traill 
into action; and it was not practicable to make him stand or lie 
quite straight with his legs entirely extended. 
Height from the heel to the top of the head........ 2 0 
Circumference of the bottom of the breast.......... Tees 
