38 APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



hue. The head is joined to the trunk by a very short and thick neck, which gives 

 the appearance of its being set into the shoulders ; and the term ' ' bull-necked ' ' is 

 therefore strictly applicable to the creature. This great thickness and power of 

 the neck is largely due to the backward projection of the occipital region of the 

 skull, and the tall spines surmounting the vertebrae of the neck. In correlation 

 with the great development of this region, we find the muscles of the shoulders and 

 chest equally powerful, as is essential for the movements of the mighty .arms. On 

 the latter the arrangement of the hair is the same as in the chimpanzee ; but we 

 notice a great difference in the form of the hands, as may be seen from the illus- 

 tration on p. 15. Thus, in marked contrast to that of the chimpanzee, the hand 

 (i) is remarkable for its great width and stoutness, coupled with the shortness and 

 generally clumsy make of the fingers, which are united together by a strong web, 

 reaching nearly to the end of their first joints. The thumb is short in proportion 

 to the fingers, reaching but slightly beyond the middle of the metacarpal bone of 

 the index finger, and is nearly conical in shape at its extremity. The fingers, on 

 the contrary, are somewhat flattened, at their extremities. There is but little 

 difference, as seen in our figure, between the lengths of the index, middle, and 

 ring fingers ; the former being sometimes as long as, but at others shorter than the 

 middle finger. In all cases, however, the ' ' little ' ' finger is true to its name in 

 being shorter than either of the others. The skin on the back of the wrist is 

 thrown into a number of deep folds, with an oblique direction ; while a network of 

 wrinkles covers the backs of the fingers, which have large callosities on the first 

 and sometimes also on the second joints ; these callosities being produced by the 

 animal walking, when on all fours, with its fingers doubled on the palms of the 

 hands. On the deep black and naked skin of the palms of the hands, which are 

 hard and horny, there are generally numerous wart-like growths. 



With the exception of noticing its enormous bulk, especially in the lower part, 

 we need not devote any particular attention to the body of the gorilla ; and we ac- 

 cordingly direct our observation to the hind-limbs or legs. One of the most impor- 

 tant features in these is that the calves are more developed than in any of the other 

 Man- like Apes. The foot, as contrasted with that of the chimpanzee in the illus- 

 tration on p. 15, is characterized by its great breadth and width, and also by the ex- 

 treme shortness of the very thick toes. The great toe varies somewhat in length, 

 as compared with that of the others, reaching in some individuals as far as the end 

 of their first joints, and in others to the middle of the second. In contrast to the 

 thumb, the great toe is expanded at the end ; and, in opposition to the other toes, 

 forms a grasping organ of great power. None of the other toes are as thick as the 

 great toe ; the middle toe being slightly longer than either of the adjacent ones } 

 while the little toe is considerably shorter. The sole of the foot is somewhat con- 

 vex, but its upper surface is very flat, and there is no sort of resemblance to the 

 human instep in the whole foot. The upper surface of the foot, as far as the com- 

 mencement of the toes, is thickly covered with hair, but on the latter the hairs be- 

 come thinly scattered ; while the sole is bare, and covered with a thick horny skin. 

 Owing to the habit of its sometimes walking with the toes bent under the sole of 

 the foot, the gorilla has callosities on the upper surface of the toes. 



