MONKEYS. 49 



long, but the legs are by no means disproportionately developed. 

 The thumb and great-toe are shortened, and the foot cannot be placed 

 flat on the ground. The orang is a vegetable feeder, and appears to be 

 of quiet and peaceful disposition, although, when driven to bay, as in 

 incidents related by Mr. A. R. Wallace, this ape may prove itself to be 

 a most formidable opponent. The chimpanzee and gorilla are included 

 in one genus (Troglodytes], and inhabit the same region, namely, the 

 intertropical parts of Western Africa. The gorilla ( Troglodytes gorilla] 

 is by far the largest of the man-like apes ; the average height being 

 about five feet, or even more. The erect posture is readily assumed 

 by the gorilla, the foot being broad, and capable of supporting the 

 weight of the body. The aspect of the gorilla is both terrifying and 

 repulsive. The great shaggy head ; the over-arching eyebrows and 

 their ridges ; the full glaring eyes ; the prominent and widely sepa- 

 rated nostrils, and the implied muscularity of jaws and body, justly 

 serve to render this great ape a formidable antagonist to his higher 

 neighbour, man himself. The two living specimens of the gorilla 

 which I have had the opportunity of inspecting were both young 

 forms. One of these was the famous " Pongo," which was exhibited 

 in London some years ago. The other specimen was a still younger 

 gorilla, whose acquaintance I made in Liverpool in 1881. Both 

 specimens were tame, " Pongo " being particularly playful and de- 

 monstrative. But even in the young condition, there was no mistaking 

 the air of latent ferocity which these apes possessed ; and the un- 

 certain tempers of each specimen bore testimony to the strongly and 

 purely animal nature which a few additional years would doubtless 

 have developed in all its typical strength. The chimpanzee (Troglo- 

 dytes niger) attains an average height of four and a half feet, and is 

 usually larger than the orang. In many respects, and especially in its 

 mental aspect, this ape is the most man-like of the anthropoid species. 

 The erect posture is readily assumed either in standing or in walking; 

 and the habitual attitude of these apes, namely, that of resting on 

 the knuckles, is perhaps most typically seen in the chimpanzee. The 

 thumb and great-toe exhibit a full development. 



Summing up the characters of these man -like apes in which they 

 respectively approach the human type of structure, comparative 

 anatomy declares firstly, that the gibbons, of the three genera, are 

 furthest removed from man's order. The orang exhibits the nearest 

 approach to man in the shape of the cerebrum or brain proper, 

 and in the number of ribs. The gorilla most resembles the 

 human subject in the shape and curves of its spine, and in the 

 form of the pelvis or haunch. The actual size of the brain-case in 

 the gorilla, also comes nearest of all the apes to that of man ; and 

 in the size of the heel, as well as in the proportions which its leg 

 bears to its body, and its foot to its hand, this great ape is most 



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