22 ARBOREAL MAN 



out with its fore-limb, throws its body weight temporarily 

 upon its hind-limbs, and then with its hand catches hold 

 of something ahead, and so helps to raise its body. This 

 is true tree-climbing. It is a critical stage in evolution. 

 The power of the hand grasp has made possible the fore- 

 runners of the Primates, has perfected the evolution of 

 the Primates, and paved the way for the development 

 of Man. 



At first, one would suppose this newly acquired power 

 to be used solely for grasping the branches in arboreal 

 progression, for catching hold of objects ahead, and for 

 hanging on whilst a new foothold is secured. But with 

 its developing perfection we may imagine the grasp used 

 for other purposes, and some of these purposes we will 

 enumerate here, but will discuss in detail later. 



The animal, from grasping branches, may readily turn 

 to grasping leaves and fruit it may learn to grasp its 

 food in its hand. As a sequel it may learn to convey the 

 food so grasped to its mouth with its hand, and so become 

 a hand-feeder. 



It may take to grasping other objects which come in 

 its way. These objects may be useful for food or they 

 may not ; but the animal will learn to form an estimate 

 of the object grasped. As a sequel it may learn to feel, 

 and to test novel objects with its hand. Again, the 

 mother may learn to grasp her offspring in the precarious 

 circumstances of an arboreal infancy ; and she may adopt 

 the habit of carrying and nursing her baby. All these 

 things are of vast importance, and will be discussed 

 according to the headings under which they appropriately 

 fall. 



