OUR LIVING WORLD. 



QUADRUMANA; 



OR, THE MONKEY TRIBE. 



QtJADRUMANOTJSj or Four-handed animals, are familiarly known by the titles 

 of Apes, Baboons, and Monkeys. There is another family of Quadrumana, 

 called Lemurs, which bear but little external resemblance to their more man-like 

 relations, are comparatively little known, and have even been popularly termed 

 "rats," "cats," or "dogs," by travellers who have come in contact with them. 

 Although these animals are capable of assuming a partially erect position, 

 yet their habitual attitude is on all fours, like the generality of the mammalia. 

 Even the most accomplished ape is but a bad walker when he discards the use 

 of his two upper limbs, and trusts for support and progression to the hinder legs only. There 

 are many dogs which can walk, after the biped manner, with a firmer step and a more assured 

 demeanor than the apes, although they do not so closely resemble the human figure. 



However carefully a monkey may be educated, yet it never can assume an attitude truly 

 erect, like that of man. The construction of its whole frame is such, that its knees are always 

 bent more or less, so that a firm and steady step is rendered impossible. When in the enjoy- 

 ment of liberty among their native haunts, none of the monkey tribes seem to use their hind 

 legs exclusively for walking, although they often raise themselves in a manner similar to that 

 of the bears, and other animals, when they wish to take a more extended view of the sur 

 rounding localities. 



On account of the structure of the limbs, the term "hand " is given to their extremities ; 

 but hardly with perfect fitness. It must be borne in mind that the thumb is not invariably 

 found on the fore extremities of these animals. In several genera of the monkeys, the fore- 

 paws are destitute of effective thumbs, and the hand-like grasp is limited to the hinder feet. 

 The so-called hands of the monkey tribes will not bear comparison with those of man. 

 Although the thumb possesses great freedom of motion, and in many species can be opposed 

 to the fingers in a manner resembling the hand of man, yet there is no intellectual power in 

 the monkey hand ; none of that characteristic contour which speaks of the glorious human 

 soul so strongly, that an artist can sketch a single hand, and in that one member exhibit the 

 individuality of its owner! The monkey's "hand" is & paw a thieving, crafty, slinking 

 paw, and not a true hand. So is his foot but a paw, and not a true foot, formed for grasping 

 and not for walking. Man seems to be the only earthly being that possesses true feet and 

 hands. Some animals patter along upon their paws, some trot and gallop upon hoofs, others 

 propel themselves with paddles, but Man alone can walk. Man is never so much Man as when 

 erect, whether standing or walking. It is no mere figure of speech to say that man walks 

 with God. 



In order to bring this point more clearly before the eyes of the reader, the skeleton of a 

 man is contrasted with that of the gorilla, the most highly organized of all the apes. The 

 heavy, ill-balanced form of the ape ; its head sunk upon its shoulders ; its long, uncouth arms, 



