126 MAN AND THE LOWER ANIMALS n 



by a foot as that of man. The tarsal bones, in all 

 important circumstances of number, disposition, 

 and form, resemble those of man (Fig. 20). The 

 metatarsals and digits, on the other hand, are 

 proportionally longer and more slender, while 

 the great toe is not only proportionally shorter 

 and weaker, but its metatarsal bone is united by 

 a more moveable joint with the tarsus. At the 

 same time, the foot is set more obliquely upon the 

 leg than in man. 



As to the muscles, there is a short flexor, a 

 short extensor, and a peronceus longus, while the 

 tendons of the long flexors of the great toe and of 

 the other toes are united together and with an 

 accessory fleshy bundle. 



The hind limb of the Gorilla, therefore, ends in 

 a true foot, with a very moveable great toe. It is 

 a prehensile foot, indeed, but is in no sense a 

 hand ; it is a foot which differs from that of man 

 not in any fundamental character, but in mere 

 proportions, in the degree of mobility, and in the 

 secondary arrangement of its parts. 



It must not be supposed, however, because I 

 speak of these differences as not fundamental, that 

 I wish to underrate their value. They are im- 

 portant enough in their way, the structure of the 

 foot being in strict correlation with that of the 

 rest of the organism in each case. Nor can it be 

 doubted that the greater division of physiological 

 labour in Man, so that the function of support is 



