MAN'S COUSINS THE APES 43 



authorities as adaptations to aiford increased powers 

 of mastication. But if this were so, then such ridges 

 should be equally developed in both sexes, and this is 

 far from being true. Hideousness, rather than ferocity, 

 has been given to the Orang-utan by the out-growth of 

 enormous ridges on each side of the face, and these, 

 when the great wind-bags encircling the neck are inflated, 

 impart a repulsiveness of expression attained by no 

 other animal living. 



Of the normal every-day life of the great Apes but little 

 is known. It would seem, however, that they live in 

 family parties — an adult male accompanied by a female 

 and one or more young of different ages, of which one 

 is commonly an infant in arms. It is difficult to procure 

 positive evidence on the point, but it is commonly believed 

 that the young remain with their parents till they are 

 several years old, when they are gradually driven off 

 to fend for themselves. This is a common procedure 

 with all animals. The dominant impulse in this is some- 

 thing akin to greediness, an indefinable perception that 

 too large a family party will entail too great a strain 

 on the food supply, hence the now no longer helpless 

 young are regarded as a danger to the safety of the 

 family, and are turned adrift. Incidentally this procedure 

 is of immense benefit to the race, for it ensures its dis- 

 tribution, enlarges its chances of survival, and lessens the 

 danger of in-breeding. 



Attention must now be turned to the lower Apes. In 

 these it is to be remarked the secondary sexual characters 

 differ conspicuously from those of the man-like species. 

 Manes and beards and brightly-coloured areas of bare 

 skin are now the dominant feature. But canine teeth, 

 in proportion rivalHng those of the Gorilla, are found in 



