776 MAMMALIA. 



bers of the animal creation, are, as is evident from every point of their 

 organization, the destined inhabitants of the trees; neither will it 

 appear astonishing, when we consider the extensive provision that has 

 been made for the support of animal life amid the dense and pathless 

 forests of tropical climates, that animals so intelligent, and capable of 

 enjoyment, should have been widely disseminated through extensive 

 regions of our globe. 



(2231.) The great distinction characteristic of the Quadrumana is 

 found in the organization of their feet, all of which are converted into 

 prehensile instruments, whereby they can seize the boughs of the trees 

 wherein they reside, and thus securely swing themselves from branch 

 to branch, or even leap from one tree to another, with wonderful acti- 

 vity and precision. Their hands are constructed upon the same principle 

 as those of Man, their thumbs, although less perfectly formed than our 

 own, being opposable to the other fingers, and thus securing a firm and 

 steady grasp. The bones of the fore-arm are free, and accurately arti- 

 culated with each other ; the pronation and supination of the hand are, 

 therefore, accomplished with facility. In the construction of the feet 

 the same provisions have been made to enable them to take a firm 

 grasp : the toes, like the fingers of the hand, are long and flexible, and 

 the representative of the great toe is converted into a very perfect 

 thumb, easily opposable to the rest ; the foot, or posterior hand, there- 

 fore, equals, or even surpasses, in its powers of prehension, the hand 

 which terminates the anterior limb. For many of the American mon- 

 keys a fifth hand has been provided, formed by their long and muscular 

 tail, which, from its extreme flexibility, can be forcibly twisted around 

 any foreign object, and holds it with a tenacious grasp. Thus abun- 

 dantly furnished with prehensile instruments, the Quadrumana are 

 obviously most excellent and accomplished climbers, springing fear- 

 lessly through the forest by strong and vigorous leaps, or chasing their 

 prey even to the topmost branches of the trees wherein they live. 



(2232.) But however grotesquely some of the more anthropoid Qua- 

 drumana resemble the human race, the approximation, even in their 

 outward form, is at best exceedingly remote. The lower tribes, such as 

 the Lemurs of Madagascar, walk on all-fours like cats, and are still re- 

 markable for their long and fox-like muzzle. The brutal and ferocious 

 Baboons are scarcely more human in their appearance ; and even in the 

 most elevated species, called by the vulgar " Wild men of the woods," 

 the interval that separates them from humanity is wide indeed ! 



(2233.) Taking the skeleton of the Orang-Outang (Simia Satyrus) as 

 one of the most perfect examples met with in the class under consider- 

 ation, it is at once evident that such an animal is by no means adapted 

 to walk in an erect position, although well fitted to maintain a semi- 

 upright attitude, such as is best calculated for climbing. The skull, 

 whose very outline indicates brutal ferocity, is armed with canine teeth 



