274 ON THE RELATIONS OF MAN 



gained such wide acceptance as a name for the Simian 

 group. But the most cursory anatomical investigation 

 at once proves that the resemblance of the so-called " hind 

 hand" to a true hand, is only skin deep, and that, in all 

 essential respects, the hind limb of the Gorilla is as truly 

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

 all important circumstances of number, disposition, and 

 form, resemble those of man (Fig. 19). The metatarsals 

 and digits, on the other hand, are proportionally longer 

 and more slender, while the great toe is not only proportion- 

 ally 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 peronaeus 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 important enough in 

 their way, the structure of the foot being in strict correla- 

 tion with that of the rest of the organism in each case. 

 Nor can it be doubted that the greater division of phy- 

 siological labour in Man, so that the function of support 

 is thrown wholly on the leg and foot, is an advance in 

 organization of very great moment to him ; but, after all, 

 regarded anatomically, the resemblances between the foot 

 of Man and the foot of the Gorilla are far more striking 

 and important than the differences. 



I have dwelt upon this point at length, because it is 

 one regarding which much delusion prevails ; but I might 

 have passed it over without detriment to my argument, 

 which only requires me to show that, be the differences 

 between the hand and foot of Man and those of the 

 Gorilla what they may the differences between those 

 of the Gorilla and those of the lower Apes are much 

 greater. 



