APES. 27 



and that man may enjoy the advantages which can be 

 derived from the useful, without being too much annoyed 

 by the formidable qualities of his terrestrial companions. 



ORDER I. PRIMATES. 



NEXT to man, the APE tribe are the most remarkable in 

 this order. Indeed they bear such a strong external re- 

 semblance to the human form, and possess so many in- 

 stincts and powers of imitation, that they may serve for a 

 lesson to humble the pride of such as value themselves 

 on their personal beauty only; and furnish useful reflec- 

 tion to the wise and good, when they contemplate those 

 mental faculties, and that immortal principle with which 

 mankind are exclusively endowed. 



APES, including BABOONS and MONKEYS, form a large 

 tribe of animals, that enliven the tropical regions by their 

 frolics, or annoy by the ingenuity of their malice. To 

 describe them all would occupy too much space in this 

 work, and occasion unnecessary repetitions. I shall there- 

 fore confine myself to a delineation of some of the most 

 prominent, which will at the same time give a competent 

 idea of all the rest. 



LARGE APE, OURANG OUTANG, OR WILD MAN OF 

 THE WOODS. 



Apes, properly so called, bear a most striking resem- 

 blance to the human figure ; they walk erect, are 

 destitute of tails, and are capable of imitating the 

 actions of men with astonishing dexterity. The Ourang 

 Outang, which makes the nearest approaches to man, 

 is described by different travellers as possessing sur- 

 prising swiftness, address, and ferocity; but they dis- 

 agree in their account of his stature, some makrng it 

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