138 MONKEYS ARK QUADRUM ANGUS. 



brouglit into opposition to them, as in grasping or prehen- 

 sion. A great toe, in its direction, articulation, and extent 

 of motion, corresponds entirely to the other toes ; whereas 

 the joints and muscles must be altogether different in a 

 thumb. It is hardly necessary to point out how unfit the 

 Imman feet are for all purposes of prehension ; but the 

 hind limbs of the simise really deserve the name of hands 

 more than the front ; and are more advantageously con- 

 structed for holding. This hind thumb is so characteristic, 

 that it is found in certain simiae, which have either no fore 

 thumb, or only a rudiment of it *. 



We may now answer the question, whether the orang- 

 utang and other simiee go erect, or on all-fours : they do 

 neither, but live chiefly in trees, for which they are admira- 

 bly adapted by having prehensile members, instruments 

 for grasping and holding, on both upper and lower extre- 

 mities. Hence Cuvier calls them " les grimpeurs par ex- 

 cellence f." They live in trees, and find their food in them : 

 they can hang by one fore or hind leg, employing the re- 

 maining members in gathering fruit, or in other offices. 

 Those which have less perfect hands are furnished with pre- 

 hensile tails, by which they can be more securely sup- 

 ported in trees. 



It is hardly necessary to add, that when we see monkeys 

 walking erect, it must be ascribed to instruction and disci- 

 pline. The delineations of the orang-utang and chimpanse 



in the formation and its function too, being liker a hand than a foot, for the 

 distinguishing this sort of animals from others, 1 have thought, whether it 

 might not be reckoned and called rather quadnmwnus than quddnipes, i. e. a 

 four-handed than a fottr-footed animal." p. 13. 



♦ M. Geoffuoy has placed together llic simiee thus circumstanced in a ncw^ 

 genus, which he calls ateles (imperfect). Jnnalcs du Museum, t. 7.etl8. 

 Inthechamek (atMes pentadactylus) there is a single phalanx, without a naiJ, 

 and very slightly prominent. The coaita (S. paniscus L. Allies paniscus 

 Geoff.) has absolutely no visible thumb. 



+ Legons d'Anatomie coinpuree^ t. i. p. 493. From the agility which the 

 orang-utang at Exeter Change exhibits, in moving along the ropes suspended 

 in his apartment, and swinging himself from one part to another, he seems 

 strictly to deserve the denomination of a climbing animal. 



