ANIMALS. •W.) 



and the toes upon these were as long as the fingers ; the middle 

 toe was the longest of all, and the whole foot differed from the 

 human. The hinder feet being thus formed as hands, the ani- 

 mal often used them as such ; and, on the contrary, now and 

 then made use of its hands instead of feet. The breasts ap- 

 peared small and shrivelled, but exactly like those of a man : the 

 navel also appeared very fair, and in exact dispositions, being 

 neither harder nor more prominent than what is usually seen in 

 children. Such is the description of this extraordinary creature ; 

 to which little has been added by succeeding observers, except 

 that the colour of the hair is often found to vary; in that de- 

 scribed by Edwards it was of a reddish brown. 



From a picture so like that of the human species, we are na- 

 turally led to expect a corresponding mind ; and it is certain, 

 that such of these animals as have been shown in Europe, have 

 discovered a degree of imitation beyond what any quadruped can 

 arrive at. 



That of Tyson was a gentle, fond, harmless creature. In its 

 passage to England, those that it knew on ship-board it would 

 embrace with the greatest tenderness, opening their bosoms, and 

 clasping its hands about them. Monkeys of a lower species 

 it held in utter aversion ; it would always avoid the place where 

 they were kept in the same vessel ; and seemed to consider it- 

 self as a creature of higher extraction. After it was taken, and 

 a little used to wear clothes, it grew very fond of them ; a part 

 it would put on without any help, and the rest it would carry in 

 its hands to some of the company, for their assistance. It would 

 lie in a bed, place its head on the pillow, and pull the clothes 

 upwards as a man would do. 



That which was seen by Edwards, and described by Buffon, 

 showed even a superior degree of sagacity. It walked, like all 

 of its kind, upon two legs, even though it carried burdens. Its 

 air was melancholy, and its deportment grave. Unlike the ba- 

 boon or monkey, whose motions are violent, and appetites capri- 

 cious, who are fond of mischief, and obedient only from fear, 

 this animal was slow in its motions, and a look was sufBcient to 

 keep it in awe. I have seen it, says JVIr Buffon, give its hand to 

 show the company to the door : I have s-^en it sit at table, un- 

 fold its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of the spoon and the fork 

 to carry the victuals to its mouth, pour out its drink into a glass, 



u. 2 m 



