4i22 insTOKY OF 



dable race, that, mixing the figure of the man and the quadru- 

 ped in their conformation, seem to possess only the defects of 

 both ; the petulance of the one, and the ferocity of the other. 

 These animals have a short tail ; a prominent face, with canine 

 teeth, larger than those of men ; and callosities on the rimip. 

 In man the physiognomy may deceive, and the figure of the body 

 does not always lead to the qualities of the mind ; but in animals 

 •ve may always judge of their dispositions by their looks, and 

 form a just conjecture of their internal habits from their exter- 

 nal form. If we compare the nature of the ape and the baboon 

 by this easy ride, we shall at once be led to pronounce that they 

 greatly differ in their dispositions, and that the latter are infinite- 

 ly more fierce, savage, and malicious, than the former. The 

 oran-outang, that so nearly resembles man in its figure, ap- 

 proaches also nearest in the gentleness of its manners and the 

 pliancy of its temper. The cynocephalus, that of all other apes 

 is most unlike man in form, and approaches nearer the dog in 

 face, resembles also the brute in nature, being wild, restless, and 

 impelled by a fretful impetuosity. But the baboon, who is still 

 naore remote, and resembles man only in having hands, who from 

 having a tail, a prominent face, and sharp claws, approaches more 

 nearly to the savage tribe, is every way fierce, malicious, igno- 

 rant, and untractable. 



The BABOON, properly so called, is from three to four feet 

 high, very strong built, with a thick body and limbs, and canine 

 teeth, much longer than those of men. It has large callosities 

 behind, which are quite naked and red. Its tail is crooked and 

 thick, and about seven or eight inches long. Its snout, for it 

 can hardly be called a face, is long and thick, and on each side of 

 its cheeks it has a pouch, into which, when satiated with eating, 

 it puts the remainder of its provisions. It is covered with long 

 thick hair, of a reddish brown colour, and pretty uniform over 

 the whole body. It walks more commonly upon all fours 

 tnan upright, and its hands as well as its feet are armed with 

 long sharp claws, instead of the broad round nails of the ape 

 kind.^t 



1 Buffon, voL xxxviii. p. 183. 



* In the true Baboous the facial angle of the adult variee from SO" to 35" 

 and the superciliary crests are for the most part considerably elevated, as is 

 also the ridge on the back of the head formed by the attachment of the tem. 

 poral muscles, which as well as the canine teeth are large and powerful. 



