12 HANDS AND PAWS. 



With the exception of a few small species, such as the marmosets and the lemurs, 

 the Quadrumana are not very pleasing animals in aspect or habits ; while the larger 

 apes and baboons are positively disgusting. The air of grotesque humanity that 

 characterizes them is horribly suggestive of human idiocy ; and we approach an im- 

 prisoned baboon with much the same feeling of repugnance that would be excited by 

 a debased and brutal maniac. This aversion seems to be caused not so much by the 

 resemblance that the ape bears to man, as by the horror lest man should degenerate 

 until he resembled the ape. It is true that the naturalist learns to see wonder or 

 beauty in all things of nature, and therefore looks with lively interest on such animals 

 as the shark, the toad, the viper, the vulture, the hyena, or the ape. But still, these 

 creatures are less pleasing in his sight than many others which may be not so highly 

 developed ; and in truth there are few who, if the choice lay between the two fates, 

 would not prefer to suffer from the fangs and claws of the lion, than from the teeth 

 and hands of the ape. 



Although these animals are capable of assuming a partially erect position, yet their 

 habitual attitude is on all fours, like the generality of the mammalia. Even the most 

 accomplished ape is but a bad walker when he discards the use of his two upper 

 limbs, and trusts for support and progression to the hinder legs only. There are 

 many dogs which can walk, after the biped manner, with a firmer step and a more 

 assured demeanor than the apes, although they do not so closely resemble the human 

 figure. 



\Ve are all familiar with the small monkeys that are led about the streets in company 

 with a barrel-organ, or seated, in equestrian fashion, upon a bear or dog. These poor 

 little creatures have been trained to stand upon their hind feet, and to shuffle along at 

 a slow and awkward pace. But if they are startled, and so forget for a moment their 

 acquired art, or if they wish to hurry their pace, they drop down on all fours, and 

 scamper off with an air of easy comfort that contrasts forcibly with their former con- 

 strained and vacillating hobble. The difficulty seems to increase almost proportionately 

 with the size of the animal, and the largest apes, such as the orang-outang, are forced to 

 balance themselves with outstretched arms. 



However carefully a monkey may be educated, yet it never can assume an attitude 

 truly erect, like that of man. The construction of its whole frame is such, that its 

 knees are always bent more or less, so that a firm and steady step is rendered impos- 

 sible. When in the enjoyment of liberty among their native haunts, none of the 

 monkey tribes seem to use their hind legs exclusively for walking, although they often 

 raise themselves in a manner similar to that of the bears, and other animals, when 

 they wish to take a more extended view of the surrounding localities. 



On account of the structure of the limbs, the term " hand " is given to their ex- 

 tremities ; but hardly with perfect fitness. It must be borne in mind that the thumb 

 is not invariably found on the fore extremities of these animals. In several genera of 

 the monkeys, the fore-paws are destitute of effective thumbs, and the hand-like grasp 

 is limited to the hinder feet. The so-called hands of the monkey tribes will not bear 

 comparison with those of man. Although the thumb possesses great freedom of 

 motion, and in many species can be opposed to the fingers in a manner resembling 

 the hand of man, yet there is no intellectual power in the monkey hand ; none of that 

 characteristic contour which speaks of the glorious human soul so strongly, that an 

 artist can sketch a single hand, and in that one member exhibit the individuality of its 

 owner ! The monkey's "hand " is Kpaw a thieving, crafty, slinking paw, and not a 

 true hand. So is his foot but a paw, and not a true foot, formed for grasping and not 

 for walking. Man seems to be the only earthly being that possesses true feet and 

 hands. Some animals patter along upon their paws, some trot and gallop upon hoofs, 

 others propel themselves with paddles ; but Man alone can walk. Man is never so 

 much Man as when erect, whether standing or walking. It is no mere figure of speech 

 to say that man walks with God. 



In order to bring this point more clearly before the eyes of the reader, the skeleton 

 of a man is contrasted with that of the gorilla, the most highly organized of all the apes. 

 The heavy, ill-balanced form of the ape ; its head sunk upon its shoulders ; its long, 





