70 



NATUBAL HISTOET OF 



than by circumstances which can be accounted for, 

 by the different physical or moral agencies to which 

 they have been exposed." * And we can only con- 

 sider them in the words of an eminent anatomist, as 

 " equally unacquainted with the structure and func- 

 tions of men and monkeys, not conversant with 

 zoology and physiology, and therefore entirely desti- 

 tute of the principles on which alone a sound judg- 

 ment can be formed, concerning the natural capabilities 

 and destiny of animals, as well as the laws according 

 to which certain changes of character, certain de- 

 partures from the original stock, may take place."t 



Seeing, then, that the information handed down to 

 us regarding this singular family, has been in many 

 instances exaggerated and misrepresented, we shall 

 endeavour, in the following pages, to detail what can 

 be depended upon, making use of the discoveries and 

 researches of the modern naturalists who have travel- 

 led aware of the doubtful points, and were competent, 

 by their previous studies, for the task of unravelling 

 them; while the anatomy of these animals, which 

 approach nearest in their structure to that of man, 

 will be taken from the able examinations which have 

 been made by Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Fred. Cuvier, Dr 

 Trail, and Messrs Owen and Yarrel. 



Modern zoologists have applied to this family, con- 

 sisting of two great divisions, the title of Quadru- 

 manous, or four-handed, from their generally possess- 



* Monboddo, Rousseau, Lamark. -p Lawrence. 



