GORILLA. ' 4, 



latter the arrangement of the hair is the same as in the chimpanzee ; but we notice a 

 great chfference in the form of the hands, as may be seen from the illustration on p. 15. 

 Thus, in marked contrast to that of the chimpanzee, the hand (1) is remarkable for 

 its great width and stoutness, coupled with the shortness and generalljr clumsy make 

 of the fingers, which are united together by a strong web, reaching nearly to the end 

 of their first joints. The thumb is short in proportion to the fingers, reaching but 

 slightly beyond the middle of the metacarpal bone of the index finger, and is nearly 

 conical in shape at its extremity. The fingers, on the contrary, are somewhat 

 flattened at their extremities. There is but little difference, as seen in our figure, 

 between the lengths of the index, middle, and ring fingers ; the fonner being some- 

 times as long as, biit at others shorter than the middle finger. In all cases, however, 

 the " little " finger is true to its name in being shorter than either of the others. 

 The skin on tlie back of the wrist is thrown into a number of deep folds, with an 

 oblique direction ; while a network of wrinkles covers the backs of the fingers, which 

 have large callosities on the first and sometimes also on tlie second joints ; these 

 callosities being produced by the animal walking, when on all-foui'S, with its 

 fingers doubled on the palms of the hands. On the deep black and naked skin of 

 the jjalms of the hands, -which are hard and horny, there ai-e generally numerous 

 wart-like growths. 



With the exception of noticing its enormous bulk, especially in the lower part, 

 we need not devote any particular attention to the body of the gorilla ; and we 

 accordingly direct our- observation to the hind-limbs or legs. One of the most 

 important features in these is that the calves are more developed than in any of 

 the other Man-like Apes. The foot, as contrasted with that of the chimpanzee in 

 the illustration on p. 15, is characterised by its great breadth and width, and also 

 by the extreme shortness of the ver}^ thick toes. The great toe varies somewhat in 

 length, as compared with that of the others, reaching in some individuals as far 

 as the end of their first joints, and in others to the middle of the second. In con- 

 trast to the thumb, the great toe is expanded at the end; and, in opposition to the 

 otlier toes, forms a grasping organ of great power. None of the other toes are as 

 thick as the great toe ; the middle toe being slightly longer than either of the 

 adjacent ones, while the little toe is considerably shorter. The sole of the foot is 

 somewhat convex, but its upper surface is very flat, and there is no soi't of re- 

 semblance to the human instep in the whole foot. The upper surface of the foot, 

 as far as the commencement of the toes, is thickly covered with hair, but on the 

 latter the hairs become thinly scattered ; while the sole is bare, and covered with a 

 thick horny skin. Owing to the habit of its sometimes walking with the toes bent 

 under the sole of the foot, the gorilla has callosities on the upper surface of the 

 toes. 



With regard to the colour of the hair, of which, as we have 

 Colour. . . . . , , , 



already said, the general hue is blackish, there is considerable 



individual variation, and likewise a change attendant upon age; very old gorillas 

 becoming more or less completely grizzled. As a rule, we may notice a reddish- 

 brown tint on the hair at the top of the head, although it may be dark brown, or 

 even black ; the hairs generally being differently coloured in different portions of 

 their length. On the sides of the face the hair is greyish at the roots and dark at 



