of an Orang Otang. 477 



of the former. It exceeds ours in height by 6 inches, having an 

 altitude of 4 feet 5 inches instead of 3 feet 11 : yet, as its arms 

 each measure 39 inches and a half, instead of 37 inches, and as 

 its chest is broader, its relative height to that of its reach I find 

 to be precisely the same, — the latter being a little under 8 feet. 

 In its length from the summit of its head to the extremity of the 

 OS coccygis, it is exactly the same as ours, being 2 feet 2 inches ; 

 and the length of its hinder hands is precisely similar, being 12 

 inches. Its bones are however thicker and stronger in propor- 

 tion, the head of the humerus measuring 6 inches and one- 

 eighth in circumference, and that of the chest at the lower part 

 of the sternum no less than 37 inches. 



In regard to the relative length of the arms in the Pon^o and 

 the Sati/rus, it stands thus. In the Satyi-us, when young, the 

 fingers may be observed literally to drag upon the ground like 

 those of the Gibbons, though the creature be placed erect ; while 

 in the Pongo the fingers scarcely reach to the external maleolus. 

 Slight differences of this kind undoubtedly take place during the 

 growth of animals ; yet those who suppose the Pongo to be the 

 adult animal, must be prepared to contend for a much greater 

 change in the relative proportions of parts during growth than 

 can be admitted in other cases. Having mentioned the erect 

 position, it is almost unnecessary to add, that it is altogether 

 unnatural to these creatures ; and that although we see their 

 skeletons constantly distorted into human attitudes, one grand 

 characteristic between them and us is the impossibility of their 

 thigh-bone being brought, by fair means or by the action of their 

 own muscles, into the same line as that of the spine. In all in- 

 ferior creatures, it is observed to form with it an angle of greater 

 or less magnitude, which is the most convincing of all proofs, 

 that their hinder extremities alone were never destined for the 

 support of their bodies. 



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