86 ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE GORILLA. 



structive to be able thus to realise the remarkable characteristics of so 

 extraordinary an animal, and to have them put before us under the guise 

 of comparative anatomy, which is one of the most attractive sciences Tvithin 

 the regions of human knowledge — though, unfortunately for me, owing to 

 want of opportunity, " unknowable." It seems to me that the wonderful 

 adaptation of the gorilla to its own modes of life is most remarkable, while 

 the contrast instituted between the skeletons of that animal and of the human 

 being, as showing the adaptability of both to their different surroundings, is 

 one of the most fascinating of the features of comparative anatomy. I sup- 

 pose the bones of the thigh and leg are not so disproportionate as those of 

 the arms, as between man and the gorilla ? 



Mr. Charlesworth. — No ; the great disparity is in the arms. That we 

 can readily understand, because the gorilla is arboreal. The actual height 

 of the gorilla is said, by Du Chaillu, to be six feet, within three or four 

 inches ; but I believe this is over-stated, and that the animal's real height 

 is nearer five than six feet. 



The Chairman. — I do not think the bending of a musket barrel by the 

 gorilla is so unlikely a thing as some may suppose. I have seen a poker 

 bent over a man's arm by a clever blow, and if the very small bone of a 

 human arm will stand that, we need not wonder at the tremendous power 

 possessed by the arm bones of the gorilla, with their corresponding muscles. 

 It seems to me very strange how some of the old traditions are confirmed. 

 In the case of the gorilla tribe, you have undoubtedly the traditional men 

 whose heads grew beneath their shoulders. 



The meeting was then adjourned. 



