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68 



MAMMALIA— CHIMP ANSE. 

 THE CHIMP AN SE.i 



CuviER thus describes this remarkable species of ape. "It is covered 

 with black or brown hairs, less thickly in front. If we can trust to the 

 relations of travellers, this animal approaches, or even surpasses, the human 

 stature. But we have not yet seen in Europe any specimen confirmatory, 

 or even indicative, of the truth of this assertion. It inhabits Guinea and 

 Congo — lives in troops — constructs huts of leaves and branches of trees — 

 arms itself with stones and clubs, and employs them to repulse from its 

 dwelling both elephants and men — pursues and carries off the^ negro wo- 

 men," &c. Naturalists have constantly confounded this animal with the 

 orang outang. In a domesticated state, it becomes gentle enough to be 

 taught to Avalk upright, and to sit and eat after our manner." 



The chlmpanse approaches the human form more nearly than any other 

 animal. Unlike the orang outang, it has no intermaxillary bone. It has 

 also the last joint of the great toe perfect. That it has greater facility for 

 the biped or upright mode of locomotion than the orang outang, is also 

 apparent, by its possessing the round ligament of the thigh bone, which the 

 orang has not. 



Griffith closes his account of this animal in the following words : " Of the 

 intellectual properties of this species, as we can add little new, we shall not 



^ Troglodytes niger. The ijenus Troglodytes comprises Siniiae with four incisor teeth 

 above, and four below ; two canines above, and two below ; ten molars above, and ten 

 below — iTi all, thirty-two teeth. Canines little projectin!^ : contiguous to the incisors and 

 molars, as those of man ; head rounded ; muzzle little projecting- ; superciliary ridge 

 prominent ; facial angle, fifty degrees ; arms almost proportioned to the legs, reaching to 

 the bottom of the thighs ; thumbs long and opposable ; no tail, cheek pouches, intermaxil- 

 lary bones, nor callosities oa the buttocks. 



