278 PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE EXTERNAL CHARACTERS 
4. “The anterior hands large ; the palm, especially, being as broad as long (almost 
exactly of the Human proportion) ; the fingers short, relatively to those of Man and the 
Chimpanzee’.” 
If the upper hands in the Gorilla and Chimpanzee are compared, as they are shown 
by the bony framework, they plainly, in the proportion of the thumb and the curvature 
and flattening of the proximal and middle digital phalanges, exhibit the same generic 
type ; and the difference in regard to the breadth of the metacarpus is seen to relate 
to the greater strength of the larger species, and to be of no higher than specific value. 
I find, in the recent hands, that the digital clefts of the integument are checked in both 
at about the same relative distance from the bases of the proximal phalanges ; the 
seeming shortness of the free part of the Gorilla’s fingers is due to their greater thick- 
ness (Pl. XLVII. figs. 2 & 3). As to the digits ii. ili. iv. v. being really shorter than 
in Man, either absolutely or relatively to the breadth of the base of their metacarpus, 
I refer to my Seventh Memoir, plate 10. The ungual phalanges are relatively shorter ; 
but the other phalanges are longer, as well as broader. In the degree in which the 
Chimpanzee shows a greater relative length of the digits, it manifests its specific 
distinction, and its further departure from the Human proportions of the hand. 
5. ‘The posterior hands elongate : the three intermediate toes (in the male) united by 
the teguments as far as the second phalanx *.” 
In the degree in which the Gorilla appears more ‘‘ syndactylous”’ than does the Chim- 
panzee, with respect to the three middle toes, I cannot discern more than a specific 
difference, if even it be of that value. The female Gorilla agrees with the male in the 
structure of the foot. Both the Gorilla and Chimpanzee show their generic relationship 
in the proportions of the hallux (PI. XLVII. figs. 4 & 5,7): in this respect they differ 
generically from the Orang-utans, as in the direction, relative position, and functions of 
the hallux they alike differ ordinarily from Man. 
6. The sixth character® seems to have been admitted inadvertently among those which 
are given as proving the generic distinction of the Gorilla from the Chimpanzee. I will 
only observe that the nails of both fingers and toes are thicker, shorter, narrower, and 
more convex in both kinds of Ape than in the Human species : those of the Gorilla are 
shown in the above-cited figures from photographs of the animal preserved in spirits. 
Isidore Geoffroy’s last generic character is derived from the dentition. 
7. ‘*The canines enormous ; the incisors ranged in almost a straight line. The three 
lower molars elongated from before backwards, and with a ‘ talon.’*” 
1 «4, Mains antérieures larges : \a paume en particulier presque aussi large que longue (de proportion presque 
exactement humaine); les doigts courts (relativement & ceux de l’ Homme et du Chimpanzée)” (ib., op. cit. p. 38). 
2 «5. Mains postérieures allongées; les trois doigts intermédiaires (chez le male) réunis par les téguments 
jusaw’a la seconde phalange”’ (ib. op. cif. p. 38). 
«@ Ongles des quatre mains trés-aplatis (comme chez l’Homme et le Chimpanzée).”” 
4 «7, Les canines énormes ; les incisives rangées presque en ligne droite. Les trois mdcheliéres inférieures 
allongées d’avant en arridre, et a talon” (ib., op. cit. p. 38). The italics throughout these quotations are as 
in the original. 
