252 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



interesting for accuracy of outline. The skeleton of the 

 Chimpanse, which may convey an idea sufficiently general 

 of the osteology of both species, by adverting to the few 

 points of difference above mentioned, is copied from the 

 engraving given in the old work of Dr. Tyson. 



The Chimpanses are less numerous than the other apes : 

 but it is not altogether improbable that they were known to 

 the ancients. This seems likely from a passage in the 

 " Periplus Hannonis" or Account of a Voyage performed by 

 Hanno, a Carthaginian Admiral, three hundred and thirty- 

 six years previous to the Christian aera. He met some of 

 these animals in an island on the western coast of Africa. 

 "There were many more females than males, all equally 

 covered with hair on all parts of the body. The interpre- 

 ters called them gorillts. On pursuing them we could not 

 succeed in taking a single male ; they all escaped with asto- 

 nishing swiftness, and threw stones at us : but we took 

 three females, who defended themselves with so much vio- 

 lence that we were obliged to kill them, but we brought 

 their skins stuffed with straw to Carthage." — (Hannonis 

 Periplus, translated by V. Berkel.) 



The Chimpanse appears to have an affinity, if not identity, 

 with the large African monkeys mentioned by some travellers ; 

 indeed if there be truth in the statements so repeatedly made 

 of the Barris, or great wild man of the woods of Africa, there 

 seems as little reason to doubt that animal being the adult 

 Chimpanse, as there is to doubt the fact of thePongo being 

 the adult Orang Outang; and it is observable that the cases 

 are in most respects much on a par, except indeed that the 

 Barris is only known to us by the indefinite descriptions of 

 unscientific travellers, whereas the osteological characters 

 of the Pongo have been observed and dilated upon by the 

 first naturalists. All the specimens of the Chimpanse, as 

 well as of the Orang Outang hitherto seen in Europe, dis- 

 played their nonage by the teeth and other indications. 



