56 Dr. L. J. ears on the Gorilla. 
mer: i 
arm (radius and ulna), the relative proportions of these bones 
in man. In both, the fore arm is shorter than the arm; in apes 
nerally, it is as ‘long, or longer. The humerus, in the gorilla, 
is longer than the same bone in the chimpanzee ; yet in the latter, 
the anterior extremity is the longest, on account of its more ex- 
tended fore arm. 
The motions of pronation aud supination are performed — 
readily and perfectly in the gorilla, we think, jadi ng from the 
character of the elbow articulation, and the muscles which sub- 
serve those movements. 
The gorilla’s hand exalts him in the » ro series; the 
siamang is his only competitor in an approach to the human 
In most of the apes, this member is little better than a paw, in 
consequence of the great length and narrowness of the palm, and 
the length of the fingers with the comparative shortness and backward 
of the thumb. The thumb it is, chiefly, which impresses 
perfection on the hand of man: Its articulation with the zrist is 
such as to permit great range and freedom of motion; it may be 
brought in apposition with any of the fingers, thus qualifying 
the hand for the most delicate manipulations. The bone which 
unites the thumb to the carpus (wrist), is the os-trapeziwm ; 1 
surface for the articulation is, in man, the gorilla and siamang, & 
rounded, but not deep con cavity. In other re it is so dee 
and angular, that the head of the metacarpal (thumb) bone, 1s 
more fixed, and its motions restrained. 
The entire number of carpal bones in man, the gorilla, and 
chimpanzee, is eight; the orang-cetan, gibbons, and most of the 
lower monkeys, have nine. 
he bones uniting the anterior extremity with the body, are 
the scapula (shoulder-blade bone) and clavicle (collar bone). The 
former, is broader in the gorilla than in the chimpanzee, = 
comes nearer to the proportions of that bone in man. 
the clavicle there is a yet greater similarity, both in form aii 
* DuChaillu gives the following measurements of the hand and foot of a large 
female gorilla, viz : ales cee Re Borer length of the foot from the hair 
comprising the heel, 8} inches; round of hand above the thumb, 9} inches; do. do. 
under the thumb, 9 inches. ‘Length of the seal, 12 inches ; first , 
4 inches ; 4} inches; third do., ; fourth do., 34 inches. Circwm- 
Serence of the ; thumb, 24 inches ; : eS; 
third do. 3} ; fourth do., 3 inches. of the toes; thumb, 3+ 
inches; first finger, 2% inches; second do., 2} inches; third arth 
