APES AND MONKEYS. 297 



the tail, always present though often shortened to a mere stump, 

 the more or less developed ischial callosities, and the cheek-pouches 

 present in most species. The dentition includes the usual number of 

 thirty-two teeth arranged in an unbroken series. They occur in all 

 three continents of the Old World, and are most numerous in Africa. 

 Their endowments and characteristics place them far above the 

 marmosets and New- World monkeys. They usually walk very 

 well, though some of them hobble along in a comical fashion; they 

 are able, without difficulty, to stand on their legs alone, thus raising 

 themselves to their full height, and in that position they can walk 

 more or less easily. They climb well under all circumstances, 

 though some do so only among trees, others among the rocks; some 

 of them are also excellent swimmers. The climbing of the arboreal 

 species is almost like flight, if I may so speak — for their skill among 

 the branches surpasses all expectation. Leaps of from eight to ten 

 yards are to them quite possible achievements. From the topmost 

 boughs of a tree they leap to a lower one, which is forcibly bent 

 downwards by the shock, from this at the moment of rebound they 

 give themselves a strong impetus, and, stretching tail and hind-legs 

 out behind them to steer their course, shoot like an arrow through 

 the air. The branch of a tree, even if it be covered with the sharpest 

 thorns, is to them a well-made road, a climbing plant is a path or a 

 ladder according to its position. They climb forwards or backwards, 

 on the under or upper side of a branch; in leaping or falling they 

 catch a thin twig with one hand, and remain hanging as long as 

 they please in every imaginable position; then they climb leisurely 

 on the branch, and proceed on their way as coolly as if they were 

 on level ground, If the hand misses the desired twig it is caught 

 by the foot; if it breaks under the sudden shock they catch in fall- 

 ing at a second, a third, and if all break they spring to the ground, 

 no matter the distance, and climb up again by the first available 

 trunk or climbing-plant. Compared with the clinging and creeping 

 of their relatives in the New World theirs appears, and really is, 

 a free, unfettered motion which surmounts all obstacles. The 

 former are blunderers, the latter finished artists; the former slaves 

 of the trees, the latter lords of the branches. 



