ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE OF ANTHROPOID APES, lib 



the sole of the foot is not turned inwards, but down- 

 wards. . . . The toes of the gorilla take the form 

 of a hand, since the great toe stands separate like a 

 thumb, while the other toes are turned outwards. In 

 the gorilla the tarsus is short, and the heel is bent 

 inwards. The several bones of the human foot are 

 undoubtedly present in the hind hand of a gorilla, 

 but the orgfin is changed into a prehensile organ or 

 hand. The conditions are the same as in the parts 

 of the mouth in insects which in some cases form 

 movable mandibles, while in others they are at- 

 tenuated into a proboscis. When it is asserted that 

 apes are not quadrumanous, it is as if we were to 

 say that flies have no proboscis, but attenuated 

 mandibles." * 



All apes, including anthropoids, occasionally 

 make use of their hinder extremities in order to 

 snatch at objects. They also grasp with them in 

 climbing. On such occasions, when they wish to 

 secure the fruit they have seized from the voracity 

 of their fellows, they take it between the toes of one 

 hinder extremity, in order to be able to get away 

 more quickly by means of the otiier, and by the 

 use of both hands. 



From what we have said, it will be seen how 

 difficult it is to reconcile the views of different 

 observers with respect to the fitting term to be 

 given to the hinder extremities of apes. Against 

 those who uphold the designation of hind hands we 

 must oppose the anatomical structure, and also the 



* Studien aus dem Gehiete du, Naturwissenschaftev , ii. 316 : 

 St. Petersburg, 1876. 



