APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS. 



their expressionless, fox-like faces. Were the latter animals (as they not 

 unfrequently are) separated as a distinct ordinal group, the Primates would 

 be much easier of definition than is the case when they are included ; but as 

 there is little doubt that the latter arrangement is the proper one, it is essen- 

 tial that it should be followed. 



In the great_ majority of the members of the order, the hand, which is 

 always a grasping organ, is furnished with five fingers, generally provided 

 with more or less flattened nails, but in certain cases the thumb is wanting. 

 The thumb itself in the higher forms is completely opposable to the other 

 digits, but in certain of the lower representatives of the order its power of 

 opposition is but very limited. In the five-toed hind-foot, except in man, the 

 great-toe is similarly opposable to the other digits. With the exception of the 

 second, or index finger of the lemurs, the terminal joints of the fingers and 

 toes are expanded to form a support for the broad and flattened nails. In 

 both the fore and hind-limbs all the component-bones are separate from one 

 another ; and perfect collar-bones or cavicles are invariably present. All the 

 Primates are further characterised by the sockets, or orbits, of the eyes being 

 surrounded by a complete bony rim. As regards the teeth, the molars have 

 broad, flattened crowns, surmounted either by tubercles or a pair of transverse 

 ridges, and are thus admirably adapted for the mastication of the fruits, 

 leaves, or other vegetable substances on which the majority of these animals 

 subsist. In number, the molar teeth form three pairs in each jaw, save only 

 in the marmosets ; these teeth being always more complex and larger than the 

 premolars. 



The latter are reduced to two pairs in each jaw in all the higher forms, 

 with the exception of one family of American monkeys ; and even among tlio 

 lemurs no existing species has more than three pairs of these teeth. More- 

 over, in all the apes and monkeys the incisor teeth, which in many other 

 animals form three pairs, are reduced to two pairs in both jaws ; but among 

 the lemurs the number of these teeth is subject to a considerable amount of 

 variation. Save in the aberrant lemur known as the aye-aye, there are at 

 least two teats on the breast of the females. 



As a rule, the members of the order are forest-dwelling animals, inhabiting 

 tropical and sub-tropical countries, although a few range into regions where 

 in winter the boughs of tha trees are enveloped in snow; but it is only in the 

 hottest and dampest ti-opical forests that the largest members of the order are 

 met with. Although many apes and monkeys are able to assume the upright 

 position, it is very few that habitually use it ; and even when they do, the 

 aid of the arms is necessary to maintain the balance in walking. 



The Primates may be divided into two great subordinal groups ; the first 

 (Anthropoidea) including man, apes, baboons, monkeys, and marmosets, 

 whilst the second (Lemuroidea) embraces only the lemurs. 



The first and highest group of the Primates includes the so-called man-like 

 apes, such as the gorilla, chimpanzee, orang, and gibbons, collectively con- 

 stituting the family Simiidce. That these apes are our 

 nearest cousins is well known ; but the degree and extent Man-like 

 of this relationship, as well as the characters by which it is Apes. — Family 

 displayed, are probably less familiar. In the first place, it imiidx. 



will be noticed that we speak of this relationship as one of 

 cousinship, and not of ancestry ; and it is well that the reader snould free 

 himself from any idea that there is any vestige of direct ancestral kinship 

 between these, for the most part, hideous creatures and nunself. Such 



