OEDEE OF QUADEUMAIn^A. 



The Quadrumana occupy the highest grade in the scale of 

 the brute creation. The Monkej's are, in fact, of all Mam- 

 malia those whic]!, hj their physical organisation and habits, 

 offer the closest relationship to Man. This analog}' is so striking 

 with some, such as the Orang, Gorilla, and Chimpanzee, that 

 several naturalists, otherwise very good authorities, have con- 

 sidered them inferior varieties of the human species. Thus it 

 was that the illustrious Linnaaus confounded Man with Monkeys 

 in his order of Primates, or first animals, and composed his genus 

 Homo, not only of mortals {Homo sapiens), but also of Chimpanzees 

 (Homo ti'oglodytes), the Orang-Outangs [Homo safi/nis), and the 

 Gibbons {Homo lar). 



This classification raised numerous protestations, for the pride 

 of Man was oifended bj' the strange relationship imposed upon 

 him. The opinion of Linnaeus, therefore, enjoys but little favour 

 nowadaj's ; so it has been decided to constitute a particular 

 Order for Man, that of Bimana, placed at the head of the organic 

 creation. 



It is incontestable that, from a purely anatomical point of view, 

 certain Quadrumana oifer so strong a similitude to Man, that 

 through error they might be readily classed in the same genus. 

 Like Man, they can stand upright ; like him, they are provided 

 with hands ; have a nude face, with the eyes directed forwards ; 

 and, finally, in general form and internal structure, resemble, on a 

 small scale, the king of Nature. But, as Buffon has said, this 

 only proves that the Creator did not desire to make a mould 

 for Man absolutely diiferent from that of the animal, and that 

 his form, like that of other animals, has been included in a 

 general plan. 



