54 MAMMALIA. PRIMATES. Apes, 



II. APE.— 2. SIM I J. 2. 



Has four clofe fet fore-teeth in each jaw; fmgie tufks on each 

 fide in both jaws, which are longer than, and fomewhat re- 

 mote from, the other teeth; and obtufe grinders. The feet 

 are formed like hands. 



This genus refembles man in the ftfudture of the paps, clitoris, nymphae, uterus, uvula, eye-lafhes, 

 hands, feet, fingers, toes, and nails. It is really wonderful that, with fo much external refemblance 

 to man, efpecially in fome of the fpecies, this ftupid race of animals fhould differ fo widely in the 

 total want of reafon *. Between the Tropics, in India, there are numerous fhady groves of trees, 

 the branches of which, hanging downwards to the earth, again take root to form columnar trunks, 

 whofe thick and lofty tops, interlacing each other, overfhadow the earth, and protect it from being 

 burnt up by the torrid influence of an ever vertical fun ; under covert of this umbrageous thicket, 

 along with parrots and other birds, the race of apes chiefly inhabits. 



This is a fufpicious race of animals, and is endowed with a very retentive memory: They are fore- 

 ward, fond of imitation, and full of gefticulations ; are with difficulty brought to learn any thing ; 

 ufe threatening geftures, chatter with their teeth, and feem to laugh : They moftly macerate then- 

 food in their cheeks for fome time before they chew and fwallow it ; are fond of hunting after fleas 

 in their own fur and that of their neighbours; have a very delicate fenfe of feeling, life their arms 

 in fwimming, and void their faeces in a very filthy manner, when terrified. In fome fpecies the 

 females have a diftinft urinary paffage. They are libidinous when pregnant : They live moftly on 

 vegetable food : They all fuckle their young ; but very few of the fpecies are hitherto either fully 

 known or accurately defcribed. 



Apes, and parrots, the apes among birds, are more numerous in their fpecies than any other ani- 

 mals. They are moftly confined to the Torrid Zone, a fingie fpecies only being found beyond that 

 line, in Barbary : They are lively, agile, full of frolic, chatter, and grimace; and, from the ftructure 

 of their members, have many actions in common with mankind, but no fuperiority over moft other 

 brutes in fagacity. Moft of them are fierce and untameable ; yet fome are of a milder nature, and 

 fhew a degree of attachment to thofe who are kind to them; but, in general, they are endowed with 

 mifchievous propensities. They are filthy, obfeene, lafcivious, and thieving ; feed on fruits, leaves, 

 grain, and infects ; inhabit the woods, and live in trees ; are moftly gregarious, and go together in 

 vaft companies ; but the different fpecies always keep apart, and in feparate quarters, never mixing 

 with each other. They leap with vaft agility from tree to tree, even when loaded with their young, 

 which cling to them. They are the prey of leopards, and other fpecies of the feline tribe, and of 

 ferpents, which purfue them to the fummits of the trees, and fwallow them entire. 



The principal marks by which the fpecies of this genus are diftinguifhable from each other, are 

 derived, ift, from the tail, which is either long, fhort, or altogether wanting, or is ftraight, or pre- 

 henfile ; 2dly, from the buttocks, which are naked, and furnifhed with callofities, or are covered 

 with hair ; 3d.lv, from the nails, which are flat and rounded, like thofe of man, or flrarp pointed, 



* S'mia quam fimilis turpiffima beftia nobis. — Ennius. 



