PLATE LVII. 



blended by writers, that it will be impossible to render their syno- 

 nyms so intelligible as many of our readers may desire, without 

 entering at some length into a critical investigation of their history. 



the relative proportions of this upper half of the animal, that they amount 

 to twelve, the number we find in the skeleton of the Orang-Outang, for we 

 know of no animal with so small a number of dorsal joints as ten ; the 

 Simla Chinensis has eleven, it is the only instance of less than twelve within 

 our present knowledge, and in several of the ape tribe that number is ex- 

 ceeded. Nothing of the lumbar region or spine below the ribs appear, that 

 portion of the skeleton, if really inserted into the piscivorous clothing of 

 the lower extremity, being entirely concealed from our view ; in the Orang- 

 outang these amount only to four, so that they occupy but little space : in 

 man the number is five ; in the generality of the Ape tribe seven. 



We should not quit this part of our enquiry without adverting to another 

 assertion respecting the vertebral column which is by no means accurate — 

 " the spine or back-bone," it is said, " has much resemblance to that of the 

 human species, the vertebrae being very prominent and attached in the same 

 manner this is not correct : the joints are as dissimilar from those of the 

 human spine with which they have been assimilated, as those of the Orang 

 tribe are from that of man. This presumed similitude may be therefore set 

 at rest ; we may very safely pronounce that it is the spine of an ape, and so 

 far as can be ascertained through its two-fold covering, an ape of the Orang 

 tribe, without any further recourse to anatomical investigation. 



The shoulders are high and " fall" we are told " by a gentle declivity, 

 not drawn up as in the Monkey tribe we admit that there is a diflference 

 in the form of the scapular bones, and their connecting muscles in the 

 different tribes of Simiae, those of the " Mermaid" are those of the Orang- 

 outang, which have really some advantages in this respect beyond the 

 Monkey race. 



Much stress has been laid upon the presence of the clavicle in the 

 thorax or sternum of the " Mermaid." It has been advanced, that " the 

 existence of clavicles or collar bones renders its resemblance to the human 

 frame the more remarkable, the Baboon being without them," and this ob- 

 servation, so peremptorily advanced, with a specious affectation of scientific 

 accuracy, has found its advocates. Whence an idea so unfounded could 

 have arisen it would be difficult to determine ; it is attributed to the assertion 

 of medical men: those who saw it at the Capej We must here observe, 

 that so far from the Baboon being destitute of clavicles, they have them 



