SOCIAL AND MENTAL QUALITIES 47 



fingers of the ape are always held in a curve, so that 

 he cannot possibly straighten them into a line. 

 This is probably due to the habit of climbing in 

 which he indulges to a great extent ; also to the 

 practice of hanging by the hands. In making his 

 way through the bush, he often swings from bough 

 to bough by the arms alone, and sometimes sus- 

 pends himself by one arm, while he uses the other 

 to pluck and eat fruit. This characteristic is trans- 

 mitted to the young, and is found in the first stages 

 of infancy. The thumb is not truly opposable, but 

 is inclined to close towards the palm of the hand. 

 It is of little use to him. His nails are thick, dark 

 in colour, and not so flat as those of man. 



Instead of having the great toe in line with the 

 others, it projects at an angle from the side of the 

 foot, something after the manner of the human 

 thumb. The foot itself is flexible, and has great 

 prehensile power. In climbing, and in many 

 other ways, it is used as a hand. The tendons in 

 the sole of the foot are equal in length to the 

 line of the bones, and the digits of the foot can be 

 straightened, but both members are inclined to 

 curve into an arch in the line of the first and second 

 digits. 



His habit of walking is peculiar. The greater 

 part of the weight is borne upon the legs. The 

 sole of the foot is placed almost flat on the ground, 

 but the pressure is greatest along the outer edge of 

 it, in the line of the last digit. This is easily noticed 

 where he walks through plastic ground. In the act 



