THE MONKEY FAMILY. 



63 



" Apes, hitherto introduced into England, have 

 walked on the ground, apparently with comparative 

 ease to themselves, so far, as the bearings or 

 irregularities of the ground would permit. But, 

 this chimpanzee is a decided exception. He who 

 contemplates it when in motion on the ground, 

 will at once perceive, that the knuckle of the 

 fingers alone comes in contact with the floor. 

 This position must obviously give it pain, Let me 

 here remark, that it is not the natural position of 

 the animal ; but, that, captivity has forced it into 

 an attitude so unsuited to it. 



"If we wish to contemplate this gentle ape, roving 

 in uncontrolled freedom, we must go in imagination 

 to the far-spreading forests of Africa. 



" There, mounted aloft on the trees, and making 

 use of what are usually called its forefeet, by way 

 of hands, (and which, in fact, are hands,) it will 

 pass from branch to branch with wonderful agility : 

 and when its hour of frolic has gone by, the 

 chimpanzee will rest on a branch, bolt upright; 

 no part of its body coming in contact with the 

 tree, except the soles of its hind feet, usually so 

 called, — they being most admirably constructed to 

 support it in this attitude. 



" Thus placed, its abdomen of enormous dimen- 

 sions, considering the diminutive stature of the 



