THE MONKEY FAMILY. 



95 



monkey pop into a rice field, — but he would not 

 stay there, even although his safety were not in 

 jeopardy. 



Were he to try his speed on the ground, the very 

 thumb itself, would be an impediment in a course 

 forward; whilst the long fingers would soon fail 

 to assist him effectually as he advanced in his 

 career. 



Do but inspect, for a moment or so, the inside of 

 a monkey's hand. You will find it as soft and 

 delicate as that of a lady, as I have previously 

 observed, who always wears gloves. It would not 

 be so, were the monkey accustomed to run on 

 the ground. Now, the branches of the trees being 

 resilient, they give way, to a certain degree, when 

 pressed upon ; and this probably is the cause why 

 all monkey's hands are soft and tender. On the 

 contrary, were those bands continually in the same 

 position, as the feet of dogs, they would inevitably 

 assume a texture hard and rough. 



Take a young milliner of blooming nineteen and 

 feel the softness of her hands, which have never 

 done any hard work : for, she has not been in the 

 habit of rubbing the dirty steps at the door with a 

 sandstone : nor scoured fish-kettles on her knees in 

 the back-kitchen, as the poor scullion did in 

 Tristram Shandy. No such thing. She has 

 passed her time in exercise more mollient. 



