44 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
The body is very ball-like, and there is no visible division between the chest, the stomach, and 
the hips ; it is not troubled with a waist, and anything like one is positively below the hips, just over 
where the thighs join the body. In fact, as before noticed, the shape is that of a frog. There are no 
graceful curves to the back, and there is no “ small ” to it. On looking at the chest, it will be noticed 
that it is long behind and short in front ; the ribs go down close to the edge of the hips ; and in 
order that this extra stoutness and strength of loin shall be there, there are fourteen ribs, instead 
of thirteen, as in the other great Apes. The breast-bone in front sticks out, so that were the animal 
to lie on its stomach its point would lean on the ground, and not its front, as in us. This last 
peculiarity is an adaptation for going on all -fours. The absence of waist, and the shape of the loins 
relate to the small size of one of the muscles of the back (sacro lumbalis), which is large and important 
in man. 
THE KOOLO-KAMBA. 
The belly is very large, and it is kept from pushing into the chest by the capacity given to the 
space within the ribs and breast-bone, by a bulged-out state of the ribs at the back, and the projection 
of the breast-bone. Hence, the frog-like figure looks asthmatical ; and as it is very high-shouldered, 
there is but little neck. 
All this bulging has not only reference to the maintenance of the capacity of the lungs, and its 
independence of the great stomach, which, when full, would tend to press in all directions, but it 
enables the muscles of the back and shoulders, which have so much to do with climbing, to be large 
and vigorous. More space is afforded for the insertion or attachment of muscular fibres. 
The blade-bone does not add to the bulk of the shoulders, for it is rather long and narrow for a 
great Ape ; and its spine, which has so much to do with the muscles which lift up the arm, is very 
much aslant, and in the best direction for constant climbing, instead of much walking on the 
knuckles. And that climbing and holding on are the usual motions may be credited, it is only 
necessary to notice that the arms and the fingers are long, and that the tips of them touch below the 
