Their whole organbettion peculiarly adapts the Apes to these habits. Besides the conformation of the extremities just noticed, the fingers and toes are long, flexible, and deeply separated from one another, mad the thumb, or interior finger, is completely oppoiseable to the other four, as well on the posterior as on the anterior extremities : thus, their feet and hands are equally fonned for prehension. They are not Quadrupeds, as Bunn has justly observed, but Qundrumana ; not four-footed but carentially four-handed animals. One part of their organisation renders them intermediate between the bets and ordinary nounnda; another makes them the connecting link between man and oblique articulation of the posterior extremities, they rest only on the outer edge of the foot, but the wavering equilibrium time occasioned is secured by the long fore-arms, which can easily touch the ground in all directions ; and, when an advance is to be made. it is accom plished by resting the weight of the body upon the half-closed fists, and then swinging the hinder extremities forward, precisely like a man on crutches. I II their native forests the extreme length of their fore-arms is turned to the greatest advantage : here it nets upon the principle of the rope-dancer's balancing-pole, and completely secures their equilibrium even with the most precarious footing. Thus it is that travellers have seen the Apes poised at the very extremity of the slender trunks of the bamboo, waving their long arms from side to side with the most graceful and easy motions.
Another circumstance in the stricture of the Apes, in which they differ front moat other Quadnunana, has considerable influence upon their habits; this is the entire want of a tail. Though the presence of this organ does not always indicate a corresponding function, and though its absence is not confined to this group of quadrumiumus animals, yet a long tail would seriously embarrass the nearly erect motion of the reel Apes ; whilst its use is in ether respects superseded by the length of the fore-arms, which supply its place in adjunting the proper balance of the body, the only function which the tail per forms in the common monkeys. But another character of still greater importance distinguishes the real Apes from the rest of the Quadru mans, namely, the want of cheek-pouches. These are sacs or cavi ties in the cheeks, which open inside the mouth between the cheek and the lower jaw, and serve to hold any extra provision which the animal may not at the moment require. The Semnopitheci alone, of all the other monkeys of the old world, resemble the Apes in this respect, and hence arise some of the most striking resemblances which the characters and habits of these two genera present. In other respects they are sufficiently distinguished from one another by the long tails of the Semnopitheci, not to mention their extremities of nearly equal length, and the peculiar structure of their stomachs and teeth. Another character, which is common to all the other known Quadrumana of the old continents, is found in some species only of the real Apes, and is absent in others : this is the possession of Callosi ties, which are naked callous parts of the buttocks, upon which these animals sit when fatigued by the violent and rapid movements which they habitually execute. Illiger and some other zoologists have con
sidered this circumstance of sufficient importance to warrant the separation of the Apes into two distinct genera, the one characterised by the absence of callosities, the other by the presence of them; but it is to be observed, that, even where these organs do exist in the Apes, it is always in a rudimentary form ; they are never developed to such an extent as to influence the habits of the animals, and are consequently unfit to be considered as generic characters. In other respects, except in these diminutive callosities, the Gibbons do not differ from the Orangs and Chimpanzees ; they have the same system of dentition, the same organs of sense, and the same singular modification of the locomotive organs ; their manner .of life also is precisely the same ; both equally take up their habitation in the thickest and most soli tary forests ; they inhabit the same countries, and live upon the same food.
The teeth of the Apes, as indeed of all the other monkeys of the old world, are of the same number as in man ; nor, as far as the incisors and molars are concerned, do they present any difference in form ; but in the adult animals, and more especially in the old males, the canines are developed in the same relative proportion as in the Camivom ; the tusks of the full-grown Orang-Ontan are at least as large as those of the lion, and are most formidable weapons. Unfor tunately we know but little of the manners of these animals in their adult state ; but this circumstance gives us strong reason to suppose that the extreme gentleness and placidity observed in the young individuals usually brought into Europe do not always continue to characterise them in their native climates, but that their disposition alters in proportion to the development of their muscular force, and that in their adult state they are as formidable and mischievous as the Baboons themselves.
The characters and habits of the Apes present differences which will be noticed in speaking of the several species. As far however as their general manners have been observed, they appear to be of a grave and gentle disposition, totally free from that petulance and mischie vous curiosity which so strongly characterise the monkeys, properly so called, are very affectionate towards those who treat them kindly, solemn and deliberate in all their actions, extremely circumspect and intelligent, seldom moved to violent passion, but peevish and fretful when crossed or disappointed. They never walk on two legs except when they have occasion to use the fore hands in carrying something. Nearly or altogether deprived of callosities, they do not repose in the manner of ordinary monkeys, on their hams, but stretch themselves on their aides, like human beings, and support their beads upon their hands, or by some other means supply the use of a pillow.
For an account of the most remarkable Apes see CHIMPANZEE, Onast-OerAs, and Gtanox% For an arrangement of the species and their relation to other Monkeys see SIMIAD.E, and QUADItIIMANA.
APEItEA, a speciea of Wild Guinea-Pig. [CAvv.]