. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . Their intelli-gence is not, however, greater than that of the dog, though their imitativeactions appear advantageously from their particular conformation. Theirsenses of touch, of smell, and of taste, are particularly acute, and seem todirect all their appetites, which are sensual and gross in almost all thespecies. Apes bring forth one or two young at a birth, after a gestation of fromfive to seven months, according to the species. The females carry theiryoung
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . Their intelli-gence is not, however, greater than that of the dog, though their imitativeactions appear advantageously from their particular conformation. Theirsenses of touch, of smell, and of taste, are particularly acute, and seem todirect all their appetites, which are sensual and gross in almost all thespecies. Apes bring forth one or two young at a birth, after a gestation of fromfive to seven months, according to the species. The females carry theiryoung in their arms or upon their backs, offer them suck, amuse them, andsometimes strike or bite them, when they are dissatisfied. Among theSapajous, or American apes with prehensile tails, the young seat themselvesupon the haunches of the mother, preserving their equilibrium by theirtail. The males are polygamous in the smaller species, but often monoga-mous in the^ largest. Their geographical range is extremely limited, ant3they are only found under the tropics in both hemispheres. 68 MAMMA LI A —C H IM P A N S Ctjvier thus describes this remarkable species of ape. It is coveredwith black or brown hairs, less thickly in front. If we can trust to therelations of travellers, this animal approaches, or even surpasses, the humanstature. But we have not yet seen in Europe any specimen confirmatory,or even indicative, of the truth of this assertion. It inhabits Guinea andCongo—lives in troops — constructs huts of leaves and branches of trees —arms itself with stones and clubs, and employs them to repulse from itsdwelling both elephants and men—pursues and carries off the negro wo-men, &c. Naturalists have constantly confounded this animal with theorang outang. In a domesticated state, it becomes gentle enough to betaught to walk upright, and to sit and eat after our manner. The chimpanse approaches the human form more nearly than any otheranimal. Unlike the
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