. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative; Physiology, Comparative. 500 USE OF THE HAND OF APES IN CLIMBING. cular strength affords, and so portable in its nature as not mate- rially to add to his weight. 674. The only other organs of locomotion which we have to consider, are those of prehension. Of these, the principal have been elsewhere noticed, with reference to their use in laying hold of food, and conveying it to the mouth (§. 172), and with regard to the differences between the hand of Man and the claspers of the Quadrumana (§. 643). The hand of Man is seldom em- ployed to assist in
. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative; Physiology, Comparative. 500 USE OF THE HAND OF APES IN CLIMBING. cular strength affords, and so portable in its nature as not mate- rially to add to his weight. 674. The only other organs of locomotion which we have to consider, are those of prehension. Of these, the principal have been elsewhere noticed, with reference to their use in laying hold of food, and conveying it to the mouth (§. 172), and with regard to the differences between the hand of Man and the claspers of the Quadrumana (§. 643). The hand of Man is seldom em- ployed to assist in his locomotion, except in swimming (where it serves the purpose of a fin), and in climbing; neither of which kinds of movement can be said to be natural to him. But the claspers of the Quadrumana are most efficient instruments of loco- motion ; enabling them, not only to grasp the branches of the trees which they climb to despoil them of their fruit, but also to catch hold of them at the end of a long leap. This they do with the most wonderful agility; as all who have seen Monkeys in circum- stances at all like those of their natural habitations, must have observed. The Gibbons or long- armed Apes of the East Indies, are probably the most remarkable in this respect. The Author has seen the Ungkaputi leap round and round a room of about 15 feet square, catching at each side fig. 239—Chimpanzbe. by gome gmall support attached to the wall; and taking its next leap (if such it could be called) by merely swinging itself from this, without touching anything solid with its feet. There are many of the Monkey tribe, how- ever, especially in the New World, whose hands are less efficient as instruments of prehension ; and these are furnished with a. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Carpenter, William
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