Outlines of Creation

by Elisha Noyce

11. The Quadrumana (fig. 72), so called from their hind and fore feet both having thumbs, and being developed into hands, includes the Monkeys; they may be divided into two tribes, those inhabiting the Old World (Simiidæ), and those inhabiting the New (Cebidæ), these include what were formerly called Apes, Baboons, &c. These animals approach the most nearly to the form of the human being, the Chimpanzee being considered the nearest in formation to Man; there are, however, many very broad distinctions between the two, especially in the foot and head. The Quadrumana are very clever, but their actions seem to have more meaning in them than they in reality possess, owing to the resemblance of these creatures to the human being. There are many surprising accounts of these beings, such as their arming themselves with sticks and stones to defend themselves; but no act of reason has ever yet been perceived in them, nor any tendency towards improvement, except that which has been given them by Man. "The Monkey who had seen the world," and went home and taught his companions, is a fable in both senses of the word. The Monkey tribe are formed to pass their lives in the trees among the branches, their hands being formed to suit this kind of life. None of them walk well, but when they are among the branches, swinging themselves from bough to bough, few creatures are more active; their food is fruit and nuts of all kinds. The Chimpanzee, certainly, is the nearest approach to Man in the lower animals, and walks better in an upright position than does the Ourang-outang, whose whole life is spent in the trees, while the Chimpanzee often inhabits holes in the earth and rocks. In the "Penny Cyclopædia" is the following account of one, by Captain Payne:—

"It shook hands with some of the sailors, but refused its hand with marks of anger to others, without any apparent cause. It speedily, however, became familiar with the crew, except one boy, to whom it was never reconciled. When the seamen's mess was brought on deck it was a constant attendant, would go round and embrace each person, while it uttered loud yells, and then seat itself among them to share the repast."

Some of the Monkey tribe (the Spider-monkeys) have the power of holding fast with the end of the tail; it, in fact, forms a sort of hand, and they swing from the boughs by it, and it is said that several will attach themselves in this way, forming a long chain, and swing themselves from the topmost bough of a tree when they wish to cross a stream, the lowest catching hold of the boughs on the opposite side, and the uppermost of them letting go his hold, they are all thus conveyed across.

12. Bimana (two-handed). This order includes Man alone. Man has been placed in a separate class, and not as the first order of the Mammalia, but, as will be presently noticed, although he has many attributes which no other animal has, yet in bodily construction, and all the functions of his material part, he so nearly resembles the other orders of his class that it is deemed better to place him at their head under the designation of "two-handed;" although indeed he is the only animal who can be said to possess hands, properly so called, for those of the Monkey tribe are so imperfectly developed that they have but little claim to the name.

In his circulation, respiration, digestion, &c., Man exactly resembles the other Mammalia, also in the organs of locomotion and special sense, modified slightly in form; but to these purely animal attributes, he has superadded faculties which raise him above them, and show him to be the last and most perfect of God's creatures, one step further, in fact, than any other living being; and it is a curious circumstance, and one showing the accuracy of detail, with which the Mosaic account of Creation in the Bible abounds, that this very superiority is not only mentioned in many ways, but recorded as the result of a special act of God over and above his formation as an ordinary animal, in which state he was created, for we find the words, "and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul," this especial act was not performed for any other being which God had created, of which it is stated simply "male and female created He them."

Man is possessed of sentiments (or those feelings which prompt him to believe in, look forward to, and hope for a higher state of existence, than that which he enjoys here) which none of the lower animals have, and of reason in place of instinct. There is certainly a vast difference between the two, although many would have us believe the one is the same as the other, but of a higher order; instinct causes its possessor to act from innate impulse without consciousness of the result, while reason points out "the why and the wherefore." Man is conscious of his own identity, this is also peculiar to him; moreover, all the performances of man can be improved by practice, none of the instincts can, but are as perfect at first as at last; the Bee makes the comb, and the Bird the nest, as well the first time as the last, and although the higher animals, as the Dog, Horse, Elephant, &c., can be taught to perform various clever and useful acts, yet it is by Man's instrumentality and not by their own powers; in fact there is not an animal which left to itself has the slightest power within itself of deviating one iota from those peculiar instincts which were given it by God. But Man at every effort rises higher than he was before, till he arrives at such a knowledge of the great works and designs of his Creator that he bows his head in awe and admiration of the wonders permitted to appear to his comprehension. With respect to his bodily structure, Man undoubtedly stands first in the race of beings, although, in some particulars, such as the acuteness of the senses, he may be inferior to some.

FIG. 73.—THE HUMAN SKELETON.

a. Skull.
b. b. Vertebral column or Spine.
c. Ribs.
d. Sternum or Chest bone.
e. e. Scapulæ or Blade bones.
f. f. Clavicles or Collar bones.
g. g. Pelvic or Hip bones.
h. h. Humeri or Arm bones.
i. Radius }
} Bones of fore-arm.
j. Ulna }
k. Femur or Thigh bone.
l. Tibia or Large bone of leg.
m. Fibula or Small bone of leg.
n. Calcaneum or Heel bone.
o. Tarsal bones or Bones of the
foot.
p. Carpal bones or Bones of the
wrists.