A fact of much interest is that the bones, the muscles, and the blood-vessels of these animals are exactly like those of man, except in size. And the same may be said of their brains. These are smaller than a man's brain, but they are very much like it in all other ways. The weak point of these brains lies in their small size. They seem to think in the same way as we do, but they come to the end of their thinking powers when we are just past the beginning.
There are four different kinds of man-like apes, known as the Gorilla, the Orang Outang, the Chimpanzee, and the Gibbon. Of these the first two are large animals, the gorilla being larger and stronger than a man. It is a savage brute, too wild and fierce to be tamed, but this is not the case with the orang, which can easily be tamed and is very teachable.
These two are solitary creatures, living by themselves, but the chimpanzee, which is smaller, is very fond of company, and lives with its fellows in the woods, leaping about among the trees in a very sportive fashion. The gibbons are much smaller than the others, but have very long arms. When they stand erect their hands nearly reach the ground and they may be seen at times walking in the same way as we do, but holding their arms above their heads. If disturbed in any way down come their arms and they run away in the same manner as the other apes.
The gibbons are gentle and easily tamed and have often been kept as pets. They are less intelligent than the others, and it is the chimpanzee and the orang which can best be taught man's ways when kept as man's companions. Many tales could be told of the smart doings of those tamed apes and it will be well to give a few of them.
Buffon, a famous French naturalist, tells us of a tame chimpanzee which always walked on its hind-legs, even when it had a heavy weight to carry. The chimpanzee does not do this in the woods, but this one was in company with man and learned to walk in the same way as man. Buffon goes on to say:
"I have seen this animal present its hand to conduct the company to the door or walk about with them through the room; I have seen it sit at table, unfold its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of a spoon or fork to carry its victuals to its mouth, pour out its drink into a glass, touch glasses when invited, go for its cup and saucer, carry them to the table, pour out its tea, sweeten and leave it to cool, and all this without any other instigation than the signs or commands of its keeper and sometimes even of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive; it even approached you with a kind of respect and as if only seeking for caresses."