18.01.2013 Views

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

vocal organs <strong>of</strong> the stag, as well as <strong>of</strong> other male<br />

animals? This appears to me, in our present<br />

state <strong>of</strong> knowledge, the most probable view.<br />

<strong>The</strong> voice <strong>of</strong> the adult male gorilla is tremendous,<br />

and he is furnished with a laryngeal sack,<br />

as is the adult male orang. (4. Owen 'Anatomy<br />

<strong>of</strong> Vertebrates,' vol. iii. p. 600.) <strong>The</strong> gibbons<br />

rank among the noisiest <strong>of</strong> monkeys, and the<br />

Sumatra species (Hylobates syndactylus) is also<br />

furnished with an air sack; but Mr. Blyth, who<br />

has had opportunities for observation, does not<br />

believe that the male is noisier than the female.<br />

Hence, these latter monkeys probably use their<br />

voices as a mutual call; and this is certainly the<br />

case with some quadrupeds, for instance the<br />

beaver. (5. Mr. Green, in 'Journal <strong>of</strong> Linnean<br />

Society,' vol. x. 'Zoology,' 1869, note 362.)<br />

Another gibbon, the H. agilis, is remarkable,<br />

from having the power <strong>of</strong> giving a complete<br />

and correct octave <strong>of</strong> musical notes (6. C.L.<br />

Martin, 'General Introduction to the Natural

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!