The Descent of Man

ted to throw off the rain; even the transverse
hairs on the fore-legs of a dog may serve for
this end when he is coiled up asleep. Mr. Wallace,
who has carefully studied the habits of
the orang, remarks that the convergence of the
hair towards the elbow on the arms of the
orang may be explained as serving to throw off
the rain, for this animal during rainy weather
sits with its arms bent, and with the hands
clasped round a branch or over its head. According
to Livingstone, the gorilla also "sits in
pelting rain with his hands over his head." (8.
Quoted by Reade, 'The African Sketch Book,'
vol i. 1873, p. 152.) If the above explanation is
correct, as seems probable, the direction of the
hair on our own arms offers a curious record of
our former state; for no one supposes that it is
now of any use in throwing off the rain; nor, in
our present erect condition, is it properly directed
for this purpose.