In the gorilla a faint depressor anguli oris and an equally faint
depressor labii inferioris may be observed, the latter partly covered
by the large and predominant orbicularis oris (Fig. 50). In the
chimpanzee the two depressors are plainly apparent, and in the gibbon
the one first named was at any rate developed. The platysma myoides,
the depressors just mentioned, and the crescent-shaped orbiculares
are in this animal in close connection with each other. Froriep’s
suggestion becomes ever more probable, that these muscles of the lower
lip owe their origin to the intersection of the opposite portions of
the skin-muscles of the neck which overlap the face. The buccinator
muscle in anthropoids resembles on the whole that of man, and in
both cases is pierced by Stenson’s duct (Fig. 50). The form of the
masseter muscle is common to both (see Fig. 50, ~11, 16~). In the
external ear of anthropoids there is an attrahens, attollens, retrahens
(Fig. 50). Compared with that of a white man, and still more with
that of a negro (see Figs. 48, ~19~, and 49, ~17~), the attollens
is only slightly developed. The muscles attached to the cartilages
of the ear are extremely scanty or partially wanting, which is also
sometimes the case with man. The muscles of the helix are most strongly
marked in the gorilla (see, for example, Fig. 50, ~21~). Tiedemann,
Bischoff’s brother-in-law, carefully observed two living chimpanzees
in Philadelphia for six months without detecting any movement of the
ears. My own observation confirms his assertion and the remarks of
Darwin, which I have already quoted, to the effect that anthropoids are
incapable of moving their ears. I know of no individual exceptions.
This is the more remarkable since some men have retained the power of
voluntarily moving their ears, and the same power is also found in some
species of apes, such as the sea-cats, baboons, macacas, and magots.
It will not here be out of place to say something of the
characteristics, previously mentioned, of the physiognomical expression
of anthropoid apes. Thus, for example, when the gorilla is agitated, he
can move the skin of his head and bristle the hair which covers this
region. The chimpanzee can also move the skin of the head, but with no
very apparent bristling of the hair. The large male orang, which was in
the Berlin Aquarium in 1876, bristled his hair and the skin of his head
when he was much enraged. It is known that in some instances man also
possesses this power.
I have already spoken of the expression of the eyes of these animals. I
will only add that when anthropoids of every species are in great pain
or seriously ill, the expression of their eyes is often most affecting.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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