The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

APPENDIX. 321XI.LIKENESS OF THE APE'S BRAINPage 225.TO .THE HUMANBRAIN.The close resemblance of the brain of the ape tothat of man, has been held to prove that the ape comesnext to man in intelligence. But the facts bearing onthis suggestion are fitted to occasion serious perplexityto its upholders. First stands the resemblance of bodilystructure as largely explaining similarity of brain.The results of electric stimulation of the monkey's brainlend additional force to this consideration. Again, factsare wanting to support the claim for superior intelligencein behalf of the monkey and ape. The habitsof the ape in its natural state afford little evidence ofan encouraging kind. The ape gathers together a fewsticks for a nest, in comparison with which the workof very small birds presents marvels of architecture.And nest-building seems the highest evidence gatheredfrom the natural habits of the animal, when we compareit with leaning the back against a tree for rest, orstaunching the bIood of a wound. In the captive statethe ape gives no such evidence of superior intelligenceas the similarity of its brain to the human, would leadus to expect, if brain structure afford the test of intellectualpower. Even after allowance has been madefor sudden transition from the wild state to the captive,the evidence of capability does not appear whichthe theory requires. The highest results reached bytraining monkeys, do not support a claim for intellectualsuperiority. These are mainly forms of mimicry,generally inferior to the efforts of some other animals.