lAsO Account of the Simia syndactylay 



extension, is spread out wide, giving a broader surface to the 

 foot ; when he walks, to use a nautical phrase, " he sways the 

 body," and stepping at once on the whole of the under surface 

 of the foot, occasions a pattering noise, like that which is heard 

 when a duck or any aquatic bird walks on the deck of a ship. 



When the weather is cold, he is seen huddled together, 

 loses all his lively and playful manner, and sleeps much dur- 

 ing the day : on the return of warm weather, it imparts life to 

 the animal ; his spirits revive, he resumes his gambols and 

 sportive gaiety. Although every kindness was shown to him 

 by the officers and crew, and sweetmeats were given to him 

 by them, he would not permit himself to be taken in the arms, 

 or caressed familiarly by any person on board during the 

 voyage, except the commander, Mr. Hays the third officer, 

 and myself; all those, in particular, who wore large bushy 

 whiskers he particularly avoided. 



When he came at sunset to be taken into my arms, and 

 was refused, he would display a paroxysm of rage, but that 

 being unsuccessful, he would mount the rigging, and hanging 

 over the deck on which I was walking, would suddenly drop 

 himself into my arms.* It was ludicrous to behold the ter- 

 rified looks of the animal, and half-suppressed screams, if his 

 finger was taken towards a cup of hot tea, as if to ascertain its 

 temperature. He would frequently hang from a rope by one 

 arm, and, when in a frolicksome humour, frisk about, shut 

 his eyes, and have a resemblance to a person hanging and in 

 the agonies of death. 



When strangers came on board, he approached them at 

 such a distance as he considered consistent with his ideas of 

 safety. The only lady who had honoured him with her notice 

 was one who came on board from a ship (Euphrates) we spoke 

 at sea; he evinced, however, no partiality to the gentle sex, 

 and would not permit her to caress him : whether it was the 

 bonnet, which was ala mode of 1828, or other portions of the 

 lady's dress, that excited his indignation, I know not ; but he 

 was evidently not eager to become acquainted with her : as 

 she appeared at first timid of approaching the animal, it may 

 in some degree have occasioned the cunning brute to keep 

 up the feeling.f 



* The account of the orang-utan given by Dr. Abel, in the Narrative of a 

 Journey in the Interior of China^ accords with the habits of this animal, and 

 the comparison is very interesting. 



-|- I was acquainted with a lady in Ceylon, who, having been bitten by 

 a cockatoo, always evinced great terror at the approach of one which was 

 kept in the house : the bird appeared aware of it ; for, when he saw the lady 

 approach, he would flap his wings, elevate his crest, shriek out, and at the 

 same time pretend to pursue her, at which she ran away quite terrified. 



