Mr Grant's account of an Orang-Outang from Borneo. 3 



from bough to bough and tree to tree ? The palms of the 

 hand and soles of the feet of the orang which I am describ- 

 ing, instead of being copper-coloured, as in Dr Abel's individual, 

 are of a flesh-colour, and, though not so fair, resembling a Eu- 

 ropean's. He has nails upon his great toes, so far proving the 

 correctness of Cuvier's opinion that Camper was wrong in con- 

 cluding that the absence of the great toe nails formed a specific 

 distinction of the Borneo orang-outang.* 



The hair is of a dark-reddish brown colour, and points from 

 behind forward, being on the back and upper parts of the 

 shoulders generally about five inches long. 



Notwithstanding the great projection of the jaws, the face 

 of the orang-outang is strangely human. Without entering 

 into the prejudices of one class of writers, who appear indignant 

 at this assumed similarity as derogatory to the lords of the 

 creation, or of going into the contrary extreme with those who 

 overrate the resemblance and are apt k) theorise upon it, the 

 fact alluded to cannot be denied. Nor is it in his physiognomy 

 alone that this extraordinary animal bears so much resemblance 

 to the human being; his head approaches nearer that of man 

 in shape and volume of brain (judging from the exterior) than 

 the cranium of any other animal. The frontal and parietal 

 regions particularly evince a developement almost equal to that 

 of some negroes I have seen. Of course, I speak discursively 

 and from recollection. I may also be allowed to mention, that 

 in the skulls of some natives of New Holland which I have 

 seen, the diameter between the temples was less than in the 

 head of the orang-outang. It may be also mentioned, that 

 M. Tiedemann, in his examination of the orang-outang's brain, 

 has enumerated a considerable number of points in which it 

 differs from that of the other species of apes ; and it is remark- 

 able, that in every one of these it approaches to the human 

 brain. On the other hand, great points of difference between 

 the orang and human brain are specified ; but it ought to be 

 borne in mind that some contend that no orang above three years 



* Mr Swinton's orang is the only one which I have observed to be pos- 

 sessed of the nail on the great toe ; but this is the only particular in which 

 he differs in the slightest degree from the others which I have seen. — Note 

 by Mr M. — The great Sumatra orang-outang described by Dr Abel in 

 the 15th vol. As. JR.es. has nails on the great toes. — J. G. 



