ON NATURAL HISTORY. 173 



for the death of a beloved child. She then seized her dying 

 offspring, and Major S., from her appearance, imagined she 

 intended to wreak a summary vengeance on him. However, she 

 pressed the little creature to her breast, and uttering the most 

 dismal and piercing lamentations, she retraced her steps to the 

 woods. For many months afterwards, so deep an impression 

 did the scene make on his feelings, that the dreadful shrieks she 

 sent forth, he averred, were continually ringing in his ears. 



If implicit credit may be given to Goldsmith*'^ (I wish it were 

 at all times practicable, as there can hardly be a more engaging 

 writer), the Pongo described by Battel, assimilates so closely with 

 humanity, that it is difficult to divide the link. "The ourang- 

 outang," says Goldsmith, " builds sheds, defends itself with clubs, 

 and walks erect';" but he beautifully adds, "itisin vaintheourang- 

 outang resembles man in form, or imitates many of his actions ; he 

 still continues a miserable wretched creature, pent up in the most 

 gloomy part of the forest." These animals have, however, been 

 reclaimed, and taught to sit at table and go through the cus- 

 tomary forms, performing various offices with propriety, but have 

 not evinced the slightest reasoning faculty, although possessed 

 of great imitative powers. The ancients have produced many 

 amusing fables on the subject of these wild men of the woods, 

 under the name of the Troglodytes ;f perhaps laying a founda- 

 tion for the singular traditions of Pagan philosophy, and of 

 peopling the woods and groves with the sylvan deities. The 

 largest species of ourang-outang is found in Borneo, parts of 

 India, and the interior of Africa. Pyrard makes mention t that 

 there is a species of ape called bans, which, if properly instructed, 

 make useful domestics, and are applied to that purpose at Sierra 

 Leone, where they pound the corn and draw the water. 



The next link in progression to be considered are the inter- 

 mediate steps between birds and quadrupeds. These are extremely 

 clear, particularly as exhibited by the bat and flying squirrel. 

 The former, gifted with wings, emulates the nocturnal birds,§ 

 feeding on insects, principally a small beetfe, commonly called 

 the storm-beetle, and gnats; his rapid and quivering flight 

 enables him to seize these insects on the wing at nightfall, many 

 of the more curious moths, and the delicately beautiful white- 

 feathered moth. I once had a long-eared bat in confinement, 

 which became very tame, and would receive its food from the 

 hand. The habits of this little creature were interesting: no 

 sooner did twilight approach, than he gradually aroused from 

 his slumbers, and then slowly unfolding each wing, which he 



* Dr. Johnson observed that " Goldsmith scarcely knew a pig from a cow :" he 

 compiled, however, a very interesting work ! 



t Vide Goldsmith's Animated Nature. 



X Vide Goldsmith's Animated Nature. 



§ Pliny, Aldrovandus, and Gesner, placed bats in the *' rank with birds."— See 

 Goldsmith. They were removed into the order of primates by Linnaeus. 



