S2 Dr Abel 07i the capture of a Colossal Orang Outang^ 



the angles of the mouth, in the form of mustachios, whence de- 

 scending, it mixes with that of the chin, the whole having at 

 present a very wavy aspect. The face of the animal is much 

 wrinkled. 



Hands. — The palms of the hands are very long, are quite 

 naked from the wrists, and are of the colour of the face. Their 

 backs, to the last joint of the fingers, are covered with hair, 

 which inclines a little backwards towards the wrists, and then 

 turns directly upwards. All the fingers have nails, which are 

 * strong, convex, and of a black colour ; the thumb reaches to the 

 first joint of the fore-finger. ' 



Feet. — The feet are covered on the back with long brown 

 hair to the last joint of the toes : the great toe is set on nearly 

 at right angles to the foot, and is relatively very short. The 

 original colour of the palms of the hands and the soles of the 

 feet is somewhat uncertain, in consequence of the effect of the 

 spirit in which they have been preserved. 



Skin. — The skin itself is of a dark leaden colour. The hair 

 is of a brownish red, but when observed at some distance, has 

 a dull, and in some places an almost black appearance ; but in 

 a strong light it is of a light red. It is in all parts very long ; 

 on the fore-arm it is directed upwards ; on the upper arm its 

 general direction is downwards, but from its length it hangs 

 shaggy below the arm ; from the shoulders it hangs in large 

 and long massy tufts, which, in continuation with the long hair 

 on the back, seem to form one long mass to the very centre of 

 the body. About the flanks the hair is equally long, and in 

 the living animal must have descended below the thighs and 

 . nates. On the limits, however, of the lateral termination of the 

 skin which must have covered the chest and belly, it is scanty, 

 and gives the impression that these parts must have been com- 

 paratively "bare. Round the upper part of the back it is also 

 much thinner than elsewhere, and small tufts at the junction of 

 the skin with the neck are curled abruptly upwards, correspond- 

 ing with the direction of the hair at the back of the head. 



In the dimensions which I am about to give of the skin, I 

 have stated that it measures from one extremity of the arm to 

 another five feet eight inches; to this is to be added fifteen 



