of the Malmjan Peninsula, 397 



Further, the Malays assert, although I am not prepared to 

 state with what truth, that there is seldom more than one Pongo 

 to be found amongst a troop of Chimpanses, over whom it rules 

 with despotic authority, and that consequently it is very difficult 

 to get near enough to shoot one, as the alarm is generally given 

 by some of its subjects on the approach of the sportsman. If 

 this exercise of authority have any foundation in fact, it tends to 

 confirm the opinion of the animal being in full vigour. 



I would therefore subdivide this tribe into the two following, 

 viz. : 



1st. Pithecus satf/7'us,J)esm.. (synonym, Simia satyrus, 2. Linn.) 

 The great Orang Utan. 



3nd. PongoWurmbiiy'Desm. (synonym, Simia satyrus ,3. Linn.) 

 The lesser Orang Utan or Pongo. 



Pithecus lar, Desm. (syn. Simia lar, Linn.) The Gibbon, or 

 Long-armed Ape. The fur of this species is black, and the face 

 surrounded with a ruff of gray hairs, causing the countenance 

 to assume the appearance of extreme age and decrepitude. When 

 the animal is erect the arms nearly touch the ground. Height 

 about sixteen inches. Callosities on the buttocks. 



This animal is extremely common in the forests of the Malayan 

 peninsula, which re-echo with their plaintive whooping, as the 

 boughs bend under the successive springs of the retreating troops 

 scared by the unwonted sound of the traveller's footsteps. In 

 confinement it is mild and melancholy, deprecating ill-treatment 

 in a most beseeching manner, but never attempting to revenge it. 



A smaller variety of the Gibbon is also to be met with in Ma- 

 lacca, termed by Desmarest Pithecus variegatus^ corresponding 

 with the Simia lar var. of Linn. This is a third less than the 

 one just described, and its fur is variegated with gray-brown and 

 dark gray. 



P. syndactyluSf Desm. (syn. Simia syndactyla^ Raffles. Sia- 

 mang, Malayese). The Siamang. The fur is very woolly, and 

 of a deep black colour. Throat naked. The thumb and fore- 

 finger of the posterior hand united at the second joint, whence 

 its name. 



This species of Gibbon is found in large troops, which are 

 each governed by a chief. In the cool of the morning and even- 

 ing they utter hideous outcries, but are perfectly silent during 

 the heat of the day. They drink by immersing the hand in 

 watei', and then sucking the moisture from their fingers. They 

 are easily tamed, but their timidity can never be wholly over- 

 come, even by the most continued kind treatment. 



P. agilis, Desm. (syn. Hylohates agilis, E. Cuvier). The Active 

 Gibbon. Pur brown, back yellow, and forehead extremely low ; 

 face of the male bluish black, of the female brown. 



