i THE GIBBONS. 35 



feet longer than the hands, a black face, and dark- 

 grey or dun hair. 



For the purpose which I have at present in 

 view, it is unnecessary that I should enter into any 

 further minutiae respecting the distinctive char- 

 acters of the genera and species into which these 

 man-like Apes are divided by naturalists. Suf- 

 fice it to say, that the Orangs and the Gibbons con- 

 stitute the distinct genera, Simla and Hylobates; 

 while the Chimpanzees and Gorillas are by some 

 regarded simply as distinct species of one genus, 

 Troglodytes; by others as distinct genera — Trog- 

 lodytes being reserved for the Chimpanzees, and 

 Gorilla for the Enge-ena or Pongo. 



Sound knowledge respecting the habits and 

 mode of life of the man-like Apes has been even 

 more difficult of attainment than correct informa- 

 tion regarding their structure. 



Once in a generation, a Wallace may be found 

 physically, mentally, and morally qualified to 

 wander unscathed through the tropical wilds of 

 America and of Asia; to form magnificent collec- 

 tions as he wanders; and withal to think out saga- 

 ciously the conclusions suggested by his collections: 

 but, to the ordinary explorer or collector, the dense 

 forests of equatorial Asia and Africa, which con- 

 stitute the favourite habitation of the Orang, the 

 Chimpanzee, and the Gorilla, present difficulties 

 of no ordinary magnitude; and the man who risks 



