154 Lloyd's natural history. 



launch is acquired ; the branch then aimed at is attained by 

 the right hand again, and quitted instantaneously, and so on, 

 in alternate succession. In this manner spaces of twelve and 

 eighteen feet are cleared with the greatest ease, and uninter- 

 ruptedly for hours together, without the slightest appearance 

 of fatigue being manifested; and it is evident that if more 

 space could be allowed, distances very greatly exceeding 

 eighteen feet would be as easily cleared. . . . Sometimes 

 on seizing a branch in her progress, she will throw herself, 

 by one arm only, completely round it, making a revolution 

 with such rapidity as almost to deceive the eye, and continue 

 her progress with undiminished velocity. It is singular to 

 observe how suddenly this Gibbon can stop, when the impetus 

 given by the rapidity and distance of her swinging leaps would 

 seem to require a gradual abatement of her movements. In 

 the very midst of her flight a branch is seized, the body raised, 

 and she is seen, as if by magic, quietly seated on it, grasping 

 it with her feet. ... A hve bird was let loose in her 

 apartment; she marked its flight, made a long swing to a 

 distant branch, caught the bird with one hand in her passage, 

 and attained the branch with her other hand; her aim, both at 

 the bird and the branch, being as successful as if one object 

 only had engaged her attention. It may be added, that she 

 instantly bit off the head of the bird, picked its feathers, and 

 then threw it down, without attempting to eat it." 



II. THE WAU-WAU GIBBON. HYLOBATES LEUCISCUS. 



A. Javan Race {H. leiccisacs). 



Simla ieucisca, Schreber, Saugeth. i., pi. iii.b. (1775). 

 Pithecus kiiciscus, Geoiifr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 89 (181 2). 



