SILVERY GIBBON. 



tlie crciiture repeats the process, and flings itself with case throiigli distances 

 of thirty or forty feet, flying along as if by magic. Tliose Avho have seen it 

 urging its flight over the trees, have compared its actions and appearance to 

 those of a bird. Indeed, these creatures seem to pass a life that is more aerial 

 than that of many birds, putting out of question the heavy earth-walking birds 

 which have not the power to raise themselves from the ground, even if they had 

 the will. 



One of these interesting creatures was brought to England, and being furnished 

 with a very roomy apartment and carefully treated, lived for a considerable period. 



A large apartment was prepared for it, and branches set up at some distance 

 from each other, so as to give it as nnich room as possible for its wonderful 

 evolutions. Eighteen feet appears to have been the farthest distance between the 

 branches, and this space was cleared with consununatc ease, as would probably be 

 the case wuth an animal which was accustomed to launch itself through a space 

 nearly double the eighteen feet. The animal, however, was hindered by many 

 drawbacks. Putting aside the disadvantages of a strange climate and the want 

 of the usual food, she had been subjected to the inconvenience of a long sea 

 voyage, had suffered from confinement and the deprivation of her natural atmo- 

 sphere. Even with all these drawbacks, the Gibbon exhibited such singular feats 

 of agility, that the spectators were lost in astonishment. 



She was accustomed to fling herself, without the least warning or apparent 

 preparation, from the branch on which she might be sitting, towards another 

 branch, which she invariably succeeded in catching with her outstretched hand. 

 From branch to branch the Gibbon would continue her flight, for so it might be 

 aptly temied, without cessation, until checked. The most curious part of the 

 performance was, that she did not seem to require any fmlher impulse after her 

 first swing, but was content just to touch the branches as she passed from one to 

 the other. So easy was this exercise, and of such quick eye and hand was the 

 animal possessed, that the spectators were accustomed to amuse themselves by 

 throwing fniits or other objects in the air, which she would adroitly catch as she 

 passed along, without thinking it needful to stop for that puqiose. 



Swift as was its flight, the equilibric powers of the animal were so perfect, that 

 even in its most rapid course it could arrest itself in a moment, catching a branch 

 with the hands, and then suddenly drawing up the hinder feet to the same level. 

 Tlie firm grasp of the hinder feet then came into play, and the creature sat on the 

 branch as quietly as if it had never stirred. 



The voice of this ape is of a very peculiar character, and its powers arc put forth 

 with the greatest intensity while the animal is performing its wonderful feats of 

 agility. The time of day seems to have some influence upon the creature and its 



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