THE 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 



AUGUST 179S. 



Description of the large Orang Outarg of Borneo. By 

 F. B. FON WURMB. From the Tran factions of the Ba- 

 tavian Society in the Ifland of Java. 



M 



ANKIND have beftowed every poffiWe pains to trace 

 out the progrefs of nature, and to difcover thofe threads 

 by which her works are connected ; and their exertions, in- 

 deed, have not always been fruitlefs. Thus, for example, 

 the difcovery of animal plants pointed out the tranfition 

 from the vegetable to the animal kingdom. The bat and 

 the flying fquirrel difplayed the connection between qua- 

 drupeds and birds ; and the feal and the fea-cow that of 

 quadrupeds with fifties. 



The greateft vacuity which appears to us in the plan of 

 nature is, certainly, that obferved between man, a being: 

 endowed with reafon, and the irrational animals. Natural- 

 ifts hitherto have endeavoured, but in vain, by the molt ac- 

 curate refearches to acquire fome fatisfaction on this p >[nr ; 

 and we may almoft confider it as certain that the links of 

 the great chain, here wanting, are not to be found in the 

 world which we at prefent inhabit. Were nothing more 

 required but Gmilarity of bodily conformation, this tranfi- 



Vw » I. CL don. 



