THE LAR GIBBON. 33 
tints. The gorilla, chimpansee, and the orangs, are entirely destitute of these pecu- 
lharities, but ‘the Gibbons are found to possess them, although the callosities are very 
small, and hidden by the fur from a casual view. 
As in the great apes, the arms of the Gibbons are of enormous leneth, and endowed 
with exceeding power of muscle, though the strength which resides in these largely 
developed limbs is of a different character. 
If the gigantic and powerful gorilla be compared to Hercules, then the light and 
active Gibbons may find their type in Mercury, the swift aerial messenger of the Olym- 
pian deities. The ponderous weight of the larger apes binds them to earth ; and even the 
orangs, which are more active than the chimpansee, are no very great adepts at leaping 
through ereat intervals of space. But the Gibbons seem to pass nearly as much time 
in the air as on the branches, shooting from one resting-place to another, with such 
rapid movements, that the eye can hardly follow their course—the very swallows of the 
monkey race. 
THE LAR GIBBON.—AHylébates Lar. 
From their wonderful agility in flinging themselves from branch to branch, or from 
tree to tree, naturalists have given to these animals the generic name of hylobates, 
signifying, “tree traverser.” And carrying out the mythological comparison which has 
just been mentioned, the name Lar has been attributed to this species. 
According to the legends of antiquity, it appears that a very beautiful and very 
loquacious Naiad, named Lara, indiscreetly acquainted Juno with one of the many 
causes for jealousy for which her husband gave occasion. Jupiter, being greatly incensed 
at her conduct, deprived her of the offending tongue, and sent her off to Hades under 
the charge of Mercury. That faithless messenger, however, found that pity melted 
the heart to love, and instead of obeying the order of his master, became enamoured 
of the beautiful criminal, saved her from the punishment to which she had been 
destined, and married her instead of delivering her to Pluto. 
From this union sprang the Lares, twin demigods, who took on themselves the 
guardianship of domestic hearths, and the peace of families. The Romans symbolised 
these protecting deities under the form of monkeys clothed with the skins of dogs, and 
placed their images around the hearths which they protected, and behind the doors which 
they guarded from evil. 
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