igO Description of an Ourang Outattg, 



the ground ; nevertheless il sometimes rested on the whole 

 of the foot, but in this case it kept the two last phalanges 

 bent inwards, except the great toe, which was stretched out. 

 When resting, it sate on its buttocks with its legs folded 

 under it in the manner of the inhabitants of the East. It 

 lay indiscriminately on its back or on its side, drawing up 

 its legs and crossing its hands over its breast; and it was 

 fond of being covered, for it drew over it all the clothes it 

 could reach. 



This animal used its hands in all the essential niotions 

 in which men employ theirs; and it is evident that it only 

 requires experience to enable it to use them on almost every 

 occasion. It generally carried its food to its month with 

 its fingers; but sometimes also it seized it with its long 

 lips; and it was by suction that it drank, like all other ani- 

 mals which have lips capable of being lengthened. It made 

 use of its sense of smelling in order to decide upon the na- 

 ture of the aliments which were presented to it and which 

 it was not accpialnted with, and it seemed to consult this 

 sense with great assiduity. It ate almost indiscriminately, 

 fruits, pulse, eggs, milk, and animal food: bread, coffee, 

 and oranges were its most lavouritc aliments; and it once 

 emptied an ink-bottle which came in its way without being 

 incom.modc'd. It had no particular times for going to 

 xneals, and ate at all seasons like an infant. Its sight and 

 hearincr were good. Music made no impression upon it. 

 The m"iamilferas are not formed l)y nature to be sensible to 

 its charms, none of their wants seem to require It, and even 

 with mankind it is an artificial want; on savages it has no 

 other effect than a noise would have. 



When defendlns; itself, our ourang outang bit and struck 

 with its hands; but it was only against children that it 

 showed any roguery, and it was always caused by impa- 

 tience rather than by anger. In general it was gentle and 

 affectionate, and seemed to delight in society. It was fond 

 of being caressed, gave real kisses, and seemed to experience 

 a great deal of pleasure in sucking the fingers of those who 

 approached it; but it did not suck its own fingers. Its cry 

 was guttural and sharp, but it was only heard when it 

 eagerly wanted any thing. All its signs were then very 

 expressive : it darted its head forward in order to show its 

 disapprobation, pouted when it was not obeyed, and when 

 anory it cried very loudly, rolling itself on the ground. On 

 these occasions its neck was prodigiously swelled. 



By the above description it will be seen that the ourang 

 av^lang in question had attained a size sufficiently great for 



its 



