144 Zoological Collection*. 



to constitute a new genus, which, from its habit, he has named Thamnas- 

 teria. The generic characters are : Polyparium petrosum, raraosum ; su- 

 perficies ramorum stellis lamellosis, sessilibus, obtecta ; lamellis linearibus, 

 rotundatis. It consists of a considerable bundle of branchy stems, from ten 

 to fifteen lines in diameter, simply contiguous, and presenting to view from 

 one end to the other regular series of rounded dilatations and circular con- 

 tractions. The branches are terminated in rounded points of unequal 

 heights, and their entire surface is covered with lamellar, rounded, con- 

 tiguous and almost superficial stellae. The very perfect state of so prodi- 

 gious a fossil, would indicate that it has not undergone any displacement, 

 but that it has been enveloped in the limestone that surrounds it, in the 

 place of its growth. — Mini, de la Soc. d'Hixt. Nat. torn. i. 



4. Enormous Orang-Outang found in Sumatra* 

 We have been favoured by a correspondent in India with the following 

 particulars respecting this animal : — " The greatest curiosity at present is 

 the skin and the lower part of the face of an enormous monkey, stated to 

 have been seven feet high. Dr Abel is now drawing up an account of it 

 for the Asiatic Society. I endeavoured to obtain some particulars from 

 the officer of the ship in which the skin was brought here, but I could 

 not learn more than what has appeared in the public papers. The fol- 

 lowing is an extract of a letter from Mr Burton of Tappanooly, in Su- 

 matra, to Mr H. Wood of Eencoolen : — ' I must not omit to mention, that 

 Messrs Craygman and Fish, of the Mary Anne Sophia, have lately killed, 

 near Taruman, an immense orang-outang, measuring in height six feet ; 

 its foot is 14^ inches in length. I have seen its skin, which is covered with 

 bright shining brown hair, mostly resembling that of a horse's mane, about 

 a foot long. Its face was quite human, with a long beard, beautifully 

 curled. You may imagine the size and power of the animal, when I tell 

 you, that I measured one of its eye-teeth, and found it three inches and a 

 fourth in length, and that it lived many hours after five balls were lodged 

 in its body, and a spear run through it. The body was well proportioned* 

 with no protuberance of the stomach.* 



" In this account, it is stated to be six feet high only. Mr Fish who 

 killed it, described it as being much taller than himself, and as bav- 

 in" mustachios as well as a beard. The head was given to the cook of the 

 ship to boil and clean off the flesh ; but, by some mismanagement, the 

 upper part was spoilt, and the lower jaw only preserved. The hands and 

 feet, however, have been brought here — preserved in spirits ; and I hope 

 Dr Abel will give a full account of what remains of this extraordinary 

 animal. The place where it was killed lies between Tappanooly and 

 Acheen, on the north-west coast of Sumatra." — Letter to the Editor from a 

 Friend in Calcutta. 



* " The specimens of this animal which have been brought into Europe, were 

 mostly young individuals, seldom exceeding three feet in height ; but it is alleged", 

 that when they have attained to maturity, they equal or even surpass man, both in 

 stature and strength." — Edinburgh Encijclopa-dia, Art. Mazology, vol. xiii. p. 

 398. 



