H.YLOBATES. 7 



almost certainly of young birds, if not of any birds they can cap- 

 ture. Anderson found that small birds were killed and devoured 

 by Hoolocks in confinement with a method and eagerness that 

 showed the prey to be the natural food of the Apes*. The Hoolock 

 drinks with its lips, putting its head down to the water as 

 monkeys do. 



All species of Hylobates have a powerful voice, and the common 

 name of the present form is taken from its peculiar double call, 

 which is repeated several times. At a distance, the sound much 

 resembles a human voice ; it is a peculiar wailing note, audible 

 from afar, and in the countries inhabited by these animals is one 

 of the most familiar forest sounds. The calls commence at day- 

 break, and are continued till 9 or 10 A.M., several of the flock join- 

 ing in the cry, like hounds giving tongue. After 9 or 10 o'clock in 

 the morning the animals feed or rest, and remain silent through- 

 out the middle of the day, but recommence calling towards evening, 

 though to a less extent than in the earlier part of the day. 



When captured young the Hoolock is easily tamed, and is, as a 

 general rule, very gentle, docile, and good-tempered, exceedingly 

 intelligent, and very cleanly in its habits. Some instances of 

 savageness on the part of male animals have, however, been 

 noticed. All the Gibbons are very delicate, and rarely live long in 

 captivity. 



But a single young is born at a time. Neither the period of 

 gestation nor the age at which these animals become adult appears 

 to have been ascertained. 



2. Hylobates lar. The white-handed Gibbon. 



Homo lar, L. Mantissa, App. p. 521 (1771). 



Hylobates lar, Illiger, Prod. p. 68 (1811); Elyth, Cat. p. 5; id. 

 Mam. Birds Surma, p. 1 ; Tickell, J. A. S. B. xxxiii, p. 196 ; Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1870, pi. v, f. 1 ; Anderson, An. Zool. Res. p. 5 ; id. Cat. 



p. 28. 



Myouk-lwai-gyau, Burmese ; Uhgka etam, Malay. 



The skull is shorter in proportion to its length than that of H. 

 hoolock. The orbital ridges in H. lar are more prominent, the 

 muzzle shorter, the nasal orifice less elongated, the teeth smaller, 

 and the palate shorter. 



Colour. Black to fulvous or yellowish white, the back sometimes 

 lighter than the lower parts, occasionally much variegated. Hands 

 and feet always pale-coloured, usually white or yellowish white 

 above. There " is generally around the nude face a white ring of 

 hair, comprising frontal band, whiskers, and beard ; but the deve- 

 lopment of the ring varies, and in some specimens it is almost 



* The dexterity of an allied species, H. agilis, in capturing birds on the wing 

 bad previously been observed (Martin, 'Man and Monkeys,' p. 430). 



