THE ORANG-OUTAN. 25 



the weapons -with which it has been endowed. The teeth of an adult Orang are truly formid- 

 able weapons, and it is said that even the leopard cares not to prove their power. So strong 

 are even the front teeth, that they are capable of gnawing through and tearing away the dense 

 fibrous covering in which the cocoa-nut is enveloped, and possibly can cut through the hard 

 shell itself. Besides these teeth, the Orang is furnished with enormous canines, or tusks, the 

 object of which is probably to act as offensive weapons ; for the Orang is a vegetable-feeding 

 animal, and the canine teeth can hardly be given merely for the purpose of cutting vegetable 

 food. 



Although the hind limbs are not so largely developed as the arms, yet they possess great 

 power, and are perfectly adapted to the purpose which they serve. For terrestrial locomotion 

 they are anything but fitted, as the animal is unable to plant the sole, or rather the palm, flat 

 upon the ground, and rests upon the outside edges of the feet. 



The walk of the Orang-outan is little better than an awkward hobble, and fhe creature 

 shuffles along uneasily by help of its arms. The hands are placed on the ground, and are 

 used as crutches in aid of the feet, which are often raised entirely from the ground, and the 

 body swung through the arms. Sometimes it bends considerably backwards, and throwing its 

 long arms over its head, preserves its equilibrium by their means. 



This attitude is caused by the peculiar structure of the hind limbs, which, besides their 

 comparative shortness, are only loosely jointed to the hip-bones. The Orang-outan is destitute 

 of the short, but very strong ligament, that binds the thigh-bone to the hip-joint, and which is 

 called the ligamentum leres. This ligament is very powerful in man, and plays an important 

 part in giving him that steady tread, which alone is sufficient to distinguish the human species 

 from the apes. 



But the Orang-outan is intended for an arboreal life, and requires limbs that can adapt 

 themselves to the boughs. Therefore the legs are so twisted inwards, that the feet can grasp 

 the branches freely, and hold the body in its position, while the long arms are stretched out 

 to take a fresh hold. 



Among the trees the Orang-outan is in its element, and traverses the boughs with an ease 

 and freedom that contrasts strongly with its awkward movements when on the ground. It has 

 a curious habit of making for itself a temporary resting-place, by weaving together the 

 branches so as to make a rude platform or scaffold on which it reposes. The powerful limbs 

 of the animal enable it to execute this task in a very short time. Rajah Brooke of Sarawak 

 narrates an interesting tale of a female Orang-outan, which when severely wounded ceased her 

 attempts to escape, and weaving together a branch-platform, seated herself upon it, and 

 quietly awaited her end. The poor animal received several more shots before she expired, and 

 as she fell dead upon her extemporary edifice, the hunters were put to some trouble before 

 they could dislodge the dead body. The whole process of weaving the branches and seating 

 herself did not occupy more than a minute. 



When the hunters desire to capture an adult Orang-outan, they hem him in by felling the 

 trees around that on which he is seated, and so deprive him of the means of escape. Having 

 thus cut off his retreat, they apply the axe to the tree of refuge, and endeavor to secure the 

 ape before he has recovered from the shock of the fall. 



The adult male animal is singularly hideous in aspect, owing much of its repulsiveness to 

 the great projection of the jaws and the callosities that appear on the cheeks. As is the case 

 with all the larger apes, it becomes sullen and ferocious as it approaches its adult state, 

 although in the earlier years of its life it is docile, quiet, and even affectionate. Several young 

 specimens have been brought to Europe, and were quite interesting animals, having many 

 curious tricks, and exhibiting marks of strong affection to any one who treated them kindly. 

 One of these animals learned to take its meals in a civilized manner, using a spoon, or a cup 

 and saucer, with perfect propriety. 



When brought to colder climates than that of its native land, the animal covets warmth, 

 and is fond of wrapping itself in any woollen clothes or blankets that it can obtain. On board 

 ship it has been known to rob the sailors or passengers of their bedding, and to resist with 

 much energy any attempt to recover the stolen property. 



