30 



THE GIBBONS. 



intervals. This sound seemed to be used for the purpose of expressing irritation. Anger was 

 expressed by the shrieking " Ra ! ra ! " and pleasure by a kind of mixture between a squeak 



and a chirp. 



For the account of this animal we are indebted to Mr. Bennett, who has related many 

 other traits indicative of its character. Sir S. Raffles possessed several specimens of this ape, 

 and describes them as being social in their manners, and of an intelligent nature. Although 

 they were powerful animals, they were gentle, and showed themselves to be pleased with the 

 society ^bf those persons to whom they were attached. 



ALTHOUGH in their physical charac- 

 ters the GIBBONS bear much resemblance 

 to the apes which have already been de- 

 scribed, yet there are some peculiarities 

 in form and anatomy which show them 

 to be a link of transition between the 

 great apes, and the lesser monkeys and 

 baboons. 



They possess, although in a small 

 degree, those singular callosities on the 

 hinder quarters which are so conspicuous 

 in the baboon family, and assume such 



strange tints. The gorilla, chimpanzee, and the orangs, are entirely destitute of these 

 peculiarities, 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 ol itie Gibbons are of enormous length, and endowed with 



THE LAB GIBBON. Hylobates lar. 



