THE GIBBOXS. 269 



Long-armed Apes. All the details of the structure of these 

 animals point them out as being specially designed for the wide- 

 spreading forests of tropic regions, in which alone they are 

 found, and where they display the most astonishing activity. 

 They spend their time almost wholly upon trees, and sweep from 

 branch to branch with arrow-like velocity, sometimes clearing 

 spaces of from thirty to forty feet at a single swing. Suspending 

 themselves by their long arms, they launch their bodies forward, 

 aiming at some distant branch, which they seize with mar- 

 vellous precision, and again sweep onwards without any pause, 

 and with the slightest perceptible effort. The Gibbons are dis- 

 tributed through Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malacca, and Siam, 

 associating in herds or troops, occasionally of as many as a 

 hundred or a hundred and fifty individuals ; some species fre- 

 quenting the mountain ranges covered by forests of fig-trees, 

 others keeping to the forests of the plains. 



There are several species of these animals, all of which are 

 more or less timid and gentle, and easily domesticated, though 

 they are by no means destitute of courage when at large in 

 their own woods. One of the most characteristic of the tribe is 

 the Agile Gibbon (Hylobates agilis), a native of Sumatra, 

 where it is termed the Wiigka-puti, from a loud and not un- 

 musical whooping call-note which it utters in the early morning 

 in its native forests. The activity of this Gibbon, and the 

 velocity of its movements, are traly wonderful. It escapes from 

 pursuit almost like a bird on the wing ; rushing on the slightest 

 alarm to the top of a tree, and then seizing some flexible 

 branch, launching itself forward from tree to tree with a precision 

 and rapidity that speedily carries it to a safe distance. 



The largest of the Gibbons is the Siamang, Ilyldbates syndac- 

 tylus, a bold and powerful animal, confined exclusively to Suma- 

 tra, in the forests of which it abounds, making their leafy soli- 

 tudes resound with its loud and discordant cries. It is much 

 less active in its habits than most of the Gibbons, but fully as 

 gentle and affectionate in a state of captivity. It is said that the 

 female Siamang carries its young to the water, and washes their 

 faces with as much care and attention as a human parent ; and 

 further, that the baby-apes are as little fond of the operation, and 

 cry and squeal under its infliction as vigorously, as baby-men. 



Dr. G. Bennett has given an extremely interesting account of 



