10 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



ally a tree animal ; and, although very slow in its movements compared 

 to the Chimpanzee, and not given to jumping, gets along at such a 

 pace by swinging itself with its long powerful arms, that it is often 

 all a man can do to follow it on the ground. Like the Chimpanzee, it 

 builds a platform nest of boughs to rest and sleep in, constructing a 

 fresh one every two or three nights. 



Its food consists of wild fruits, leaves, and so forth, and it is especi- 

 ally fond of the large spiny fruit of the Durian (Durio zibethimis), that 

 East Indian fruit which has long been celebrated for the unequalled 

 delightfulness of its flavour and the singular and penetrating vileness of 

 its smell. In search of this it will at times approach human habitations, 

 but usually lives far away from these, and often in flooded forests, 

 which is the more remarkable, as it is quite unable to swim at least 

 this was the case with a specimen observed by Mr. W. Hornaday. 



In its native haunts it has but few enemies; it is said to be occa- 

 sionally attacked by the Crocodile or the Python, but to be able to give 

 a good account of itself with either of them, jumping on the. back of 

 the former and wrenching its jaws asunder, and disabling the great snake 

 with its powerful bite. 



Against man it also makes a vigorous defence, seizing its adversary 

 and biting him severely ; cases have been known in which the victim 

 has escaped with the loss of the ends of his fingers, which were bitten 

 off by the infuriated ape. In this manner also they attack each other, 

 and specimens with mutilated fingers are frequently met with. 



The Orang, although not a ferocious animal, is less sociable than 

 the Gorilla and Chimpanzee, being usually found alone in the case of 

 the male, though a female is commonly found accompanied by her 

 young a baby in arms, and an elder one which is more or less inde- 

 pendent. The infant Orang clings tightly to its mother's long hair, 

 as usual in creatures of this kind. I have more than once seen quite 

 small specimens which had been imported to Calcutta, and these little 

 things clung gladly to one ; it was pitiful to hear them cry when they 

 were taken away. 



In the ordinary way the Orang is a rather silent animal, its whole 



