220 ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



hang down, enabling him to assist himself with his knuckles ; 

 or what is more usual, he keeps his arms uplifted in nearly 

 an erect position, with the hands pendent ready to seize 

 a rope, and climb up on the approach of danger or on the 

 obtrusion of strangers. He walks rather quick in the erect 

 posture, but with a waddling gait, and is soon run down if, 

 whilst pursued, he has no opportunity of escaping by climb- 

 ing. . . . When he walks in the erect posture he turns 

 the leg and foot outwards, which occasions him to have a 

 waddling gait and to seem bow-legged." 



Dr. Burrough states of another Gibbon, the Horlack or 

 Hooluk : 



" They walk erect ; and when placed on the floor, or 

 in an open field, balance themselves very prettily, by 

 raising their hands over their head and slightly bending 

 the arm at the wrist and elbow, and then run tolerably 

 fast, rocking from side to side ; and, if urged to greater 

 speed, they let fall their hands to the ground, and assist 

 themselves forward, rather jumping than running, still 

 keeping the body, however, nearly erect." 



Somewhat different evidence, however, is given by Dr. 

 Winslow Lewis : * 



" Their only manner of walking was on their posterior 

 or inferior extremities, the others being raised upwards 

 to preserve their equilibrium, as rope-dancers are assisted 

 by long poles at fairs. Their progression was not by 

 placing one foot before the other, but by simultaneously 

 using both, as in jumping." Dr. Salomon Mtiller also 

 states that the Gibbons progress upon the ground by a 

 short series of tottering jumps, effected only by the hind 

 limbs, the body being held altogether upright. 



But Mr. Martin (1. c. p. 418), who also speaks from direct 

 observation, says of the Gibbons generally : 



" Pre-eminently qualified for arboreal habits, and display- 

 ing among the branches amazing activity, the Gibbons are 

 not so awkward or embarrassed on a level surface as might 

 be imagined. They walk erect, with a waddling or unsteady 

 gait, but at a quick pace ; the equilibrium of the body re- 

 quiring to be kept up, either by touching the ground with 

 the knuckles, first on one side then on the other, or by uplift- 

 ing the arms so as to poise it. As with the Chimpanzee, the 

 whole of the narrow, long sole of the foot is placed upon the 



* Boston Journal of Natural History, vol. i., 1834. 



