16 



THE AGILE GIBBON. 



by means of a female specimen, which was captured and brought safely 

 to London, where it lived for some time. 



In their native woods these animals are most interesting to the ob- 

 server, if he is only fortunate enough to get near them without being 

 seen by the vigilant creatures. A good telescope affords an excellent 

 mode of watching the customs of animals that are too timid to permit 

 a human being to come near their haunts. 



When startled, the Agile Gibbon flits at once to the top of the tree, 



Agile Gibbon [Hylohates agilis). 



and then, seizing the branch that seems best adapted to its purpose, \ 

 swings itself once or twice to gain an impetus, and launches itself through 

 the air like a stone from a sling, gaining its force very much on the same 

 principle. Seizing another branch, toward which it had aimed itself, and 

 which it reaches with unerring certainty, the creature repeats the pro- 

 cess, and flings itself with ease through distances of thirty or forty feet, 

 flying along as if by magic. Those who have seen it urging its flight 

 over the trees have compared its actions and appearance to those of a 



