FAMILY SIMIAD.E. ORANG OUTAN. 157 



height of a well- developed individual seems to be above four 

 feet ; but the young specimens that have been exhibited in this 

 country have not much exceeded half that stature. The 

 Orangs, of which two, perhaps three, species exist, are natives 

 of Borneo and Sumatra. They exceed the Chimpanzee in height, 

 and are said even to surpass the ordinary stature of Man ; but 

 they depart much more widely from his general conformation, 

 being evidently adapted for arboreal rather than terrestrial 

 habits, that is, for living amongst trees, rather than for resi- 

 ding on the ground. When we look at the position of the legs, 

 we observe that, instead of being in the same straight line as 

 the thighs, they are bowed outwards at the knees, so that the 

 soles are turned inwards and opposed to one another. This 

 accounts for the great difficulty which the Orang Outan has 

 been observed to experience, in preserving the upright posture, 

 or walking upon the surface of the earth ; as well as for the 

 amazing facility, with which it has been observed to climb 

 trees, and make its way through forests. In these last actions, 

 it is greatly assisted by the anterior members, the great length 

 of which enables them to bear a part in the support of the body, 

 when it is but slightly thrown forwards. The Orangs which 

 have been captured when young, and put under the training of 

 Man, show great docility, gentleness, and intellectual capacity ; 

 but in no instance have their lives been prolonged through their 

 second dentition, at which period a great change seems to take 

 place in their characters. They then display great unsociability 

 and gloominess of temper ; but when irritated, manifest a degree 

 of activity and force, together with even some ferocity of temper, 

 which would scarcely have been expected from them. They are 

 said to form a sort of rude huts among the trees in which they 

 reside, by intertwining their branches ; and in these they spend 

 most of their time, seldom moving abroad, except when urged 

 by the calls of appetite. They feed entirely on fruits, and are 

 never known to eat flesh or even eggs, in their natural state ; 

 but in confinement, they may be readily taught to relish animal 

 food. They seem to lead a solitary life; never more than two or 

 three being found in each other's neighbourhood. 



