648 QUADRUPEDS. 



nature for the quadrupedal manner of walking, and not for an up- 

 right posture, which is only occasionally assumed, and which, in 

 those exhibited to the public, is, perhaps, rather owing to instruc- 

 tion than truly natural. The Count de Buffon, indeed, makes it 

 one of the distinctive characters of the real or proper apes (among 

 which the orang-otang is the chief), to walk erect on two legs only ; 

 and it must be granted, that these animals support an upright po- 

 sition much more easily and readily than most other quadrupeds, 

 and may probably be very often seen in this attitude even hi a state 

 of nature. 



The manners of the orang-otang, when in captivity, are gentle, 

 and perfectly void of that disgusting ferocity so conspicuous in some 

 of the larger baboons and monkies. The orang-otang is mild and 

 docile, and may be taught to perform, with dexterity, a variety of 

 actions in domestic life. Thus it has been seen sitting at table, and, in 

 its manner of feeding and general behaviour, to imitate the company 

 in which it was placed : to pour out tea, and drink it without auk- 

 wardness or constraint ; to prepare its bed with exactness, and 

 compose itself to sleep in a proper manner. Such are the actions 

 recorded of one which was exhibited in London, in the year 1738 ; 

 and the Count de Buffon relates nearly similar particulars of that 

 which he saw at Paris. Dr. Tyson, who, about the close of the 

 last century, gave a very exact descripton of a young orang.otang, 

 then exhibited in the metropolis, assures us, that, in many of its 

 actions, it seemed to display a very high degree of sagacity, and 

 was of a disposition uncommonly gentle; " the most gentle and 

 loving creature that could be. Those that he knew a ship-board 

 he would come and embrace with the greatest tenderness, opening 

 their bosoms, and clasping his hands about them ; and, as I was in- 

 formed, though there were monkies aboard, yet it was observed 

 he would never associate with them, and, as if nothing akin to 

 them, would always avoid their company." 



But however docile and gentle when taken young, and instructed 

 in its behaviour, it is said to be possessed of great ferocity in its 

 native state, and is considered as a dangerous animal, capable of 

 readily overpowering the strongest man. Its swiftness is equal to 

 its strength, and for this reason it is but rarely to be obtained in 

 its full-grown state ; the young alone being taken. 



[Shaw. 



