40 LECTUKE II. 



The manner of both the species of Oran Otan, 

 viz. the black and the chesnut-coloured, are repre- 

 sented as extremely gentle when in a state of cap- 

 tivity. Dr. Tyson, who about the close of the 

 17th century gave a description of a young Oran 

 Otan of the black species, assures us that it was- 

 (to use his own expressions) " the most gentle and 

 loving creature that could be. Those on ship- 

 board that h knew, he would embrace with the 

 greatest tenderness, and, as I was informed, al- 

 though there were other Monkies on board, yet 

 it was observed that he would never associate, 

 and, as if nothing akin to them, would always 

 avoid their company." 



Mr. Vosmaer's account of the manners of a 

 chesnut-coloured Oran Otan, brought into Holland 

 v in the year 1776, and presented to the Prince 

 of Orange's Menagerie, is so curious, that I shall 

 repeat it from his accurate publication on that 

 subject. 



This animal, says Mr. Vosmaer, was in height 

 about two Rhenish feet and a half. It shewed no 

 symptoms of fierceness or malignity, and was 

 even of a melancholy appearance. It was fond of 

 being in company, and shewed a preference to 



