of the Malayan Peninsula. 397 
Further, the Malays assert, although I am not prepared to 
state with what truth, that there is seldom more than one Pongo 
to be found amongst a troop of Chimpansés, over whom it rules 
with despotic authority, and that consequently it is very difficult 
to get near enough to shoot one, as the alarm is generally given 
by some of its subjects on the approach of the sportsman. If 
this exercise of authority have any foundation in fact, it tends to 
confirm the opinion of the animal being in full vigour. 
I would therefore subdivide this tribe into the two following, 
Viz. : 
Ist. Pithecus satyrus, Desm. (synonym, Simia satyrus, 2. Linn.) 
The great Orang Utan. 
2nd. PongoWurmbii, Desm. (synonym, Simia satyrus,3. Linn.) 
The lesser Orang Utan or Pongo. 
Pithecus lar, Desm. (syn. Simia lar, Linn.) The Gibbon, or 
Long-armed Ape. The fur of this species is black, and the face 
surrounded with a ruff of gray hairs, causing the countenance 
to assume the appearance of extreme age and decrepitude. When 
the animal is erect the arms nearly touch the ground. Height 
about sixteen inches. Callosities on the buttocks. 
This animal is extremely common in the forests of the Malayan 
peninsula, which re-echo with their plaintive whooping, as the 
boughs bend under the successive springs of the retreating troops 
scared by the unwonted sound of the traveller’s footsteps. In 
confinement it is mild and melancholy, deprecating ill-treatment 
im a most beseeching manner, but never attempting to revenge it. 
A smaller variety of the Gibbon is also to be met with in Ma- 
lacca, termed by Desmarest Pithecus variegatus, corresponding 
with the Simia lar var. of Linn. This is a third less than the 
one just described, and its fur is variegated with gray-brown and 
dark gray. 
P. syndactylus, Desm. (syn. Simia syndactyla, Raffles. Sia- 
mang, Malayese). The Siamang. The fur is very woolly, and 
of a deep black colour. Throat naked. The thumb and fore- 
finger of the posterior hand united at the second joint, whence 
its name. 
This species of Gibbon is found in large troops, which are 
each governed by a chief. In the cool of the morning and even- 
ing they utter hideous outcries, but are perfectly silent during 
the heat of the day. They drink by immersing the hand in 
water, and then sucking the moisture from their fingers. They 
are easily tamed, but their timidity can never be wholly over- 
come, even by the most continued kind treatment. 
P. agilis, Desm. (syn. Hylobates agilis, ¥. Cuvier). The Active 
Gibbon. Fur brown, back yellow, and forehead extremely low ; 
face of the male bluish black, of the female brown. 
