292 TRESPASSERS UPON THE AIR. 



In a sort of way, many monkeys are partial tres- 

 passers upon the air, being able to fling themselves 

 from one branch to another, and so to pass through 

 considerable distances. The Gibbons are specially 

 celebrated for their aerial feats, being able to launch 

 themselves through distances of forty feet or so. 



These animals, however, do not possess auy capa- 

 bility of sustentation in the air ; and, if they were to 

 miss their aim, would fall heavily to the ground. The 

 Colugo, however, has a power of sustentation which 

 may be called a modified flight ; and, although it can- 

 not rise in the air, it can at all events pass for con- 

 siderable distances through it, and direct its course. 



Putting aside the very great length of the fore 

 limbs, and especially of the fingers, the structure of 

 the Colugo is wonderfully like that of the bats. In- 

 deed, so close is the resemblance, that naturalists were 

 long undetermined where to place it : whether at the 

 end of the monkey tribe, or at the head of the bats. 



In this animal the skin of the sides is modified into 

 a membrane much resembling the wing of the bat, 

 except that it is covered with hair upon the upper 

 surface. This membrane extends to both pairs of feet. 

 It also passes from the hind feet to the tip of the tail, 

 and from the fore feet to the neck, so that when the 

 limbs are extended, a very large and flat surface is 

 presented to the air, not so large as that of the bat 

 tribes, but still of very great extent. 



Like all the monkey tribe, the Colugo is arboreal 

 in its habits, but has a rather peculiar mode of passing 

 from tree to tree. It does not take the trouble to 

 descend to the ground, run to the desired tree, and 



