VERTEBRATA. - MAMMALIA. 



The earliest detailed account of the Orang-otan 

 that we possess is given by Vosmaer, of one brought 

 to Holland in 1776, and presented to the menagerie 

 of the Prince of Orange. 



" This animal was in height about two Rhenish 

 feet and a half, of a chestnut colour. It showed no 

 symptoms of fierceness or malignity, and was even of 

 a melancholy appearance. It was fond of being in 

 company, and showed a preference for those who 

 took daily care of it, of which it seemed to be very 

 sensible. Often when they retired it would throw 

 itself on the ground as if in despair, uttering lament- 

 able cries. Its keeper having been accustomed some- 

 times to sit near it on the ground, it would take the 

 hay of its bed, and spreading it in the form of a 

 cushion or seat, invite, by every demonstration, its 

 keeper to sit with it. Its usual manner of walking 

 was on all fours, but it could also walk on its two 

 hind feet. One morning it got unchained, and we 

 beheld it with wonderful agility ascend the beams. 

 and rafters of the building ; it was not without some 

 trouble that it was taken, and we then remarked the 

 prodigious strength of the animal ; the assistance of 

 four men being necessary, in order to hold it in such 

 a manner as to be properly secured. During its 

 state of liberty, it had, among other things, taken 

 the cork from a bottle of Malaga wine, which it had 

 drunk to the last drop, and had set the bottle in its 

 place again. When presented with strawberries on 

 a plate, of which it was extremely fond, it was very 

 amusing to see it take them up one by one with 



