84 MIOCENE FAUNA. 



feeling their weakness and the impossibility of escape. At first 

 they attempt to fly ; and it is then that all their imperfections 

 are visible. Their bodies, too tall and too heavy for their short 

 and slender thighs, bend forwards, and, with their arms acting 

 as if they were crutches, the siamangs advance by jerks, re- 

 sembling a lame old man driven through fear to make a great 

 effort. 



" However numerous the troop may be, a wounded one is 

 abandoned by the rest, at least if it is not a young individual. 

 Its mother, who carries it or follows ^it closely, then falls with 

 it, utters frightful cries, and throws herself upon the enemy 

 with open mouth and arms extended. One easily sees that 

 these animals are not adapted for fighting ; for they do not know 

 how to avoid a blow, and at the same time cannot bear one. 

 Maternal affection among them is not only manifested in the 

 time of danger ; and the care which the females take of their 

 young is so tender aud uncommon that one might be tempted 

 to ascribe it to a rational sentiment. It is a curious spectacle, 

 which I have sometimes, with many precautions, been able to 

 enjoy, to see the females bring their young children to the river, 

 wash their faces in spite of their grumblings, wipe them, dry 

 them, and devote to their cleanliness an amount of time and 

 care which our children might envy in many cases." 



The ungko (Hylobates agilis) is much more lively than the 

 siamang; it climbs about upon the trees with astonishing 

 activity, whilst upon level ground it has an uncertain and 

 vacillating gait, although it walks upright. According to Dr. 

 S. Miiller the gibbons, or long-armed apes, are inhabitants 

 of the mountains, although rarely passing above the limit of 

 fig-trees. During the day they reside in the summits of high 

 trees, and towards evening they descend in troops into the open 

 country ; but as soon as they are conscious of the presence of 

 men, they dash up the rocky slopes and disappear into the darker 

 valleys, They live chiefly upon vegetable food, especially fruits, 

 #nd they also devour insects and lizards. 



Besides the Hylobates aniiquus, two other European Miocene 

 apes are known, namely Dryopithecus Fontani, Lart., and Sem- 

 nopit/iecus pentelicus, Wagn., sp. The former has been met with 

 at Sansan and also on the Swabian Alp, so that it may still be 



