CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 2. QU A DRUM AN A. 71 



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 assist- 

 ance 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 pre- 

 sented 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 a fork and put them into its mouth. Its common drink was water, 

 but it also willingly drank all sorts of wine, preferring Malaga. After eating, it always wiped its 

 mouth, and when presented with a toothpick, used it in a proper manner. This animal lived 

 seven months in Holland, whither it had been sent from the island of Borneo." 



The following account from Dr. Clarke Abel, of one which lived some time in his possession, is 

 additionally interesting from the circumstance of the observations having been made upon it in its 

 own climate, while enjoying a state of comparative liberty : 



" While at Java," says Dr. Abel, " he lodged in a large tamarind-tree near my dwelling, and 

 formed a bed by intertwining the small branches, and covering them with leaves. During the 

 day he would lie with his head projecting beyond his nest, watching whoever might pass under, 

 and when he saw any one with fruit, he would descend to obtain a share of it. He always retired 

 for the night at sunset, or sooner if he had been well fed, rose with the sun, and visited those 

 from whom he habitually received food. 



"On board ship he commonly slept at the mast-head, often wrapping himself up in a sail. 

 Sometimes I preoccupied his bed, and teased him by refusing to give it up. On these occasions 

 he would endeavor to pull the sail from under me, or force me to quit it, and would not rest until 

 I resigned it. If all the sails happened to be set, he Would hunt about for some other covering, 

 and either steal one of the sailor's jackets, or empty a hammock of its blankets. His favorite 

 amusement in Java was swinging from the branches of the trees, or climbing over the roofs of the 

 houses ; on board, in hanging by the ropes, or romping with the boys of the ship. He would en- 

 tice them to play by striking them with his hand as they passed, and then bounding from them, 

 hut allowing them to overtake him, and then engage in a mock scuffle, in which he used his 

 hands, feet, and mouth. If any conjecture could be formed from these frolics of his mode of at- 

 tacking an adversary, it would appear to be his first object to throw him down, then secure him 

 with his hands and feet, and then wound him with his teeth. Of some small monkeys on board 

 he took little notice while under the observation of the persons of the ship. Once, indeed, he 

 openly attempted to throw a small cage, containing three of them, overboard ; but I had reason to 

 believe that he was not so indifferent to their society when free from observation. On one occa- 

 sion I observed him lying on his back, partially covered with a sail, contemplating with great 

 gravity the gambols of a young monkey, which was bounding over him ; at length he caught him 

 by the tail, and tried to envelop him in the covering. The monkey seemed to dislike the confine- 

 ment, and broke from him, but again renewed his gambols, and though repeatedly caught, always 

 escaped. The intercourse, however, did not seem that of equals, for the orang-outang never con- 

 descended to romp with the monkeys as he did with the boys of the ship. Yet the monkeys had 

 evidently a great predilection for his company, for whenever they broke loose, they took their 

 way to his resting-place. But though so gentle when not irritated, the orang-outang could 

 be excited to violent raffe, and on one or two occasions committed acts which, in a rational 

 being, would have been called the threatening of suicide. If repeatedly refused an orange, when 

 he attempted to take it, he would shriek violently, and swing furiously about the ropes, then re- 

 turn and endeavor to obtain it. If again refused, he would roll for some time like an angry child 

 upon the deck, uttering the most piercing screams, and then suddenly starting up, rush furiously 

 over the side of the ship and disappear. On first witnessing this, we thought that he had thrown 

 himself into the sea, but on searching found him concealed under the chains. 



"I have seen him exhibit violent alarm on two occasions only, when he appeared to seek for 

 safety in gaining as high an elevation as possible. On seeing eight large turtles brought on board 

 off the Isle of Ascension, he climbed with all possible speed to a higher part of the ship than he 

 had ever before reached, and looking down upon them, projected his long lips into the form of a 



