74 



VEIITKBUATA. 



Genus OinnON : Hylohatcs, or Wood-walkers. — These approximate the monkeys by the 

 naked callosities on their rumps, but the absence of tails and cheek-pouches places them 

 among the apes. They are rarely more than four feet in height, and are distinguished by 

 their long arms, which reach the ground when they are in an erect posture. There arc several 

 species, which are found all over India and the 

 adjacent islands, to which they are confined. 

 The forests are their haunts, and they arc rarely 

 seen at a distance from them. Gregarious, but 

 shv and timid, they keep up a noisy concert, 

 mbling in this respect the Howling Monkeys 

 of America, ami some of them having guttural 

 sacs like that tribe. In the forest the activity of 

 certain species is great, and they make way on 

 the trees with their lonrj arms and lengthened 

 feet, most rapidly; but when surprised in open, 

 plain ground they are almost helpless. Some 

 species appear to be more sluggish ; but even 

 these make good use of their acute eyes and ears, 

 and are generally off before an enemy approaches 

 near enough to capture them. 



The Wou-Wotr, or Active Gibbon, II. agilis, 

 may be taken as an example of the genus. It 

 has the forehead very low ; orbital arches very 

 projecting ; face blackish-blue in the male, and 

 brown in the female ; in the former a white band 

 over the eves, which unites with the whitish 

 whiskers ; hair of the body fine, except about 

 the neck, where it is longer, and inclined to be 

 woolly and curled; upper part chocolated>rown ; 



back and fore part of the thighs yellowish- mourning gibbon. 



brown, but the color varies a good deal, according to the sex and age — the young being paler than 

 the adults and aged, and the very young uniformly of a yellowish-white; height about two feet 

 seven or eight inches. This species are very agile in their habits. As soon as they reach the 

 forest they set pursuit at defiance, swinging, leaping, and throwing themselves from tree to tree 

 with a rapidity which seems like flying. Notwithstanding the want of the guttural sac, they 

 howl in a manner very nearly resembling the siamang, which has one. In captivity they are not 

 very lively — as might indeed be expected, from the impossibility of their exerting that freedom of 

 motion on which their vivacity in a state of nature depends; but though timid they are soon 

 reassured, take pleasure in being caressed, and become familiar and even playful. They have 

 great curiosity, and a greedy appetite. This species is found in the forests of Sumatra, where it ia 

 named Ungaputi. 



The IIoolock, II. hoolock, is little known. We are chiefly indebted to Dr. Borroughs for what 

 knowledge we have on the subject. He has furnished a most interesting account of three individ- 

 uals of the species which he had an opportunity of observing in a state of confinement. One of 

 them, a male, showed a most amiable and docile disposition; and a young female, which died 

 early, was ccjually gentle and pacific 



The Siamang, 77. syndactylies. The animals of this species are black, and have two naked 

 folds of skin on the neck, which are occasionally inflated. The hair is long and soft. They 

 are very common in Sumatra, and are generally found gathered in large troops, conducted, it is' 

 said, by a chief, whom the Malays believe invulnerable. Thus assembled at sunrise, and again at 

 sunset, they vie with each other in making the most dreadful cries, perfectly stunning to those 

 accustomed to them, and frightful in the highest degree to strangers. At other times they ap- 

 pear to be perfectly quiet — so long, at least, as they are undisturbed. Among them, maternal' 



