HABITS OF THE GIBBONS. 477 



make use of his skin for helmets and caps of fantastic device, which 

 they don upon festival days, or to give themselves, when necessary, 

 a formidable air. 



The habitat of the Gibbons (Hylobates) is more extensive in range 

 than that of the Orangs. They are found not only in Sumatra, in 

 Borneo, in the Celebes and Philippine Islands, but in considerable 

 portions of the two peninsulas within and beyond the Ganges. In 

 size they are inferior to the Anthropomorphes, their stature not 

 exceeding three feet. Their head is small and rounded, their muzzle 

 does but slightly project, and their face wears a pleasanter expression 

 than that of the great apes of the same group. A sort of thick black 

 or very dark fur, with occasionally patches of white, enwraps their 

 entire body. They have arms and hands of extraordinary length, but 

 a slightly developed belly. They live upon the forest-trees, which 

 they traverse without ever descending to the ground, exhibiting a 

 marvellous agility and suppleness. They are completely frugivorous ; 

 their manners are gentle ; their intelligence they retain, and even 

 develop, after they have attained maturity. Although they should 

 be captured after they have passed their youth, they easily becomo 

 domesticated, and display a loyal affection towards their masters. 

 Unfortunately the climate of Europe, and pei-haps, in particular, the 

 atmosphere of menageries, proves fatal to them, and those individuals 

 placed in the Zoological Gardens of London and Paris succumb, after 

 a brief residence, to dysentery or pulmonary disease. 



The genus Gibbon comprises several species : the Gibbon- Siamang 

 (Hylobates syndactylus) is the greatest of which we have any knowledge. 

 Black is he as ebony, both in face and hair. His thyroidian pouch 

 is very large, and of great expansive powers. By means of this 

 ungainly organ he utters the most horrible, deafening, and prolonged 

 cries, which, it is said, can be heard for several leagues around. He 

 is common enough in Sumatra, inhabiting the dense wild woods 

 which lie to the north of Bencoolen. He owes his characteristic 

 epithet of syndactylus to the fact that the index and middle finger 

 of his hind-feet (or shall I say, hands ?) are united (<rvv) by a 



