HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 453 



higher, the nose flat, and the eyes much sunk : be- 

 side these, that anatomist has enumerated a variety 

 of essential differences in the internal conforma- 

 tion of the Oran-Outang ; all of which sufficiently 

 evince, that, though he has the strongest affinity to 

 the human form of any other quadruped, yet, as 

 Buffon elegantly observes, "the interval which 

 separates the two species is immense ; the resem- 

 blance in figure and organization, and the move- 

 ments of imitation which seem to result from these 

 similarities, neither make him approach the nature 

 of man, nor elevate him above that of the brute." 



The Oran-Outang is found in the interior parts 

 of Africa, in Madagascar, Borneo, and some parts 

 of the East Indies. 



It is a solitary animal, avoids mankind, and lives 

 only in the most desert places. 



The largest of the kind are said to be about 

 six feet high, very active, powerful and intrepid, 

 capable of overcoming the strongest man : they are 

 likewise exceedingly swift, and cannot easily be 

 taken alive. They live entirely on fruits and nuts, 

 will sometimes attack and kill the negroes who 

 wander in the woods, and drive away the Ele- 

 phants that happen to approach too near the place 

 of their residence. It is said that they sometimes 

 surprise the female negroes, and carry them off into 

 the woods, where they compel them to stay with 

 them. 



When taken young, however, the Oran-Outang is 

 capable of being tamed, and rendered extremely 

 docile. One of them shewn in London some years 

 ago, was taught to sit at table, make use of a spoon 

 or fork in eating its victuals, and drink w r ine or 

 other liquors out of a glass. It was extremely 



