BED OR ASIATIC ORA^G-OUTANG. Ill 



specimens have been exhibited in England, and notes 

 of their manners while alive, with accounts of their 

 dissections, have generally been made and published. 

 None of these are equal, however, in minuteness or 

 interest to that of the assiduous naturalist we have 

 now mentioned; and though it has been frequently 

 copied into works treating of this subject, and is very 

 generally known, we should not consider the present 

 description complete without it. Dr Abel had a long 

 opportunity of observing the animal, and under less 

 constraint than any of those which have since reached 

 Britain. He was interested in, and well qualified for 

 the task, and his whole account bears the stamp of 

 truth, and close unbiased observation. We give the 

 description in his words, and unabridged.* 



" This interesting animal was procured by Captain 

 Methuen, who brought him from Banjarmassing, on 

 the south coast of Borneo. He was informed by the 

 natives that he had been brought from the highlands 

 of the interior : that he was very rare and difficult to 

 take ; and they evidently considered him a great 

 curiosity, as they flocked in crowds to see him. 



tf The height of the animal, judging from his length 



* It was from this animal that the accurate figures in Mr James 

 Wilson's " Illustrations of Zoology" were taken. The drawings 

 were made by the celebrated Howit, and were furnished to the 

 author by Dr Trail, Professor of Medical Jurisprudence it the 

 Edinburgh Um'versity. 



