THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



the fingers. The feet are long, resemble hands in the 

 palms, and in having fingers rather than toes, but have 

 heels resembling the human. The great toes are 

 very short, are set on at right angles to the feet close 

 to the heel, and are entirely without nails. 



" The orang-outang of Borneo is utterly incapable 

 of walking in a perfectly erect posture. He betrays 

 this in his whole exterior conformation, and never 

 wilfully attempts to counteract its tendency. His 

 head leaning forward, and forming a considerable angle 

 with the back, throws the centre of gravity so far be- 

 yond the perpendicular, that his arms, like the fore- 

 legs of other animals, are required to support the body. 

 So difficult indeed is it for him to keep the upright posi- 

 tion for a few seconds, under the direction of his keeper, 

 that he is obliged, in the performance of his task, to 

 raise his arms above his head, and throw them behind 

 him to keep his balance. His progressive motion on a 

 flat surface is accomplished by placing his bent fists 

 upon the ground, and drawing his body between his 

 arms ; moving in this manner, he strongly resembles 

 a person decrepid in the legs, supported on stilts. In 

 a state of nature, he probably seldom moves along the 

 ground ; his whole external configuration showing his 

 fitness for climbing trees and clinging to their branches. 

 The length and pliability of his fingers and toes enable 

 him to grasp with facility and steadiness ; and the 

 force of his muscles empowers him to support his body 

 for a great length of time by one hand or foot. He 



