THE SIAMAKCK 147 



woolly near the skin, united in small tufts, which 

 diverge irregularly, and form a shaggy fleece. The 

 separate hairs are above two inches long, and on every 

 part except the head are slightly curved, so as to 

 cause a somewhat frizzled appearance. The mouth 

 is large, extending almost from cheek to cheek. The 

 throat appears very broad, and has the outward ap- 

 pearance of a swoln goitre destitute of hair ; this is the 

 large guttural sack, which has been thought to assist 

 the production of the wild continued howling of some 

 monkeys, and which appears inflated when the ani- 

 mal cries. In the females the breast is destitute of 

 hair ; but the species appears to be subject to little 

 of the variation incident to so many of this tribe from 

 age or sex. The fingers of the hands are very slender, 

 and of uncommon length ; and the formation of the 

 feet, as we have previously mentioned, is the most 

 remarkable variation from the other Gibbons.* 



The active time of the Siamang is at daybreak and 

 twilight, when they are found assembled in large 

 bands, and make the forests resound with their howl, 

 in a manner concerted, which is often heard at an 

 immense distance. During the day they remain 

 quiet and inactive, and utter no cries unless disturbed. 

 By the Malays they are supposed to be conducted by 

 a head or chief, which is always the strongest, and 

 which is also supposed to be invulnerable. He is 



We are indebted to Dr Horsfield's Researches in Jara foi 

 much of this information. 



