A NATURALIST IN BORNEO 



CHAPTER I 

 MAMMALS 



THE most interesting mammal in the island of Borneo 

 is, undoubtedly, the large Anthropoid Ape, Simia satyniSy 1 

 for both in anatomy and habits it shows so many 

 resemblances to the highest type of creation, man him- 

 self, that we are justified in believing both man and 

 ape to have sprung from a common stock in "dim 

 ages past." The trivial names whereby this ape is 

 known to European zoologists, Orang, Orang-Utan and 

 Orang Utang or Outang, are rather unfortunate, for the 

 first is Malay for "man," the second means "man of 



1 Changes of the scientific names of animals, especially mammals, 

 have been so frequent and numerous during the past ten years, 

 that only specialists are able to recognize the species under their 

 new names. The practice reached the height of absurdity when 

 Simia satyr us was solemnly re-named Pongo pygmceus. By this 

 ridiculous application of a Bantu negro name for the Chimpanzee 

 to a Malayan ape a storm of long-suppressed protest was raised, 

 and a committee of zoologists is now deciding what names of 

 animals are to remain unaltered. It was high time that such a 

 step should be taken, for who knows if Dr. Smellfungus and 

 Professor Dryasdust will not proclaim that the name Homo sapiens 

 should be altered ? But perhaps sapiens is a misnomer when applied 

 to these pedants. 



2 i 



