SIMIAD^E. 



Sir T. Stamford Raffles describes an individual of this species, in his 

 possession, as having been upwards of three feet in height, robust, and 

 muscular. Dr. Horsefield gives the following as admeasurements of the 

 largest of the three specimens in the collection at the East India Com- 

 pany's museum : 



ft. in. 



Height 32 



Length of upper extremity . 28^ 



Ditto lower extremity 1 10 



Of an adult male and female, in the Parisian Museum, the female, which 

 was somewhat larger than the male, measures three feet in height ; the 

 length of the upper extremity being two feet five inches, of which the 

 hand, from the wrist-joint to the end of the middle finger, measures six 

 inches. 



GENERAL HISTORY. The Siamang is the largest of the Gibbons ; it 

 has the index and middle toes the most completely syndactyle ; and it 

 approaches the Orang in the possession of a laryngal pouch, which, though 

 of great volume, is single ; whereas it is double in the Orang. Of the 

 use of this apparatus little is definitely known : it has been supposed 

 to influence the intonation of the voice ; and Mr. George Bennett ( Wan- 

 derings, &c. vol. ii. p. 151) observes, that when the individual in his 

 possession was irritated, he inflated the pouch, uttering a hollow, 

 barking noise, the lips being at the same time pursed out, and the air 

 driven into the sac, while the lower jaw was also a little protruded. M. 

 Duvaucel most probably alludes to this noise, when he describes the 

 Siamang as rousing occasionally from its lethargy to utter a disagreeable 

 cry, approaching in sound to that of a turkey-cock, and which, as he takes 

 upon himself to say, expresses no sentiment, declares no wants, and, in 

 fact, means nothing. Mr. Bennett noticed that the inflation of the pouch 

 was not confined to an expression of anger; but occurred, also, when 

 the animal was pleased, and when it was yawning ; and that, in all 

 instances (except when excited by anger), it would gradually empty the 

 sac, as if it derived a pleasure from the action. When the sac was 

 distended, pressure on it, so as to force the air contained within it into the 

 mouth, produced no sign of annoyance. 



The Siamang is exclusively a native of Sumatra, in the forests of 

 which it is very abundant, especially in the neighbourhood of Bencoolen, 

 where it congregates in large troops, which make the woods resound with 

 their loud, discordant yells. Of the intelligence, qualities, and habits of 

 this animal, we have the most contradictory statements. M. Duvaucel, 

 who says that he had frequent opportunities of observing it, both in a wild 

 state and in captivity, asserts (see Hist. Nat. des Mammif. by F. Cuvier) 

 that it is slow, inanimate, and destitute of activity and confidence among 

 the trees ; and that, when surprised on the ground, it is so overwhelmed by 



