14 DIVISION I. VEHTKBIIAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



the ape bad done tlio miinlei-i)us deed. There could bo no mistake about 

 it. One experiment, wliirh liad not lieen tliouii-ht of at the tiiuo of the 

 trial, was now tried. It had lieen evident that tlie murderer had gained 

 entrance to the zemindar's elianilicr from tlie tree ; but when we came to 

 experiment, wc could not lind a man able to perform that feat. There 

 were several branches drooping towards the house, but they were not strong 

 enougli to bear a man ; and we now hail it demonstrated that a man of 

 Ciliolaiu's bulk, in order to reach the window from the tree, would have 

 to make a clean leap of at least twehe feet. In short, the evidence was 

 plain and substantial. Tiie ape was the criminal." 



The following anecdotes exhibit the ourang in a somcwliat more amialile 

 character. 



Di;. Ar.ici/s Oukang (Pt///eriisAbeIii). — Th\ Aljel lirought this ani- 

 m:d to England iu 1.S17, and furnishes the following interesting account 

 of him : — 



" An attempt l)cing made on board the ship to secure him by a chain tied 

 to a strong staple, he instantly imfastened it, and ran off with the chain 

 dragging Ijehind ; but iinding himself embarrassed by its length, ho coiled 

 it once or twice, and threw it over his shoulder. This feat he often re- 

 peated : and when he found that it would not remain on his shoulder, he 

 took it into his mouth. After several abortive attempts to secui'e him 

 more etl'ectually, he was allowed to wander freely about the ship, and 

 soon became fimiliar with the sailors, and surpassed them in agility. They 

 often chased him al>out the rigging, and gave him frccjucnt ojiportunities 

 of displaying his adroitness in managing an escape. On first starting, lie 

 woidd endeavor to outstrip ills j)ursuers by mere speed, but when much 

 pressed eluded llicai by seizing a loose r<ipc and swinging out of their 

 reach. At other times he Would patiently wait on the shrouds, or at the 

 mast-head, till his pursuers almost touched him, and then suddenly lower 

 himself to the dock by any rope that was near him, or bound along the 

 main-stay from one mast to another, swinging by his hands, and moving 

 them one over the other. The men would often shake the ropes by which 

 he (dung with so nmch violence as to make me fear his falling ; but I soon 

 found tliat the power of his nmscles could not easily lie overcome. When 

 in a playfid humor, he would often swing within arms' length of his pur- 

 suer, and, having struck him with his hand, throw himself from him. 



" Whilst in Java, he lodged in a large tamarind tree near my dwelling, 

 and formed a bed by intertwining the small branches and covering them 

 with leaves. During the day he would lie with his head projecting beyond 

 his nest, watching whoever might pass vmder it, and when he saw any one 

 with fruit, he would descend to obtain a share of it. lie always retired for 



