76 MAMMALIA — GIBBON. 



Of the many attempts to transport the orang outang alive to Europe, we 

 believe only one or two have been successful. In 1825, one was brought to 

 Boston, from Batavia, by Captain Blanchard, but unfortunately it died in 

 the harbor before landing. Captain Shirley, who arrived there from Batavia, 

 in June, 1831, was more fortunate. He brought a young orang outang, 

 which is now in good health, and has every prospect of enduring the 

 climate. It is a female of about three years old, and was procured origi- 

 nally in Borneo. The interest excited in respect to this animal, as well by 

 its own extraordinary characteristics, as by the variety of accounts that 

 authors have given of it, has induced us to examine it with some care. We 

 have also caused a correct likeness to be taken, which is the one at the 

 head of the present article. 



In comparing this animal with the preceding description, by Dr Abel, 

 we find it remarkably accurate and complete. We observe that the thumb 

 of the hinder hand has no nail, and it seems that in nine cases mentioned 

 by Dr Abel, the same fact existed. Two instances to the contrary, how- 

 ever, are cited ; one by Tilesius, the other by Cuvier. We also remarked 

 that the thumb is placed nearly at right angles to the hand, inclining a little 

 toward the wrist. 



THE GIBBON, OR LONG-ARMED A P E, i 



Always keeps in an erect posture, even when it walks upon all fours ; its 

 arms being as long as its body and legs put together. Wc have seen one of 

 these animals alive. It had no appearance of any tail ; it had a circle of 

 gray, bushy hair, all round the face, which gave it a very remarkable appear- 

 ance. Its eyes were large, and sunk in its head ; its face resembling that of 

 a man, tanned, and its ears well proportioned. This ape appeared to us to 

 be of a gentle and tractable disposition ; its motions were neither rash nor 

 precipitate. It was fed on bread, fruit, almonds, &c., and calmly received 



' Pithrais lar. The gibbons, of which there are several, have the lons^ arms of the oranj?, 

 the low forehead of the cliimpanse, and callosities on the buttocks. They have no tail or 

 cheek pouch. 



