ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



27 



ORANG -RAJAH.' 



OUR GREAT APES. 



The Zoological Park has been quite fortu- 

 nate in the acquisition of anthropoid apes, and 

 the Apes' Hall in the new Primates' House 

 will be opened with five specimens. 



The latest arrival, who was literally received 

 with open arms, is an uncommonly fine, lusty, 

 and handsome male chimpanzee, three years 

 old, brought over by Carl 1 higonbeck himself 

 on the Pciinsyh'a)iia on Se])tenibcr 12th. It 

 is probably as fine a specimen of its age as 

 ever came into captivity, and shows all the 

 points of a thoroughbred — round face, full 

 chest, broad shoulders, clear white skin, and 

 black hair. In comparison with other chim- 

 panzees that have been seen in America, it 

 most nearly resembles Chico, who for about 

 a year was exhibited at the Central Park 

 Menagerie. 



The new arrival has been christened Zongo, 

 which is the name of a native tribe inhabiting 

 his country in the Congo Basin, West Africa. 

 At present he is 28 inches in height, weighs 



23 pounds, and the extent of his arms be- 

 tween finger-tips is 36 inches. He is strong 

 and boisterous in manner, yet very affectionate 

 toward his keepers. Just at present he has 

 no use for any of the " Orangs," but undoulit- 

 edly will consent to become acquainted with 

 Rajah within a reasonable time. He arrived 

 at the Park with a cold in his head, but it 

 soon disappeared. 



Zongo's food is the same as that of the 

 " Orangs " — boiled rice, tapioca, and oatmeal, 

 served with warm milk ; boiled sweet potatoes, 

 bananas, a moderate amount of stale bread, 

 and occasionally an egg. 



The four Orang-Utans arc in fine health, 

 anil were greatly benefited by their outdoor 

 life during the past summer. Instead of being 

 coddled, they are treated to plenty of fresh 

 air and given every opportunity to exercise. 

 After several severe illnesses, due to troubles 

 with her digestive organs, little long-haired 

 ■■ Sall>-," the only female of the Orang family, 

 has finally become quite well and vigorous, 

 and is growing as a healthy child should. She 

 has now been two years in the Park. On 

 account of her illnesses, she has been a little 

 spoiled bv attention, and is inclined to be con- 

 trary under training. 



Rajah is the largest and finest of the Orangs, 

 and a more perfect simian it would be diffi- 

 cult to find. Judged by the standards for his 

 species, he is a handsome and finely developed 

 animal. His temper and disposition could 

 hardly be improved upon. He is kind anfl 

 affectionate, utterly devoid of fear and sus- 

 picion, and a Mark Tapley in cheerfulness. 

 Under the training of Mr. Ditmars and Keep- 

 ers Munzie and Miles, he has been quick 

 to leam, ready to do his part, and patient be- 

 yond all expectation. In fact. Rajah is a 

 dignified gentleman (for, be it remembered, 

 " orang " is Malay for " man "), and already 

 has a reputation to sustain. 



During the warm months he was dressed 

 dailv at 5 p.m. in citizen's clothes, and given 

 his meal at a table on a high platform over 

 the outdoor cages of the orangs, where all vis- 

 itors to the Park might see him. Daily he 

 donned his trousers, shirt, belt, necktie, and 

 coat, with never a protest, climbed up to his 

 chair and seated himself. His rice and milk 

 he ate with a spoon, for his sliced bananas he 

 used a fork, then drank milk from a cup, and 

 beef-tea from a bottle. Not once did he spoil 

 the exhibition, and the benign manner in which 

 he would occasionally look down upon the ad- 

 miring and laughing crowd was exceedingly 

 droll.' 



Brunei, Rajah's special partner, is a trifle 

 smaller than his mate, but equally strong and 



