n 



SIMIA SYNDACTYLA. 



„dges surrounding the orbits, are equally prominent, and the temporal-ridges extend 

 to the occiput, at regular distances from each other, in a parallel manner. The 

 canine teeth are considerably elongated. 



The following remarks have presented themselves on a review of the specimens 

 deposited at the Museum in the India House. The most striking character is the 

 excessive length of the anterior extremities ; — this is already shewn by the dimen- 

 sions given above. The head is oblong and rounded posteriorly. The neck is very 

 short. The face is nearly naked ; a few very short decumbent hairs are scattered 

 sparingly on the nose and cheeks. On the upper lip and chin the beard is distri- 

 buted, consisting of grayish hairs, having an uniform oblique direction. 



The muzzle is short, and the facial angle between 60 and 65 degrees. The 

 nose is flat and depressed above, but rises below abruptly, with a cartilaginous emi- 

 nence, in which the nearly circular nostrils are pierced from the sides in an oblique 

 direction. At its extremity this eminence is obtuse, and united to the upper lip by 

 a narrow gradually attenuated apex, which forming a cartilaginous arch, gives a 

 peculiar character to the Siamang. 



The orbital-margin is very prominent, and the frontal-bone rises above the eyeg 

 obliquely, with a very gradual inclination backward. This part is covered with 

 hairs, which have a different character from those on other parts of the body ; they 

 are regular and straight, and being closely applied to the surface of the head, form 

 a gradually rising plain, on which the hair appears as if dressed or rendered smooth 

 by art. The ears are closely applied to the head, margined, and have externally 

 the same structure as in man : they are in great measure concealed by the hairy 

 covering of the lateral parts of the head. The trunk is rather slender, and the 

 abdomen is not distended as in the Orang-utan. The buttocks have small callosities. 

 The fingers of the hands of the anterior extremities are very slender, and of uncom- 

 mon length ; the thumb is of smaller dimensions than the fingers, and it is removed 

 so far back, that it scarcely extends beyond the metacarpal bones ; it appears, how- 

 ever, to be calculated to be employed as an antagonist to the fingers. The nails of 

 the thumb and fingers are uniform, slightly rounded and elevated in the middle. 

 On the hands of the posterior extremities the fingers are proportionally small and 

 slender. The index and the middle finger are closely united to the middle of the 

 second phalanx. The thumb is long, robust, and placed nearer to the fingers than 

 in the anterior extremities ; the nail is even, while the nails of the fingers resemble 

 those of the anterior extremities. The throat and neck in young animals are com- 

 pletely naked ; in the adult subjects the nakedness extends to the breast, and is only 



