SIMIA SYNDACTYLA. 



the arrangement of which is now in progress at their Museum at the India House, 

 together with that of a general series of Quadrupeds and Birds from Java and other 

 Islands of the Eastern Archipelago. Three specimens of the Siamang, of different 

 sexes and ages, are placed in that Museum ; and, with the permission of the Honour- 

 able Court of Directors, I am enabled to illustrate the description of Siu Stamford 

 Raffles, contained in the thirteenth volume of the Transactions of the Linnean 

 Society, by a figure of our animal from the pencil of Mr. Daniell, and to add some 

 details regarding its dimensions, form, and bony fabric. 



" The Simia syndactyla is of a jet-black colour throughout; it is upwards of three 

 feet in height, and of a robust and muscular frame. It agrees with the Simia Lar 

 of Linn^us, in being tailless, having naked callosities, and arms reaching to the feet. 

 It differs, however, essentially in having the index and middle toes, or rather fingers, 

 of the hind feet united as far as the middle of the second phalanx; in having two 

 loose and naked folds of skin on the throat, which I have observed to be occasionally 

 inflated with air ; and in being entirely black, with the exception of a few brown 

 hairs on the chin, which appear to become gray with age. The hair is long and 

 soft ; the face is without hair, and black, as are also the breasts of the female. The 

 orbits of the eye are circular, and remarkably prominent. The canine teeth are 

 long."— Tr. Linn. Soc. 



The Dimensions of the largest specimen, at the Museum at the India House, 

 are the following: — 



Feet. Inches. 



Entire height from the heel to the summit of the head 3 2 



Length of the head and neck 6 



the arm 1 Oi 



2 



the fore arm 1 2^ 



the hand and fingers 5^ 



the thigh bone 8^ 



the leg 8 



the foot 5^ 



The skuU. of an adult subject, which I examined at the Museum of the Royal 

 College of Surgeons, affords the following remarks : — Its dimensions longitudinally, 

 from the most projecting point of the front teeth to the occiput, are five inches 

 and two lines, and its height three inches and six hues. The general form is 

 oblong, increasing very slightly in breadth posteriorly. The orbits advance greatly 

 in front, by means of the frontal-margin projecting forward, being continued 



