244 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



" But although so gentle when not exceedingly irritated, 

 the Orang Outang could be excited to violent rage, which 

 he expressed by opening his mouth, showing his teeth, and 

 seizing and biting those who were near him. Sometimes, 

 indeed, he seemed almost driven to desperation : and, on two 

 or three occasions, committed an act, which in a rational 

 being, would have been called the threatening of suicide. 

 If repeatedly refused an orange when he attempted to take 

 it, he would shriek violently, and swing furiously about the 

 ropes ; then return and endeavour to obtain it : if again re- 

 fused, he would roll for some time like an angry child upon 

 the deck, uttering the most piercing screams ; and then 

 suddenly starting up, rush furiously over the side of the 

 ship and disappear. On first witnessing this act, we 

 thought that he had thrown himself into the sea ; but, on 

 a search being made, found him concealed under the 

 chains. 



" This animal neither practises the grimaces and antics 

 of other monkeys, nor possesses their perpetual pr oneness 

 to mischief. Gravity, approaching to melancholy, and 

 mildness, were sometimes strongly expressed in his counte- 

 nance, and seem to be the characteristics of his disposition. 

 When he first came among strangers, he would sit for hours 

 with his hand upon his head, looking pensively at all 

 around him ; and when much incommoded by their exami- 

 nation, would hide himseif beneath any covering that was 

 at hand. His mildness was evinced by his forbearance 

 under injuries, which were grievous before he was excited 

 to revenge : but he always avoided those who often 

 teased him. He soon became strongly attached to those 

 who kindly used him. By their side he was fond of sitting ; 

 and getting as close as possible to their persons, would 

 take their hands between his lips, and fly to them for pro- 

 tection. From the boatswain of the Alceste, who shared his 

 meals with him, and was his chief favourite, although he 

 sometimes purloined the grog and the biscuit of his bene- 



