ORDER QUADRUMANA. . 267 



live on the earth, is peculiarly advantageous for such as 

 are sustained on fruits. The disproportioned length of the 

 hinder limbs in comparions of the fore, is no impediment to 

 climbing, but imparts on the contrary a wonderful degree 

 of agility in shooting from branch to branch, and even from 

 tree to tree. Accordingly, we find that these monkeys 

 rarely descend to the earth. Assembled in troops, they 

 dwell for the most part in those capacious canopies of ver- 

 dant foliage which cover the rich forests of Southern Asia, 

 fellow -citizens with the birds, exposed to no danger but 

 from the larger of the serpent tribe, or the more insatiable 

 rapacity of man. In these lofty retreats they are found in 

 such numbers, as to annoy the traveller, as well by the petu- 

 lance of their motions as the incessant iteration of their 

 cries. Several specimens have been seen in Europe of both 

 sexes and of every age. There are no animals who can sur- 

 pass them in agility. In confinement they are accustomed 

 to shoot forward with such sustained vigour as to make 

 several turnings in their course, as if flying, sustained in 

 the air only by the impulse which they may receive from 

 striking the walls of the cage. The Malbroucs seldom suf- 

 fer their voices to be heard, and never but in a shrill and 

 feeble cry, or rather in a dull sort of grunting noise. The 

 males in their youth are sufficiently docile, but as soon as 

 they arrive at adult age they become excessively malicious, 

 even towards the persons intrusted with their care. The 

 females remain more gentle, and alone appear suscep- 

 tible of attachment. Circumspection forms a very peculiar 

 trait in the character of the Malbrouc. He is nevertheless 

 exceedingly irritable, but still, though subject to the most 

 violent excitements from his ruling passions, he calculates 

 all his movements with peculiar care, and executes them 

 with surpassing dexterity. When he attacks, it is always 

 from behind, and when the object of his resentment is un- 



