298 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



ral and convenient to the Pongo than to other Simiae. 

 That he can occasionally use it is certain, but that he ha- 

 bitually does so is far from probable. He is not better 

 organized for this purpose than the Orang-Outang, whose 

 insufficiency in this respect has already been amply proved. 

 Like him, the natural organization qualifies him to use 

 neither bipedal nor quadrupedal motion with facility, but 

 eminently fits him for the process of climbing and the 

 habitation of the forests. 



The excessive strength and ferocity of the Pongo, renders 

 an intimate knowledge of its habits extremely difficult. 

 M. Palm reports, of the one which has formed the subject 

 of our preceding observations, that when the attempt was 

 made to take him, he defended himself so violently, with 

 the branches of trees that it was absolutely impossible to 

 seize him alive. We shall now proceed to the American 

 division of the order. 



Natural science is the boast of modern times, nor does 

 the zoological branch of it form any exception to this gene- 

 ral position. However excellent the models which the 

 relentless and destructive hand of time has still spared for 

 the study of the artist and the admiration of the world ; 

 however hopeless the task of surpassing the elevation of 

 thought and felicity of expression of the poets, historians, 

 metaphysicians and philosophers of antiquity, it is not 

 from these that the naturalist must expect any great assist- 

 ance in his pursuit. The brief notice of species to be found 

 in their writings afford subjects of useless controversy to 

 zoological scholars, as to the animals really intended, 

 rather than solid and satisfactory information to the in- 

 quiring student. 



One cause of this deficiency in ancient times, is obviously 

 in this, that the great storehouse of the world was then but 

 partially open to observation,, for we find that zoological 

 knowledge has advanced together with, and indeed in conse- 



