540 WILD ANIMALS. 



" The strong development of the canine teeth in the adult -would 

 seem to indicate a carnivorous propensity ; but in no state save 

 that of domestication do they manifest it. At first they reject 

 flesh, but easily acquire a fondness for it. The canines are early 

 developed, and evidently designed to act the important part of 

 weapons of defence. When in contact with man, almost the first 

 efforts of the animal is — to hite. 



" They avoid the abodes of men, and build their habitations in 

 trees. Their construction is more that of nests than of huts, as 

 they have been erroneously termed by some naturalists. They 

 generally build not far above the ground. Branches or twigs are 

 bent or partly broken and crossed, and the whole supported by the 

 body of a limb or a crotch, 



" Their dwelling-place is not permanent, but changed in pursuit 

 of food and solitude, according to the force of circumstances. 



"When at rest, the sitting posture is that generally assumed. 

 They are sometimes seen standing and walking, but when thus 

 detected they immediately ' take to all fours,' and flee from the 

 presence of the observer. Such is their organization, that they 

 cannot stand erect, but lean forward. Hence, they are seen when 

 standing, with the hands clasped over the occiput or the lumbar 

 region, which would seem necessary to balance, or ease of 

 posture. 



" The toes of the adult are strongly flexed, and turned inwards, 

 and cannot be perfectly straightened. In the attempt the skin 

 gathers into thick folds on the back, showing that the full expan- 

 sion of the foot, as is necessary in walking, is unnatural. The 

 natural position is upon ' all fours,' the body anteriorly resting 

 upon the knuckles. These are greatly enlarged, with the skin 

 protuberant and thickened like the sole of the foot. They are 

 expert climbers, as one would suppose, from their organization. 

 In then- gambols they swing from hmb to limb, to a great distance, 

 and leap with astonishing agility. It is not unusual to see ' the 

 old folks ' (in the language of an observer) sitting under a tree 

 regaling themselves with fruit and friendly chat, while 'their 

 children ' are leaping around them and swinging frpm branch to 

 branch in boisterous merriment. 



