THE HOOLOCK 15 



water it throws its arms up and struggles helplessly, just like a human 

 being who has no knowledge of swimming. As the Orang is also no 

 swimmer, it is possible that the inability to swim applies to all these 

 man-like apes. It may have something to do with the biped attitude, 

 for many of the lower monkeys swim instinctively like other quadru- 

 peds, using the "dog-stroke" like them. 



One of the most notable peculiarities of the Hoolock is its call, which 

 is a fine loud, clear, two-syllabled whoop, like "Whooko, Whooko," 

 frequently repeated. It is generally ready to respond to an imitation 

 of this note in captivity, and one we had in the Calcutta Zoo used 

 to practise duets with a cock Argus pheasant {Argusianus argus), whose 

 call is very similar in character. Hoolocks are very fond of the sound 

 of their own voices, and the noise a troop can make has been described 

 as "a storm of sound." They are particularly noisy in the morning 

 and evening, when, as has been humorously remarked, they perform 

 " regular oratorios " ; thus their calls are some of the characteristic 

 sounds of jungle life wherever they are found. 



They are delicate creatures, having been found suffering from chest 

 complaints even in the wild state, and they are hard to keep in cap- 

 tivity even in India, although a specimen once survived nine years in 

 the Calcutta Zoo. Animals with such active habits need a great deal 

 of space for exercise ; and it seems to me also that a more varied diet, 

 and one consisting more of substances they would be likely to obtain 

 in a wild state, would be better for them than what is usually given 

 to monkeys. Delicate animals can generally be kept if due attention 

 is given to this point of dietary, which is usually the main difficulty. 



When Hoolocks are allowed to go at large and find much of their 

 own food, they do well ; and they are so tameable that this liberty 

 can be permitted them in about a month after they are acquired. We 

 had a male loose in the Calcutta Zoo in my time, and they are often 

 so kept by planters in Assam. When thus living near the native 

 haunts of his species, it has been observed that the tame Hoolock cannot 

 obtain admission to their society, and the like has been noticed with a 

 Javanese Gibbon which was released after being kept confined for a time. 



