THE GIBBONS. 7 
Sometimes it bends considerably backwards, and throwing its long arms over 
its head, preserves its equilibrium by their means. 
Among the trees the Orang-outan is in its element, and traverses the 
boughs with an ease and freedom that contrasts strongly with its awkward 
movements when on the ground. It has a curious habit of making for itself 
a temporary resting-place, by weaving together the branches so as to make a 
rude platform or scaffold on which it reposes. The powerful limbs of the 
animal enable it to execute this task in a very short time. 
The adult male animal is singularly hideous in aspect, owing much of its 
repulsiveness to the great projection of the jaws and the callosities that appear 
on the cheeks, As is the case with all the larger apes, it becomes sullen and 
ferocious as it approaches its adult state, although in the earlier years of its 
life it is docile, quiet, and even affectionate. Several young specimens have 
been brought to Europe, and were quite interesting animals, having many 
curious tricks, and exhibiting marks of strong affection to any one who treated 
them kindly. One of these animals learned to take its meals in a civilized 
manner, using a spoon, or a cup and saucer, with perfect propriety. 
When brought to colder climates than that of its native land, the animal 
covets warmth, and is fond of wrapping itself in any woollen clothes or 
blankets that it can obtain. On board ship it has been known to rob the 
sailors or passengers of their bedding, and to resist with much energy any 
attempt to recover the stolen property. 
In its native woods the Orang-outin seems to be an unsocial animal, de- 
lighting not in those noisy conversazzones which rejoice the hearts of the 
gregarious monkeys and deafen the ears of their neighbours It does not 
even unite in little bands of eight or ten as do many species, but leads a 
comparatively eremitical existence among the trees, sitting in dreamy indo- 
lence on the platform which it weaves, and averse to moving unless impelle.l 
by hunger, anger, or some motives equally powerful. When it does move, it 
passes with much rapidity from tree to tree, or from one branch to another, 
by means of its long limbs, and launches itself through a considerable dis- 
tance, if the space between the branches be too great for itsreach of arm. 
The hair of the Orang-outan is of a reddish chestnut hue, deepening here 
and there into brown. The texture of the hair is coarse, and its length varies 
according to the part of the body on which it is placed. Over the face, back, 
breast, shoulders, and arms, it falls in thick profusion, becoming especially 
long at the elbow-joint, where the hairs of the upper and fore-arm meet. 
The face is partly covered with a beard, which seems to increase in size as 
the animal grows older. The hair of the face takes a lighter tinge of red 
than that of the body, and merges the red or auburn tint in the brown, on 
the inside of the limbs. 
Ata little distance the face appears to be black ; but if examined closely, 
is found to present a bluish tint. 
THE GIBBONS. 
The GIBBONS possess, although in a small degree, those singular callosi- 
ties on the hinder quarters which are so conspicuous in the baboon family, 
and assume such strange tints. The Gorilla, Chimpansee, and the Orangs are 
entirely destitute of these peculiarities, but the Gibbons are found to possess 
them, although the callosities are very small, and hidden by the fur from a 
casual view. 
As in the great apes, the arms of the Gibbons are of enormous length, and 
endowed with exceeding power of muscle, though the strength which resides 
in these largely-developed limbs is of a different character. 
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