10 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(6) THE LONG-AEMED APE. 

 (HYLOBATES LEUCISCUS-(Schreh.) ) 



Description. — Colour uniform grey ; face much paler than other 

 parts; fingers and toes black, at least much darker than other parts; 

 hair dpnse and woolly. 



Hab. — Java. 



(7) THE SIAMANG. 

 (HYLOBATES SYNDACTYLUS— {Desm.)) 



Description.— Larger and more robust than all other gibbons. 

 General colour deep black. The chief features of this gibbon are its 

 large dilatable sac in the throat and the webbed middle and index toes 

 of its foot. 



Hab. — Sumatra. 



The following remarks apply to all these species (3 to 7). 



Length of life in captivity. 



A white-cheeked gibbon obtained early in 1889 is still alive and 



well. The others have lived in the garde a for periods varying from 



a few days to a few months. Most of them are delicate animals and 



do not bear captivity well. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — With regard to housing, feeding and transport, these 

 animals may be treated like a hoolock. In feeding, allowance should, 

 of course, be made for individual tastes. A white-cheeked gibbon has 

 been found, although fond of grasshoppers, not to care for eggs, either 

 raw or boiled. 



Breeding. — Nothing is known about their breeding in captivity. 



Treatment in sickness. 

 Only a limited number of specimens of each of the species men- 

 tioned above have come under observation, and as most of them died 

 without having developed any marked symptoms of illness, no experience 

 has been gained in the treatment of their diseases. But as their habits 

 and food are nearly similar to those of the hoolock, it is highly pro- 

 bable that they are subject to the same maladies also. A white- 

 cheeked gibbon, for instance, lately suffered from an attack of skin 

 disease. It was noticed that it would not make friends with another 

 inmate of the same cage, a hoolock. It became weak and emaciated, 

 and skin disease supervened. The hoolock was amoved, and a whole- 

 some diet, which soon cured the animal, was prescribed as follows: — 

 Bread and milk, 2 chittacks of each, and two or three plantains and 

 some raisins in the morning at about 8-30. Two chittacks of gram, 

 soaked in water, a piuch of salt, occasionally a small quantity ot rice, 

 one biscuit, either one or two plantains or papya, or some other fruit in 

 the evening ; a few grasshoppers every day, and a lamp of sulphur in 

 the drinking water. 



