OEANG OUTANG. 



5 



Western Africa, and had opportunities of observing 

 the habits of this species. This animal did not 

 seem fond of the erect posture, which it rarely af- 

 fected, though it could run nimbly on two feet for a 

 short distance. In this case, it appeared to aid the 

 motion of it legs, by grasping the thighs with its 

 hands. It had great strength in the four fingers 

 of its superior extremity ; for it would often swing 

 by them on a rope upwards of an hour, without in- 

 termission. When first procured, it was so thickly 

 covered with hair, that the skin of the trunk and 

 limbs was scarcely visible, until the long black hair 

 was blown aside. At that period, the skin was tree 

 from any disease : but after it had been some time 

 at sea, much of its hair fell off, its body was at- 

 tacked by a scaly eruption, resembling psoriasis 

 guttata, and attended by excessive itching. This 

 might partly be owing to improper diet, as it was 

 often fed on salted beef and biscuit. It ate readily 

 every sort of vegetable food ; but at first did not 

 appear to relish flesh, though it seemed to take 

 pleasure in sucking the leg-bone of a fowl. At 

 that time it did not relish wine, but afterwards 

 seemed to like it, though it never could endure ar- 

 dent spirits. It once stole a bottle of wine, which 

 it uncorked with its teeth, and began to drink. It 

 shewed a predilection for coffee, and was immode- 

 rately fond of sweet articles of food. v It learned to 

 feed itelf with a spoon, to drink out of a glass, and 

 shewed a general disposition to imitate the actions 



