414 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



by that learned phyfician, confifted in the great length of 

 the arms, and fhortnefs of the thighs ; the thumb is alfo 

 much fmaller, and the palm of the hand longer and nar- 

 rower, than in man j the form of the feet is very diflimi- 

 lar, the toes being much longer, and the large toe placed 

 at a greater diftance from the others ; the forehead is 

 higher, the nofe flat, and the eyes much funk : Befide 

 thefe, the anatomift has enumerated a variety of effential 

 differences in the internal conformation of the Oran-Ou- 

 tang ; all of which fufficiently evince, that, though he 

 has the ftrongeft affinity to the human form of any other 

 quadruped ; yet, as Buffbn elegantly obferves, " the in- 

 terval which feparates the two fpecies is immenfe ; the 

 refemblance in figure and organization, and the move- 

 ments of imitation which feem to refult from thefe fimi- 

 larities, neither make him approach the nature of man, 

 nor elevate him above that of the brute." 



The Oran-Outang is found in the interior parts of 

 Africa, in Madagafcar, Borneo, and fome parts of the 

 Eaft-Indies. 



It is a folitary animal, avoids mankind, and lives only 

 in the molt defert places. 



The largefl of the kind are faid to be about fix feet 

 high, very active, ftrong, and intrepid, capable of over- 

 coming the ftrongeft man : They are likewife exceeding- 

 ly fwift, and cannot eafily be taken alive. — They live en- 

 tirely on fruits and nuts, will fometimes attack and kill 

 the negroes who wander in the woods, and drive away 

 the elephants that happen to approach too near the place 

 of their refidence. They fometimes furprize the female 

 negroes, and carry them off into the woods, where they 

 compel them to ftay with them. 



When taken young, however, the Oran-Outang is ca- 



