CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 2. QUADRUMANA. 
n 
it with wonderful agility ascend the beams and rafters of the building. It was not without some 
trouble that it was taken, and we then remarked the prodigious strength of the animal ; the assist- 
ance of four men being necessary in order to hold it in such a manner as to be properly secured. 
During its state of liberty, it had, among other things, taken the cork from a bottle of Malaga 
wine, which it had drunk to the last drop, and had set the bottle in its place again. When pre- 
sented Avith strawberries on a plate, of which it was extremely fond, it was very amusing to see it 
take them up one by one with a fork and put them into its mouth. Its common drink was water, 
but it also willingly drank all sorts of wine, preferring Malaga, After eating, it always wiped its 
mouth, and when presented with a toothpick, used it in a proper manner. This animal lived 
seven months in Holland, whither it had been sent from the island of Borneo." 
The following account from Dr. Clarke Abel, of one which lived some time in his possession, is 
additionally interesting from the circAmistauce of the observations having been made upon it in its 
own climate, while enjoying a state of comparative liberty : 
"AVhile at Java," says Dr. Abel, "he lodged in a large tamarind-tree near my dwelling, and 
formed a bed by intertwining the small branches, and covering them with leaves. During the 
day he would lie with his head projecting beyond his nest, watching whoever might pass under, 
and when he saw any one with fruit, he would descend to obtain a share of it. He always retired 
for the night at sunset, or sooner if he had been well fed, rose with the sun, and visited those 
from whom he habitually received food. 
"On board ship he commonly slept at the mast-head, often wrapping himself up in a sail. 
Sometimes I preoccupied his bed, and teased him by refusing to give it up. On these occasions 
he would endeavor to pull the sail from under me, or force me to quit it, and would not rest until 
I resigned it. If all the sails happened to be set, he would hunt about for some other covering, 
and either steal one of the sailor's jackets, or empty a hammock of its blankets. His favorite 
amusement in Java was swinging from the branches of the trees, or climbing over the roofs of the 
houses; on board, in hanging by the ropes, or romping with the boys of the ship. He Avould en- 
tice them to play by striking them with his hand as they passed, and then bounding from them, 
but allowing them to overtake him, and then engage in a mock scuiSe, in Avhich he used his 
hands, feet, and mouth. If any conjecture could be formed from these frolics of his mode of at- 
tacking an adversary, it would appear to be his first object to throAv him down, then secure him 
with his hands and feet, and then wound him with his teeth. Of some small monkeys on board 
he took little notice while under the observation of the persons of the ship. Once, indeed, he 
openly attempted to throw a small cage, containing three of them, overboard ; but I had reason to 
believe that he was not so indifferent to their society when free from observation. On one occa- 
sion I observed him lying on his back, partially covered with a sail, contemplating with great 
gravity the gambols of a young monkey, which Avas bounding over him ; at length he caught him 
I)y the tail, and tried to envelop him in the covering. The monkey seemed to dislike the confine- 
ment, and broke from him, but again renewed his gambols, and though repeatedly cauglit, always 
escaped. The intercourse, however, did not seem that of equals, for the orang-outang never con- 
descended to romp with the monkeys as he did with the boys of the ship. Yet the monkeys had 
evidently a great predilection for his company, for whenever they broke loose, they took their 
way to his resting-place. But though so gentle when not irritated, the orang-outang could 
be excited to violent rage, and on one or two occasions committed acts which, in a rational 
being, would have been called the threatening of suicide. If repeatedly refused an orange, when 
he attempted to take it, he Avould shriek violently, and swing furiously about the ropes, then re- 
turn and endeavor to obtain it. If again refused, he would roll for some time like an angry child 
upon the deck, uttering the most piercing screams, and then suddenly starting up, rush furiously 
over the side of the ship and disappear. On first witnessing this, we thought that he had thrown 
himself into the sea, but on searching found him concealed under the chains. 
" I have seen him exhibit violent alarm on two occasions only, when he appeared to seek for 
safety in gaining as high an elevation as possible. On seeing eight large turtles brought on board 
off the Isle of Ascension, he climbed with all possible speed to a higher part of the ship than he 
had ever before reached, and looking down upon them, projected his long lips into the form of a 
