ORANG-OUTANG. 
323 
His head leaning forward, and forming a considerable angle with the 
back, throws the centre of gravity so far beyond the perpendicular, 
that his arms, like the fore-legs of other animals, are required to sup- 
port the body. So difficult indeed is it for him to keep the upright 
position for a few seconds, under the direction of his keeper, that he 
is obliged, in the performance of his task, to raise his arms above his 
head, and throw them behind him to keep his balance. His pro- 
gressive motion on a flat surface is accomplished by placing his bent 
fists upon the ground and drawing his body between his arms : 
moving in this manner, he strongly resembles a person decrepid in 
the legs, supported on stilts. In a state of nature, he probably seldom 
moves along the ground ; his whole external configuration showing 
his fitness for climbing trees and clinging to their branches. The 
length and pliability of his fingers and toes enable him to grasp 
with facility and steadiness ; and the force of his muscles empowers 
him to support his body for a great length of time by one hand 
or foot. He can thus pass from one fixed object to another, at the 
distance of his span from each other, and can obviously pass from 
one branch of a tree to another, through a much greater interval. 
In sitting on a flat surface, this animal turns his legs under him in 
the manner expressed by the engraving. In sitting on the branch 
of a tree or on a rope, he rests on his heels, his body leaning forward 
against his thighs. This animal uses his hands like others of the 
monkey tribe. 
It is necessary to remark, that I cannot answer for the precise accuracy of the annexed 
measurements, as the restlessness of the animal and the fear of injuring him by violent 
coercion, rendered it very difficult to take them. Those made indeed in May, 1818, were 
often repeated, and are therefore no doubt close approximations to the truth. 
This animal had, on his arrival in England, only ten teeth in each jaw. In December 
he cut his two hindmost double teeth, making up twelve in each jaw. In December, 
1817, he weighed thirty-five pounds and a half; in May, 1818, he weighed forty-three, 
having increased seven pounds and a half in five months, and having grown, as may be 
seen by the table, full three inches in height. 
