30 
THE GIBBONS. 
intervals. This sound seemed to be used for the purpose of expressing irritation. Anger was 
expressed by the shrieking “Ra ! ra ! ” and pleasure by a kind of mixture between a squeak 
and a chirp. 
For the account of this animal we are indebted to Mr. Bennett, who has related many 
other traits indicative of its character. Sir S. Raffles possessed several specimens of this ape, 
and describes them as being social in their manners, and of an intelligent nature. Although 
they were powerful animals, they were gentle, and showed themselves to be pleased with the 
society of those persons to whom they were attached. 
Although in their physical charac- 
ters the Gibbohs bear much resemblance 
to the apes which have already been de- 
scribed, yet there are some peculiarities 
in form and anatomy which show them 
to be a link of transition between the 
great apes, and the lesser monkeys and 
baboons. 
They possess, although in a small 
degree, those singular callosities on the 
hinder quarters which are so conspicuous 
in the baboon family, and assume such 
strange tints. The gorilla, chimpanzee, and the orangs, are entirely destitute of these 
peculiarities, but the Gibbons are found to possess them, although the callosities are very 
small, and hidden by the fur from a casual view. 
As in the great apes* the arms of the Gibbons are of enormous length, and endowed with 
THE LAE GIBBON .— Hylobates lar. 
