SIMIA. 
cellence ; and its skin, by some simple pro- 
cess, is converted into a hard, transparent 
substance, which accomplishes the purposes 
of horn and glass. 
SIMIA, the ape, in natural histoi-y, a ge- 
nus of Mammalia, of the order Primates. 
Generic character : front teeth in each jaw 
four, near together ; canine teeth solitary, 
longer than the others, distant from the 
grinders ; grinders obtuse. Animals of this 
genus are commonly divided into such as 
have no tails ; such as have only very short 
ones ; such as have very long ones ; and, 
lastly, such as have prehensile tails, with 
which they can lay Jiold of any object 
at pleasure. These four classes are call- 
ed respectively apes, baboons, monkeys, 
and japajous. In the whole genus tliere are 
enumerated by Gmelin sixty-three species, 
of which we shall notice some of the most 
important, 
S. satyrus, or tlie orang-outang. Tliis 
animal is said to grow in its native woods 
of Africa and India to the height of six feet, 
and to subsist, like most other species, on 
fruits. It flies from the haunts of mankind, 
leads a solitary life, and displays great 
strength, agility, and swiltness, which ren- 
der it extremely difficult to be taken. It 
has been known to attack and destroy ne- 
groes, wandering at a distance from their 
habitations, and to carry off women to its 
wretched habitation, watching them with 
such extraordinary vigilance, as scarcely to 
admit the possibility of their escape. Its 
general resemblance to the human figure 
and countenance is particularly and morti- 
fyingly strong, yet minute observation and 
dissection have pointed almost innume- 
rable differences, the detail of which is here 
impossible. It is capable of being tamed 
and domesticated, and, many years since, 
one was exhibited in London which had 
been disciplined to sit, and work, and eat, 
like a human being, using a knife and fork 
for the latter purpose. Its disposition was 
pensive ; its manners were gentle ; and it 
appeared to possess, for its keepers, and 
those to whom: it had been long familiar- 
ized, a high degree of genuine gratitude and 
attachment. For the orang-outang, see 
Mammalia, Plate XIX. fig. 1. 
S. inuUs, the Barbary ape, is about four 
feet in height, and is the species most com- 
monly exhibited in public shows, and is 
trained to the performance of a great va- 
riety of tricks, calculated to attract popular 
admiration. The discipline it passes throtigh 
is often severe, and this species is consider- 
ed, in its natural state, as being more fero- 
cious, and less sagacious, than several others 
of the class. See Mammalia, Plate X^X. 
fig. 2. 
S. sphynx, or the great baboon, is be- 
tween three and four feet high, of a grey- 
brown colour, and is particularly muscular 
in the upper part of its body j its hands and 
feet have sharp nails, like claws ; but on its 
thumbs there are nails formed like those on 
the human fingers. It is an animal incapa- 
ble of domestication, and has, in no in- 
stance, been observed to be divested of 
great malignity and fierceness of disposi- 
tion. The female produces only one young 
one at a birth, which she suckles at her 
breast, and carries about with her in her 
arms. Baboons inhabit the hottest climates 
of Africa, and are often seen in very consi- 
derable numbers. The plantations of fruits 
and roots are frequently much injured by 
their depredations. They are scarcely, in 
any species, susceptible of attachment. In 
confinement, they display incessant rest- 
lessness and irritation, and in their form 
and manners they present a complication 
of ferocity and hideousness. See Mamma- 
lia, Plate XIX. fig. 3. 
S. hamadryas, or the dog-faced baboon, 
is very large, and often greater than the. 
common baboon. It is distinguished by a 
vast quantity of hair, spreading from each 
side of the head down the shoulders, and 
covering the animal to the waist, like a 
mantle. Its colour is a mixture of grey and 
brown. It is a ferocious and dangerous 
animal, is found in the most torrid regions 
of Africa, and, though more rare than the 
common species, is yet seen occasionally in 
large companies. Its general aspect, when 
in an undisturbed state, is that of profound 
meditation ; but when molested, its looks 
indicate the most perturbed and malignant 
feelings. In confinement, it is turbulent, 
untractable, and filthy. The tail of this ba- 
boon is nearly as long as its body. 
S. leonina, or the leonine monkey, is 
supposed to be an inhabitant of Abyssinia, 
and is two feet in length, from tlie nose to 
the tail ; along the face is a great quantity 
of long hair, extending nearly from the eyes 
back over the forehead and crown of the 
head, and from the chin over the neck, and 
this bushment of hair gives it, in addition to 
the general form and countenance of the 
animal, no slight resemblance to the lion, 
from which it derives its designation. See 
Mammalia, Plate XIX. fig. 4. 
S. mona, or the varied monkey, is one of 
