been ranked by some naturalists under one general description. If we read the accounts of many remote travellers, under this name we are presented with a formidable animal, from six to eight feet high; if we examine the books of such as have described it nearer home, we find it a pigmy not above three feet. In this diversity we must be content to blend their various descriptions into one general account; observing, at the same time, that we have no reason to doubt any of their relations, although we are puzzled which to follow.

The ouran outang, which, of all other animals, most nearly approaches to the human race, is seen of different sizes, from three to seven feet high. In general, how ever, its stature is less than that of a man; but its strength and agility much greater. Travellers who have seen various kinds of these animals in their native solitudes give us surprising relations of their force, their swiftness, their address, and their ferocity. Naturalists who have observed their form and manners at home have been as much struck with their patient, pliant, imitative disposition-with their appearance and conformation, so nearly human. Of the smallest sort of these animals we have had several at different times brought into this country, all nearly alike; but that observed by Dr. Tyson is the best known, having been described with the greatest exactness.

The animal which was described by that learned physician was brought from Angola, in Africa, where it had been taken in the internal parts of the country, in company with a fernale of the same kind, that died by the way. The body was covered with hair, of a coal-black colour, more resembling human hair than that of brutes. It bore a still stronger similitude in its different lengths; for in those places where it is longest on the human species, it was also longest in this-as on the head, the upper lip, the chin, and the pubes. The face was like that of a man, the forehead larger, and the head round. The upper and lower jaw were not so prominent as in monkeys, but flat, like those of a man in most respects; and the teeth had more of the human than those of any other creature. The bending of the arms and legs were just the same as in a man; and, in short, the animal at first view presented a figure entirely human.

In order to discover its differences, it was necessary to make a closer survey; and then the imperfections of its form began to appear. The first obvious difference was in the flatness of the nose; the next in the lowness of the forehead, and the wanting the prominence of the chin. The ears were proportionably too large, the eyes too close to each other, and the interval between the nose and mouth too great. The body and limbs differed, in the thighs being too short and the arms too long-in the thumb being too little, and the palm of the hand too narrow. The feet also were rather more like hands than feet; and the animal, if we may judge from the figure, bent too much on its haunches.

When this creature was examined anatomically, a surprising similitude was seen to prevail in its internal conformation. It differed from man in the number of its ribs, having thirteen, whereas in man there are but twelve The vertebræ of the neck were also shorter, the bones of the pelvis narrower, the orbits of the eyes deeper, the kidneys rounder, the urinary and gall bladders longer and smaller, and the ureters of a different figure. Such were the principal distinctions between the internal parts of this animal and those of man; in almost everything else they were exactly the same, and discovered an astonishing congruity. Indeed, many parts were so much alike in conformation, that it might have excited wonder how they were productive of such few advantages. The tongue and all the organs of the voice were the same, and yet the animal was dumb; the brain was formed in the same manner with that of man, and yet the creature wanted reason—an evident proof (as

Mr. Buffon finely observes) that no disposition of matter will give mind; and that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed in vain when there is not infused a soul to direct its operations.

Having thus taken a comparative view of this creature with man, what follows may be necessary to complete the general description. This animal was very hairy all behind, from the head downwards; and the hair so thick, that it almost prevented the skin from being seen; but in all parts before the hair was much thinner, the skin everywhere appeared, and in some places it was almost bare. When it went upon all-fours, as it was sometimes seen to do, it appeared all hairy; when it went erect, it appeared before less hairy and more like a man. Its hair, which in this particular animal was black, much more resembled that of men than the fur of brutes; for in the latter, besides their long hair, there is usually a finer and shorter intermixed; but in the ouran outang it it was all of a kind-only about the pubes the hair was greyish, seemed longer, and somewhat different; as also on the upper lip and chin, where it was greyish, like the hair of a beard. The face, hands, and soles of the feet were without hair, as was most part of the forehead; but down the sides of the face the hair was thick, and being about an inch and a half long, which exceeded that on any other part of the body. In the palms of the hands those lines were prominent which are so much noticed in palmistry, and at the tips of the fingers those spiral lines observed in man. The palms of the hands were as long as the soles of the feet, and the toes upon these were as long as the fingers; the middle toe was longest of all, and the whole foot differed from that of man. The hinder feet being thus formed as hands, the animal often used them as such, and, on the contrary, now and then made use of its hands instead of its feet. The breasts appeared small and shrivelled, but exactly like those of a man; the navel also appeared very fair and in exact disposition, being neither harder nor more prominent than what is usually seen in children. Such is the description of this extraordinary creature; to which litttle has been added by succeeding observers, except that the colour of the hair is often found to vary-in that described by Edwards it was of a redish brown.

From a picture so like that of the human species, we are naturally led to expect a corresponding mind; and it is certain that such of these animals as have been shown in Europe have discovered a degree of imitation beyond what any quadruped can arrive at.

That of Tyson was a fond, gentle, harmless creature. In its passage to England, those it was acquainted with on ship-board it would embrace with the greatest tenderness, opening their bosoms, and clasping its hands about them Monkeys of a lower species it held in utter aversion; it would always avoid the place where they were kept in the same vessel, and seemed to consider itself as a creature of higher extraction. After it was taken, and a little habituated to wearing clothes, it grew very fond of them; it would put on a portion without any help, and the rest it would carry in its hands to some of the company for their assistance. It would lie in a bed, place its head on the pillow, and pull the clothes upwards as a man would do.

That which was seen by Edwards, and described by Buffon, showed even a superior degree of sagacity. It walked, like all of its kind, upon two legs, even though it carried burthens. Its air was melancholy and its de portment grave. Unlike the babo n or monkey, whose motions are violent and appetites capricious, who are fond of mischief and obedient only from fear, this animal was slow in its motions, and a look was sufficient to keep it in awe. I have seen it, says Mr. Buffon, give its hand to show the company to the door: I have seen it sit at table, unfold its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of the spoon and the fork to carry the victuals to its mouth, pour out its drink into a glass, touch glasses when

invited, take a cup and saucer and lay them on the table, put in sugar, pour out its tea, leave it to cool before drinking, and all this without any other instigation than the signs or command of its master, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive; it even approached strangers with respect, and came rather to receive caresses than to offer injuries. It was particularly fond of sugared comfits, which everybody was ready to give it; and, as it had a defluction upon the breast, so much sugar contributed to increase the disorder and shorten its life. It ate indiscriminately of all things, but it preferred dried and ripe fruits to all other aliments. It would drink wine, but in small quantities, and gladly left it for milk, tea, or any other sweet liquor.

Such these animals appeared when first brought into Europe. However, many of their extraordinary habits were probably the result of education, and we are not told how long the instructions they received for this purpose were continued. But we learn from another account that they take but a very short time to come to a great degree of imitative perfection. M. L. Brosse bought two young ones, that were but a year old, from a Negro; at that early age they showed an astonishing power of imitation. They even then sat at the table like men, ate of everything without distinction, made use of their knife, spoon, and fork, both to eat their meat and help themselves. They drank wine and other liquors. When carried on ship-board they had signs for the cabin-boys expressive of their wants; and whenever these neglected attending upon them as they desired they instantly flew into a passion, seized them by the arm, bit them, and kept them down. The male was sea-sick, and required attendance like a human creature; he was even twice bled in the arm; and every time afterwards when he found himself out of order he showed his arm, as desirous of being relieved by bleeding.

Pyrard relates, that in the province of Sierra Leone, in Africa, there is a kind of ape, called Barris, which are strong and muscular, and which, if properly instructed when young, serve as very useful domestics. They usually walk upright; they pound at a mortar; they go to the river to fetch water-this they carry back in a little pitcher on their heads; but if care be not taken to receive the pitcher at their return they let it fall to the ground, and then, seeing it broken, they begin to lament and cry for their loss. Le Comte's account is much to the same purpose, of an ape which he saw in the Strait of Molucca. "It walked upon its two hind-feet, which it bent like a dog that had been taught to dance. It made use of its hands and arms as we do. Its visage was not much more disagreeable than than that of a Hottentot; but the body was all covered with a woolly hair of different colours. As to the rest, it cried like a child; all its outward actions were so like the human, and the passions so lively and significant, that dumb men could scarce better express their conceptions and desires. It had also that expression of passion or joy which we often see in children, dancing with its feet, and striking them against the ground to show its spite, or when refused anything it passionately longed for. Although these animals," continues he, "are very big-for that I saw was four feet high-their nimbleness is incredible. It is a pleasure beyond expression to see them run up the tackling of a ship, where they sometimes play as if they had a knack of vaulting peculiar to themselves, or as if they had been paid like our ropedancers to divert the company. Sometimes suspended by one arm, they poise themselves, and then turn all of a sudden round about a rope with as much quickness as a wheel, or a sling put into motion. Sometimes, holding the rope successively with their long fingers, and letting their whole body fall into the air, they run full speed from one end to the other, and come back again

with the same swiftness. There is no posture but they imitate, nor motion but they perform-bending themselves like a bowl, hanging by the hands, feet, and teeth, according to the different fancies with which their capricious imagination supplies them. But what is still more amazing than all is, their agility to fling themselves from one rope to another, though at thirty, forty, and fifty feet distance."

Such are the habitudes and the powers of the smaller class of these extraordinary creatures; but we are presented with a very different picture in those of a larger stature and more muscular form. The little animals we have been describing, which are seldom found above four feet high, seem to partake of the nature of dwarfs among the human species, being gentle, assiduous, and playful, rather fitted to amuse than terrify. But the gigantic races of the ouran outang seen and described by travellers are truly formidable, and in the gloomy forests, where they are only found, seem to hold undisputed dominion. Many of these are as tall or taller than a man-active, strong, and intrepid, cunning, lascivious, and cruel. This redoubtable rival of mankind is found in many parts of Africa, in the East Indies, Madagascar, and in Borneo. In the last of these places the people of quality course him as we do the stag; and this sort of hunting is one of the favourite amusements of the king himself. This creature is extremely swift of foot, endowed with extraordinary strength, and runs with prodigious celerity. His skin is all hairy, his eyes sunk in his head, his countenance stern, his face tanned, and all his lineaments, though exactly human, harsh and blackened by the sun. In Africa this creature is even still more formidable. Battel calls him the "pongo," and assures us that in all his proportions he resembles a man, except that he is much larger, even to a gigantic state. His face resembles that of a man, the eyes deep sunk in the head, the hair on each side very long, the visage naked and without hair, as also the ears and the hands. The body is lightly covered, and scarcely differing from that of a man, except that there are no calves to the legs. Still, however, the animal is seen to walk on his hinder legs, and in an erect posture. He sleeps under trees, and builds himself a hut, which serves to protect him against the sun and the rains of the tropical climates, of which he is a native. He lives only upon fruits, and is no way carnivorous. He cannot speak, although furnished with greater instinct than any other animal of the brute creation. When the Negroes make a fire in the woods, this animal comes near and warms himself by the blaze. However, he has not skill enough to keep the flame alive by feeding it with fuel. They go together in companies; and if they happen to meet one of the human species remote from succour they show him no mercy. They even attack the elephant, which they beat with their clubs, and oblige to leave that part of the forest which they claim as their own. It is impossible to take any of these dreadful creatures alive, for they are so strong that ten men would not be a match for but one of them. None of this kind, therefore, are taken except when very young, and these but rarely, when the female happens to leave them behind; for in general they keep clung to the breast. and adhere both with legs and arms. From the same traveller we learn, that when one of these animals dies the rest cover the body with a quantity of leaves and branches. They sometimes also show mercy to the human kind. A Negro boy, that was taken by one of these and carried into the woods, continued there a whole year without receiving any injury. From another traveller we learn that these animals often attempt to surprise the female Negroes as they go into the woods, and frequently keep them against their wills for the pleasure of their company, feeding them very plentifully all the time. He assures us that he knew a woman of Loango that had lived among

these animals for three years. They grow from six to seven feet high, and are of unequalled strength. They build sheds, and make use of clubs for their defence. Their faces are broad, their noses flat, their ears without a tip, their skins are more bright than that of a Mullato, and they are covered on many parts of the body with long and tawny-coloured hair. Their belly is large, their heels flat, and yet rising behind. They sometimes walk upright, and sometimes upon all-fours when they are fantastically disposed.

From this description of the ouran outang, we perceive at what a distance the first animal of the brute creation is placed from the very lowest of the human species. Even in countries peopled with savages this creature is considered as a beast; and in those very places where we might suppose the smallest difference between them and mankind, the inhabitants hold it in the greatest contempt and detestation. In Borneo, where this animal has been said to come to its greatest perfection, the natives hunt it in the same manner as they pursue the elephant or the lion, while its resemblance to the human form procures it neither pity nor protection. The gradations of nature in the other parts of Nature are minute and insensible; in the passage from quadrupeds to fishes we can scarce tell where the quadruped ends and the fish begins; in the descent from beasts to insects we can hardly distinguish the steps of their progression; but in the ascent from brutes to man the line is strongly drawn, well marked, and unpassable. It is in vain that the ouran outang resembles man in form, or imitates many of his actions; he still continues a wretched, helpless creature, pent up in the most gloomy part of the forest, and, with regard to the provision for his own happiness, inferior even to the elephant or beaver in sagacity. To us, indeed, this animal seems much wiser than it really is. As we have long been used to measure the sagacity of all actions by their similitude to our own, and not their fitness to the animal's way of living, we are pleased with the imitations of the ape, even though we know they are far from contributing to the convenience of its situation. An ape or a quadruped, when under the tramels of human education, may be an admirable object for human curiosity, but it is very little advanced by all its learning in the road to its own felicity. On the contrary, I have never seen any of these long-instructed animals that did not by their melancholy air appear sensible of the wretchedness of their situation. Its marks of seeming sagacity were merely relative to us and not to the animal; and all its boasted wisdom was merely of our own making.

There is, in fact, another circumstance relative to this animal which ought not to be concealed. Almost all the travellers who speak of them mention their going sometimes upon all-fours and sometimes erect. As their chief residence is among trees, they are no doubt usually seen erect while they are climbing; but it is more than propable that their efforts to escape upon the ground are by running upon the hands and feet together Schouten, who mentions their education, tells us that they are taken in traps, and taught in the beginning to walk upon their hind-legs-which certainly implies that in a state of nature they run upon all-fours. Add to this, that when we examine the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet, we find both equally callous and beatena certain proof that both have been equally used. In those hot countries where the apes are known to reside, the soles of the Negroes' feet, who go bare-foot, are covered with a skin above an inch thick; while their hands are as soft as those of an European. Did the apes walk in the same manner the same exercise would have furnished them with similar advantages, which is not the case. Besides all this, I have been assured by a very credible traveller that these animals naturally run in the woods upon all-fours; and when they are taken their hands are tied behind them to teach them to walk

upright. This attitude they learn after some time; and, thus instructed, they are sent into Europe to astonish the speculative with their near approaches to humanity, while it is never considered how much is natural, and how much has been acquired in the savage schools of Benin and Angola.

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The animal next to these, and to be placed in the same class, is the "ape," properly so called, or the pithekos" of the ancients. This is much less than the former, being not above a foot and a half high, but walks erect, is without a tail, and is easily tamed.

Of this kind also is the "gibbon," so called by Buffon, or the "long-armed ape," which is an extraordinary and remarkable creature. It is of different sizes, being from two to four feet high. It walks erect, is without a tail, has a face resembling that of a man, with a circle of bushy hair all round the visage; its eyes are large and sunk in its head; its face tanned, and its ears in exact proportion But that in which it chiefly differs from all others of the monkey tribe is the extraordinary length of its arms, which, when the animal stands erect, are long enough to reach the ground-so that it can walk upon all-fours, and yet keep its erect posture at the same time. This animal, next to the ouran outang and the ape, most nearly resembles mankind, not only in form, but in gentle manners and tractable disposition. It is a native of the East Indies, and paricularly found along the coast of Coromandel.

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The last of the ape kind is the "cynocephalus," or the magot" of Buffon. This animal wants a tail, like the former, although there is a small protuberance at that part, which yet is rather formed by the skin than the bone. It differs also in having a large, callous, red rump. The face is prominent, and approaches more to that of quadrupeds than of man. The body is covered with a brownish hair, and yellow on the belly. It is about three feet and a half or four feet high, and is a native of most parts of Africa and the East. As it recedes from man in its form, so also it appears different in its dispositions, being sullen, vicious, and untractable.

THE BABOON.-Descending from the more perfect of the monkey kinds, we come to the baboon and its varieties-a large, fierce, and formidable race, that, mixing the figure of the man and the quadruped in their conformation, seem to possess only the defects of boththe petulance of the one and the ferocity of the other. These animals have a short tail; a prominent face; ca nine teeth, larger than those of men, and callosities on the rump. In man the physiognomy may deceive, and the figure of the body does not always lead to the qualities of the mind; but in animals we may always judge of their dispositions by their looks, and form a just conjecture of their internal habits by their external form. If we compare the nature of the ape and the baboon by this easy rule, we shall at once be led to pronounce that they greatly differ in their dispositions, and that the latter are infinitely more fierce, savage, and malicious than the former. The ouran outang, which so nearly resembles man in its figure, approaches also nearest in the gentleness of its manners and the pliancy of its temper. The cynocephalus, that of all other apes is most unlike man in form, and approaches nearer to the dog in face, resembles also the brute in nature, being wild, restless, and impelled by a fretful impetuosity. But the baboon, who is still more remote, and resembles man only in having hands-who, from having a tail, a prominent face, and sharp claws, approaches more nearly to the savage tribe-is every way fierce, malicious, ignorant, and untractable.

The "baboon," properly so called, is from three to four feet high, very strong built, with a thick body and limbs, and canine teeth much larger than those of men It has large callosities behind, which are quite naked and red. Its tail is crooked and thick, and about seven

or eight inches long. Its snout, for it can hardly be called a face, is long and thick, and on each side of its cheeks it has a pouch, into which, when satiated with eating, it puts the remainder of its provisions. It is covered with long, thick hair, of a redish brown colour, and pretty uniform over the whole body. It walks more commonly upon all-fours than upright, and its hands as well as its feet are armed with long sharp claws, instead of the broad round nails of the ape kind.

An animal thus made for strength, and furnished with dangerous weapons, is found, in fact, to be one of the most formidable of the savage race in those countries where it is bred. It appears in its native woods to be impelled by two opposite passions—a hatred for the males of the human species, and a desire for women. Were we to speak of these strange oppositions in its disposition from one testimony alone the account might appear doubtful; but as it comes from a variety of the most credible witnesses we cannot refuse our assent. From them, therefore, we learn, that these animals will often assail women in a body, and force them into the woods, where they keep them against their will, and kill them if they are refractory. From the Chevalier Forbin we learn, that in Siam whole troops of these will often sally forth from their forests and attack a village, when they know the men are engaged in their rice harvest. These, however, as the Chevalier humorously relates, not at all liking either the manners or the figures of the paltry gallants, boldly stand on their defence, and with clubs, or whatever other arms they can provide, instead of answering their caresses oblige their ugly suitors to retreat-not, however, before they have damaged or plundered everything eatable they can lay their hands on.

At the Cape of Good Hope they are less formidable, but, to the best of their power, equally mischievous. They are there under a sort of natural discipline, and go about whatever they undertake with surprising skill and regularity. When they set about robbing an orchard or a vineyard (for they are extremely fond of grapes, apples, and ripe fruit) they do not go singly to work, but in large companies, and with preconcerted deliberation. On these occasions a part of them enter the enclosure, while one is set to watch. The rest stand without the fence, and form a line reaching all the way from their fellows within to their rendezvous without, which is generally in some craggy mountain. Every thing being thus disposed, the plunderers within the orchard throw the fruit to those that are without as fast as they can gather it; or, if the wall or hedge be high, to those that sit on the top; and these hand the plunder to those next them on the other side. Thus the fruit is pitched from one to another all along the line, till it is safely deposited at their head-quarters. They catch it as readily as the most skilful tennis-player can catch a ball; and while the business is going forward, which they conduct with great expedition, almost profound silence is observed among them. Their centinel during the whole time continues upon the watch, extremely anxious and attentive; but if he perceives any one coming he instantly sets up a loud cry, and at this signal the whole company scamper off. Nor yet are they at any time willing to leave the place empty-handed; for if they be plundering a bed of melons, for instance, they go off with one in their mouth, one in their hands, and one under their arm. If the pursuit is hot, they drop that first from under the arm, and then that from their hand; and if it be continued, they at last let fall that which they had hitherto kept in their mouths.

The natives of the Cape often take the young of these animals, and feeding them with sheep and goats' milk, accustom them to guard their houses-which duty they perform with great punctuality. Those, however, that have been brought into Europe are headstrong, rude, and untractable. Dogs and cats, when they have done

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anything wrong, will run off, but these seem careless and insensible of the mischief they do; and I have seen one of them break a whole table of china, as it should seem by design, without appearing in the least conscious of having done amiss. It was not, however, in any respect so formidable as that described by Mr. Buffon, of which he gives the following description :"It was not," says he, extremely ugly, and yet it excited horror. It continually appeared in a state of savage ferocity, gnashing its teeth, flying at the spectators, and was furiously restless. It was obliged to be confined in an iron cage, the bars of which it so forcibly attempted to break that the spectators were struck with apprehension. It was a sturdy, bold animal, whose short limbs and powerful exertions showed vast strength and agility. The long hair with which it was covered seemed to add to its apparent abilities-which, however, were in reality so great, that it could easily overcome a single man, unless armed. As to the rest, it for ever appeared excited by that passion which renders the mildest animals at intervals furious. Its lasciviousness was constant, and its satisfactions particular. Some others also of the monkey kind showed the same degree of impudence, and particularly in the presence of women; but as they were less in size, their petulance was less obvious and their insolence more easily corrected."

But however violent the desires of these animals may be, they are not found to breed in our climate. The female brings forth usually but one at a time, which she carries in her arms, and in a peculiar manner clinging to her breast. As to the rest, these animals are not at all carnivorous; they principally feed upon fruits, roots, and corn, and generally keep together in companies. The internal parts are more unlike those of man than of quadrupeds, particularly the liver, which is like that of a dog divided into six lobes. The lungs are more divided, the guts in general are shorter, and the kidneys rounder and flatter.

The largest of the baboon kind is the "mandril"—an ugly, disgusting animal, with a tail shorter than the former, though of a much larger stature, being from four to five feet high. The muzzle is still longer than that of the preceding; it is of a bluish colour, and strongly marked with wrinkles, which give it a frightful appearance. But what renders it truly loathsome is, that from the nose there is always seen issuing a liquid, which the animal takes care at intervals to lick off with its tongue and swallow. It is a native of the Gold Coast; it is said to walk more frequently erect than upon all-fours; and when displeased, to weep like a child. There was one of them shown in England some years ago. It seemed tamed but stupid, and had a method of opening its mouth and blowing at such as came too near.

The "wanderow" is a baboon rather less than the former, with the body less compact and muscular, and the hinder parts seemingly more feeble. The tail is from seven to eight inches long; the muzzle is prominent, as in the rest of this kind; but what particularly distinguishes it is a large, long, white head of hair, together with a monstrous white beard, coarse, rough, and descending, the colour of the rest of the body being brown or black. As to the rest, in its savage state it is equally fierce with the others; but with a proper education it seems more tractable than most of its kind, and is chiefly seen in the woods of Ceylon and Malabar.

The " maimon" of Buffon, which Edwards calls the "pigtail," is the last of the baboons, and in size rather approaches the monkey, being no larger than a cat. Its chief distinction, besides its prominent muzzle, like a baboon, is in the tail, which is about five or six inches long, and curled up like that of a hog; from which circumstance, peculiar to this animal, our English naturalist gave it the name. It is a native of Sumatra, and