The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-15
4 Family Of Orang.Outxugs.

lisLment of Prof. Ward, in Rochester
Vrot. Ward some time ago dispatched to
Borneo especially 10 collect specimens Of
che orang-outang an agent who sue
ceeded in killing forty. The specimens
at the museum were purchased at q cos,
of 81, 400. They are now fenced oft in
the northeast coner of the main floor,
but as soon as glass case can be made
to protect them from touch they will be
exhibited q little to the rear of the cen.
ter of the room.
The most prominent place, in the cen.
ter Of the group, is given to the old man,
who is as large as q man, weighs about
100 pounds, and is remarkable for his
ugliness. He is hanging by his left arm
to q high limb, against which, lower
down, rests his left foot. His right leg
hangs down easily, while his right arm
is stretched at full length, exhibiting his
great reach, at least eight feet, from tin
to tip Of his fingers. His legs are much
shorter, and his body, which is clumsy
in shape, is also comparatively short.
The arms of the orang .outang reach to
the heel. In front the old male is bare
and black, looking very much like coarse
leather polished with stove.polish, but
his back, the top of his head, the back
OF his arm, and his legs entire are GOV.
cred with coarse, long, dark.brown hair.
His face seems to I've of the same quality
of leather as his front and is of the shape
OF an ordinary plate, with = protuber-
ance occupying the lower segment for
the muzzle, which is split by long
mouth. The nose consists of two minute
holes just over tho top of the muzzle,
the nostrils being, thinner and smaller
than q !child's. The eyes are near the
top of the plate and are small and black,
with scarcely any lids, no lashes, and no
brow. The skull is very small and
round, being apparently q rudimentary
head growing out Of the top of the back,
the very small ears being at the junction
of the two, where a neck should be.
There are no nails on the big toes of any
Of the animals, but on all the other toes
and on the thumbs and fingers there are
black nails, in shape almost exactly like
those Of human beings. 81" ~ ,
To the left of the head of the family is
another male, weighing about one hum
dred pounds, and presenting number
OF differences in appearances. The hair
Is redish and eighteen inches in length,
covering him with the warmest of coats.
Two fingers and two toes of this male
were missing when he was killed. This
Is explained by the hunter who killed
him to have been the result of fights
with other males, the plan Of warfare
OF the species being to keep biting off
an adversary's toes and fingers until he
runs away. OF course, after the loss of
q greater portion of his fingers and toes
an orang-outang would starve to death,
for his food is obtained entirely by
climbing and his entire life in spent in
trees. In front, at the right hand cor.
ner, there is a young female in nest Of
leaves, showing how the species sleep,
her eyes closed and her hands and feet
tightly grasping four limbs of tree.
If the nest should give way she would
still hang. She weighs only about sixty
pounds, and her hair is lighter than that
OF either of the others mentioned, and.
though longer than that of the old male.
Is not so long as that of the hundred.
FOUNDER. 1t covers the entire BODY and
limbs. Another female, weighing about
seventy-tve pounds, is at the opposite
corner. She is hanging by one hand
from limb, while in the other she holds
= large green fruit which, with mouth
Wide open, she is ready to eat. The
mouth IS enormous, and the teeth are
Inc same in number rs in man. but the
|nci'ors and CANNES are very large. The
aSt and least OF the group is gazing
down from the top Of the highest limb
he weighs about i've pounds, and when
killed was two months old. He i, COW
cred with light red hair and his face
and head look more like those of q hu-
man being than any of the Others. Be.
ginning with this little fellow and going
through to the Oldest, there is distinct
1ecllne in the resemblance to human
beings, the old male, with bis plate.like
ace and almost invisible head, seeming
a brute. Though very strong
md very formidable when in close quar-.
ers, the orang-outang is timid, and in
captivity grave. melancholy, mild. and
Iffectionate. He is initiative and intel.
igent, and will soon eat or drink any
hing q man eats or drinks before them,
including ardent spirits, Of which he be.