almost certainly of young birds, if not of any birds they can capture. Anderson found that small birds were killed and devoured by Hoolocks in confinement with a method and eagerness that showed the prey to be the natural food of the Apes[1]. The Hoolock drinks with its lips, putting its head down to the water as monkeys do.
All species of Hylobates have a powerful voice, and the common name of the present form is taken from its peculiar double call, which is repeated several times. At a distance, the sound much resembles a human voice; it is a peculiar wailing note, audible from afar, and in the countries inhabited by these animals is one of the most familiar forest sounds. The calls commence at day-break, and are continued till 9 or 10 a.m., several of the flock joining in the cry, like hounds giving tongue. After 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning the animals feed or rest, and remain silent throughout the middle of the day, but recommence calling towards evening, though to a less extent than in the earlier part of the day.
When captured young the Hoolock is easily tamed, and is, as a general rule, very gentle, docile, and good-tempered, exceedingly intelligent, and very cleanly in its habits. Some instances of savageness on the part of male animals have, however, been noticed. All the Gibbons are very delicate, and rarely live long in captivity.
But a single young is born at a time. Neither the period of gestation nor the age at which these animals become adult appears to have been ascertained.
2. Hylobates lar. The white-handed Gibbon.
- Homo lar, L. Mantissa, App. p. 521 (1771).
- Hylobates lar, Illiger, Prod. p. 68 (1811); Blyth, Cat. p. 5; id. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 1; Tickell, J. A. S. B. xxxiii, p. 196; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1870, pl. v, f. 1; Anderson, An. Zool. Res. p. 5; id. Cat. p. 28.
Myouk-lwai-gyau, Burmese; Ungka étam, Malay.
The skull is shorter in proportion to its length than that of H. hoolock. The orbital ridges in H. lar are more prominent, the muzzle shorter, the nasal orifice less elongated, the teeth smaller, and the palate shorter.
Colour. Black to fulvous or yellowish white, the back sometimes lighter than the lower parts, occasionally much variegated. Hands and feet always pale-coloured, usually white or yellowish white above. There is generally around the nude face a white ring of hair, comprising frontal band, whiskers, and beard; but the development of the ring varies, and in some specimens it is almost
- ↑ The dexterity of an allied species, H. agilis, in capturing birds on the wing had previously been observed (Martin, 'Man and Monkeys,' p. 430).
