25

GIBBON.

Tue monkey tribe is divided into the three principal
divisions of apes, baboons, and monkeys, and as the
distinctions between them are frequently, and indeed
most commonly lost sight of, I introduce the following
observations of Mr. Fennell on the subject:—“The terms
ape, monkey, and baboon, are very indiscriminately applied
to qnadrumanous or four-handed animals, by the gene-
rality of writers; but here, as in all other matters of
science, it is very important that some precision in
nomenclature should be observed. I shall therefore, as
I proceed, particularize some of the most obvious cha-
racters by which apes may be readily distinguislied from
the other two groups.

The apes have neither tails nor cheek-pouches; organs
which are, separately, absent, or nearly so, in some
baboons and monkeys, but not absent altogether. Another
very great distinction consists in the peculiar circum-
stance of their arms being disproportionately long in
comparison with the legs: the arms of some species
being so long indeed, that when standing upright, they
can touch the ground with the fingers. They are most
admirably adapted for a life among woods and forests,
and they climb and swing from tree to tree with astonishing
facility.

In a state of nature they feed on wild fruits, bulbous
roots, small reptiles, insects, birds, and eggs; but in
confinement, they will eat cooked beef or mutton. In
the latter state their favourite beverage is milk or water;
and though at first they reject wine or spirits, yet, like

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