FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217  
218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   >>   >|  
elf with his knuckles; or what is more usual, he keeps his arms uplifted in nearly an erect position, with the hands pendent ready to seize a rope, and climb up on the approach of danger or on the obtrusion of strangers. He walks rather quick in the erect posture, but with a waddling gait, and is soon run down if, whilst pursued, he has no opportunity of escaping by climbing...When he walks in the erect posture he turns the leg and foot outwards, which occasions him to have a waddling gait and to seem bow-legged." ([Footnote] *'Wanderings in New South Wales', vol. ii. chap. viii., 1834.) Dr. Burrough states of another Gibbon, the Horlack or Hooluk: "They walk erect; and when placed on the floor, or in an open field, balance themselves very prettily, by raising their hands over their head and slightly bending the arm at the wrist and elbow, and then run tolerably fast, rocking from side to side; and, if urged to greater speed, they let fall their hands to the ground, and assist themselves forward, rather jumping than running, still keeping the body, however, nearly erect." Somewhat different evidence, however, is given by Dr. Winslow Lewis:* ([Footnote] *'Boston Journal of Natural History', vol. i., 1834.) "Their only manner of walking was on their posterior or inferior extremities, the others being raised upwards to preserve their equilibrium, as rope-dancers are assisted by long poles at fairs. Their progression was not by placing one foot before the other, but by simultaneously using both, as in jumping." Dr. Salomon Muller also states that the Gibbons progress along the ground by a short series of tottering jumps, effected only by the hind limbs, the body being held altogether upright. But Mr. Martin (l. c. p. 418), who also speaks from direct observation, says of the Gibbons generally: "Pre-eminently qualified for arboreal habits, and displaying among the branches amazing activity, the Gibbons are not so awkward or embarrassed on a level surface as might be imagined. They walk erect, with a waddling or unsteady gait, but at a quick pace; the equilibrium of the body requiring to be kept up, either by touching the ground with the knuckles, first on one side then on the other, or by uplifting the arms so as to poise it. As with the Chimpanzee, the whole of the narrow, long sole of the foot is placed upon the ground at once and raised at once, without any elasticity of step." (FIGURE 8.--Gibbon ('H. pileatu
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217  
218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

ground

 

Gibbons

 
waddling
 

states

 

Gibbon

 

Footnote

 

equilibrium

 

jumping

 

raised

 

posture


knuckles

 
Muller
 
effected
 

tottering

 
narrow
 
progress
 

series

 

simultaneously

 

FIGURE

 

assisted


dancers

 

pileatu

 

upwards

 

preserve

 

progression

 

elasticity

 

placing

 

Salomon

 

upright

 
branches

amazing

 

activity

 
displaying
 

qualified

 

arboreal

 
habits
 

touching

 
awkward
 

imagined

 
unsteady

requiring

 

embarrassed

 

surface

 
eminently
 

uplifting

 

Martin

 
altogether
 

generally

 

observation

 
direct