REV. DR. HAUGHTON ON THE ORANGOUTANG.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 29, 13 November 1885, Page 23

REV. DR. HAUGHTON ON THE ORANGOUTANG.

On Saturday, 22nd August, Rev. Samuel Haughton, L.L.D., delivered at the Zoological Gardens, Pbcanix Park, Dublin, an interesting and humorous account of the orang-outang recently acquired by the gardens. The lecture was delivered in the open air. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were present. Dr. Haughton ss.id he wished to say a few words about the new arrival which they were fortunate enough to possess in the gardens, the orang-outang, from Borneo and Sumatra. He did not mean to say this animal came from both places, for that would be difficult. (Laughter.) He meant that the animal which they had acquired belonged to a larger species of orang-outang, which waa to be found m Borneo and Sumatra, some time ago Dr. McCarthy, of the Royal, having sent home one of the smaller ones from Borneo. The orangoutang and other apr.-s were sometimes called manlike apes, because they were supposed to approach more nearly to man tli*n any other apes. But this was not really what was intended to be conveyed by the term man-like ape, There was a more profound difference between the lowest bushman or nigger and the highest fora of ape than there was between the highest ape and the lowest form of protoplasm. And this did uot depend merely on religious considerations. Anyone who talked about man and his immortal soul would peremptorily deny the right of any other creature to be like man in that sense. Going back as far as Cicera, they found that he put a gulf between mau and all other sorts of animals wbich had not aruculate speech. He (Dr. Haughton) had managed to converse with the orang-outang, but he need not say it was not by articulate speech. The result of the conversation waa that he asked the animal how he liked this country and the people; and the orang-outang said very well, especial^ Guinness' stout and sugarstick. (Laughter.) Tne orang-outang had been placed in a cage next to the cage containing the lowest form of monkey — namely, the lemur. The lemur was so called because it was supposed to be like a ghost. He never saw a ghost, but those who had seen them in the trees at night sail the lemur was like one. (Laughter.) Toe gorilla, the chimpanzee, and the orang-outang were called man-like apes, and the first two cama from Western and Central Africa. The orang-outang came from the tropical islands of thd Eastern Archipelago. The gorilla and orang outang were exceedingly gentle when young, but became fierce as they grew older. The chimpanzee, oj the ontrary, retained its gentle disposition and character during its whole life. They differed from naea in being, as Cuvier called them, four-handed animals. They also differed profoundly from men iv nose and mouth. He piopDsed to name the new arrival " Siudbad," tor, if he did not give him a nice name, the keepers of the gardeus would be calling him Dick of Bill or Pat. or eooae name quite unsuiied to an animal of his distinction. During his conversation with the orang-outang, the animal expressed his anxiety to become a life-member of the Zoological Society— (laughter) — but, as he had not the requisite £10, there was some difficulty in carrying out his wish. They proposed to have biudbad photographed, and the photos sold at a low rate. Perhaps > his would realise the £10. Ttie rev. gentleman having thanked his audience for then attendance, the meeting separated.