At the residence of Mr. Davies I had an opportunity of seeing a living specimen of the orang-utan, which had been brought from _Banjarmassing_, on the south coast of Borneo. The animal was a male, and measured two feet four inches in height, being the first specimen I had seen alive. I was much pleased with its intellectual appearance as compared with others of the monkey tribe. He was seen to some disadvantage, as he was suffering from a severe cold; and not being found in the usual haunt, was at last discovered in one of the beds, enveloped in a sheet. When we uncovered him, he regarded us with a piteous countenance, as if to inform us he was indisposed,—his eyes were suffused with tears, cough, and skin very hot and dry, with a pulse at one hundred and twenty. (What is the natural standard of the healthy pulse in this animal?) He was evidently most desirous of being wrapped up, and did not care to be caressed by strangers, but turned his back upon them, hiding his head and face. His usual place of repose was on a mat in the verandah, but feeling ill, he thought he might claim greater indulgence, so took possession of one of the beds. The large anterior mass of brain gave a high degree of intelligence to the animal’s countenance, although the face had not so much of the human character as is seen in the _Simia syndactyla_, or Ungka ape; but, concealing the lower portion of the countenance, the upper part and eyes beam with an intelligent expression. I observe it can thrust forward the lips in imitation of the action of kissing, but cannot give the impulse to them: neither does it lap liquid when in the act of drinking. When running about it often exercises its destructive propensity by destroying trees in the gardens of the houses in the vicinity; and some of the owners not evincing much partiality to the monkey tribe, threatened to shoot the aggressor; so, to save the life of the animal, a large bamboo cage was constructed, in which he was confined, but, born to freedom, he screamed with rage on being placed in it, and, exerting his muscular power, soon demolished the cage, and was then as quiet as before, being perfectly docile when at liberty, but savage under restraint. He sometimes made himself a nest in a large tree near the house, and, watching when any one approached with fruit or eggs, would come down and endeavour to steal them. He is fond of coffee, and runs eagerly after the servants to procure it. The natives are very fond of the animal, and it appears more attached to them than to Europeans. Not being found in Java, it is regarded as a great curiosity; the natives assigning to it a superior degree of intelligence. The animal, having been presented to the commander of a ship to take to Europe, the servants declared, that it had overheard the conversation of its being about to migrate, and always appeared melancholy whenever this gentleman visited the house; adding also, that it was the cause of its present illness.