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Cassell's Natural History, Vol. 1 (of 6)

by P. Martin Duncan

By P. Martin Duncan · Science · Public domain

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Cassell's Natural History, Vol. 1 (of 6) is a public-domain classic of science by P. Martin Duncan.

The complete text is on this page and the chapter pages below — all 48 chapters, about 243,726 words (~20 hours of reading), free to read online with no signup. Chapters include “CHAPTER I.. Introduction--the Man-Shaped Apes--the Gorilla.”, “CHAPTER II.. The Man-Shaped Apes (_continued_)--the Nschiego Mbouvé--the”, “CHAPTER III.. The Man-Shaped Apes (_continued_)--Genus _simia_--the”, and more.

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Author
P. Martin Duncan
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243,726 words · about 20 hours to read
Chapters
48
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CHAPTER I.. Introduction--the Man-Shaped Apes--the Gorilla.

INTRODUCTION--THE MAN-SHAPED APES--THE GORILLA.

The World of Monkeys, and its Division into great Groups--Distinction between the Old World and New World Monkeys--Classification of Monkeys--THE GORILLA, Ancient and Modern Stories about it--Investigations of Savage and Du Chaillu--General Description--The Head, Brain, Teeth, Taste, Smell, and Voice--The Air Sacs, and Ear--The Limbs and Muscles--Method of Climbing--Diet--Hunting the Gorilla--Attempts to Capture Alive--A Tame Gorilla 1

CHAPTER II.. The Man-Shaped Apes (_continued_)--the Nschiego Mbouvé--the

THE MAN-SHAPED APES (continued)--THE NSCHIEGO MBOUVÉ--THE KOOLO-KAMBA--THE SOKO--THE CHIMPANZEE.

THE NSCHIEGO MBOUVÉ--Its Nests and Habits--A Specimen Shot--Differences between it and the Gorilla--Structural Peculiarities--THE KOOLO-KAMBA--Meaning of the Name--Discovered by Du Chaillu--Its Outward Appearance and Anatomy--THE SOKO--Discovered by Livingstone--Hunting the Soko--THE CHIMPANZEE--In Captivity--On board Ship--A Young Chimpanzee--The Brain and Nerves--Anatomical Peculiarities--General Remarks upon the Group 39

CHAPTER III.. The Man-Shaped Apes (_continued_)--Genus _simia_--the

THE MAN-SHAPED APES (continued)--GENUS Simia--THE ORANG-UTAN.

Origin of the Name--Description of the Orang--Rajah Brooke’s First Specimen--Mr. Wallace’s Experiences in Mias Hunting--The Home of the Mias--A Mias at Bay--Their Nests, Habits, Food, and Localities--Different kinds of Orangs--Structural Points--The Intelligence and Habits of the Young--The Brain and its Case--Resemblances and Differences of Old and Young 59

CHAPTER IV.. The Man-Shaped Apes (_concluded_)--the Gibbons--the

THE MAN-SHAPED APES (concluded)--THE GIBBONS--THE SIAMANGS--THE TRUE GIBBONS.

General Characteristics of the Species--THE SIAMANG--Its Habits and Anatomy--Distinctness from the Orangs and Gibbons--Special Peculiarities--THE WHITE-HANDED GIBBON--Where Found--Its Cry--Its Habits--Special Anatomical Features--THE HOOLOOK--Where Found--A Young One in Captivity--Shape of the Skull--THE WOOYEN APE--Its Appearance and Habits--THE WOW-WOW--Very little known about it--THE AGILE GIBBON--Reason of the Name--Peculiarities of the Anatomy--General Comparison of the Different Varieties of the Great Apes 73

CHAPTER V.. The Dog-Shaped Monkeys--Semnopithecus--Colobus.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS--SEMNOPITHECUS--COLOBUS.

General Characteristics of the Monkeys of the Old World--Distinguished from the Apes by Length of the Hinder Limbs and presence of Tails--Divided into those with and those without Cheek-pouches--Use of the Cheek-pouches--The two Genera of Pouchless Monkeys--THE SACRED MONKEYS, or Semnopitheci--Derivation of the Name--First Discovery--Ape Worship in India--General Description--Limited to Asia--THE SIMPAI--Its Locality and Appearance--THE BUDENG--Hunted for their Fur--Its Colour and Appearance--THE LONG-NOSED MONKEY--Reason of the Name--Quaint Appearance of the Young--Anatomical Peculiarities--Their First Appearance in Europe--Description of the Nose--Peculiar Formation of the Stomach--Bezoars--THE HOONUMAN MONKEY--The Sacred Monkey of the Hindoos--Legends about it--THE DOUC MONKEY--Its Appearance and Habitat--THE BLACK-LEGGED DOUC--Anatomical Peculiarities--THE CROWNED MONKEY--THE RED MONKEY--THE SUMATRA MONKEY--THE WHITE-BEARDED MONKEY--Found in Ceylon--Its Intelligence--THE GREAT WANDEROO--Other Ceylonese Monkeys--THE GENUS COLOBUS, or Thumbless Monkeys--Description of the Hand and Wrist--Different Varieties--COLOBUS VERUS--COLOBUS GUEREZA--Their Habitat and Peculiarities--Fossil Semnopitheci 84

CHAPTER VI.. The Dog-Shaped Monkeys (_continued_)--the Guenons.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS (continued)--THE GUENONS.

THE GUENONS--Where they are Found--Early Notices of them--Resemblance to the Colobi and Macaques--Distinctive Peculiarity of the Group--Often seen in Menageries--Their Terror of Snakes--Peculiar Expression of the Face--Beauty of their Skins--Minor Divisions of the Guenons--THE DIANA MONKEY--Origin of the Name--Anecdotes of their Mischief--THE MONA MONKEY--Description of one at Paris--THE WHITE-NOSED MONKEY--Origin of the Name--THE TALAPOIN--Anatomical Peculiarities--THE GREEN MONKEY--Found in Senegal in abundance--THE RED-BELLIED MONKEY--THE RED MONKEY--Observed by Bruce--THE MANGABEY--Singularity of its Appearance--Special Structural Peculiarities 103

CHAPTER VII.. The Dog-Shaped Monkeys (_continued_)--the Macaques.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS (continued)--THE MACAQUES.

Their Description and Anatomy, and its reference to that of the Semnopitheci and Guenons--THE COMMON MACAQUE--Its Character--Appropriateness of the Name--Occasionally an Albino--THE ROUND-FACED MACAQUE--Found in China--Ideas of the Chinese about them--THE TOQUE, OR BONNET MONKEY--THE BHUNDER--Described by Cuvier--Their Thieving Propensities--Hindoo Tales of their Sagacity--THE MOOR MONKEY--BELANGER’S MONKEY--THE PIG-TAILED MACAQUE--THE MAGOT--One of the Commonest Monkeys--Described by Galen--Early Notices of--Predatory Habits--Abundant at Gibraltar--Probably come over from Africa--Similarity to the Baboons--THE WANDEROO--Account of one in the Zoological Society’s Collection--Geographical Range of the Macaques 114

CHAPTER VIII.. The Dog-Shaped Monkeys (_continued_)--the Baboons.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS (continued)--THE BABOONS.

Early Accounts of the Baboon--Origin of the Name--Held as Sacred by the Egyptians--Used as the Emblem of Thoth--Brought into Europe in the Middle Ages--Their Literature--General Description of the Family--Structural Peculiarities--Brain--Skull--Geographical Distribution--THE SACRED BABOON--Found in Great numbers in Abyssinia--Formidable Antagonists--Size and Colour of the Male and Female--Anecdotes--Propensity for Spirituous Liquors and Thieving--THE GELADA BABOON--THE PIG-TAILED BABOON--Usually called Chacma--Description of it--Its Ferocity in Captivity--Le Vaillant’s Monkey--THE SPHINX BABOON--Its Dexterity of Aim--THE ANUBIS BABOON--Its Locality and Food--Method of Running--THE COMMON BABOON--Often found in Captivity--Anecdotes--Anatomical Peculiarities 129

CHAPTER IX.. The Dog-Shaped Monkeys (_concluded_)--the Baboons.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS (concluded)--THE BABOONS.

The Second Division of the Baboons--THE MANDRILL--Easily distinguished from the rest--Peculiar Appearance and Colour of the Face--The Cheek-ridges--Noticed by the Ancients--Brutality of its Disposition--“Jerry” at the Surrey Gardens--Their Wild State--Anatomical Peculiarities--The Back-bone and Liver--THE DRILL--Distinguished from the Mandrill--Probable Antiquity of these Baboons--Theories of their Relationship to other Animals--THE BLACK BABOON--Its Locality and Description--Probably a Forest Ape--General Summary of the Dog-shaped Quadrumana and Classification of the Group 154

CHAPTER X.. The Monkeys of the New World.

THE MONKEYS OF THE NEW WORLD.

THE CEBIDÆ--THE HOWLERS--THE WOOLLY MONKEYS--THE SPIDER MONKEYS--THE SAJOUS.

The Monkeys of the New World--How Distinguished from those of the Old--Their Division into Families--The First Family, THE CEBIDÆ, with Prehensile Tails--THE HOWLERS--Appropriateness of their Name--Where Found--General Description--THE YELLOW-TAILED HOWLER--Anatomical Peculiarities and Appearance of the Face--Other Members of the Family--THE BLACK HOWLER--Its Locality--THE WOOLLY MONKEYS--THE CAPARRO AND BARRIGUDO--First noticed by Humboldt--Peculiarities of the Skeleton--THE SPIDER MONKEYS--Seen by Humboldt in the Brazilian Forests--Remarkable Power of the Tail--Flexibility of the Limbs--Conformation of the Brain--Other Species--THE COAITA--Curious Stories of them in Captivity--THE CHAMECK--THE BLACK SPIDER MONKEY--Its Geographical Range--Its Position in Sleep--THE VARIEGATED SPIDER MONKEY--THE SAJOUS--THE CAIARÁRA--Observed by Bates on the Amazon--Other Varieties--THE BROWN SAJOU--THE CAPUCHIN SAJOU--Described by Brehm--Their Remarkable Dexterity and Cleverness--Diseases of Monkeys 164

CHAPTER XI.. The Cebidæ (_concluded_)--the Squirrel

THE CEBIDÆ (concluded)--THE SQUIRREL MONKEYS--DOUROUCOULIS--SAKIS.

General Description of the Second Division of Cebidæ--Without Prehensile Tails--THE SQUIRREL MONKEYS--Described by Buffon and Humboldt--Peculiarities of the Species--Anecdotes by Le Vaillant--A Tragic End--THE WIDOW MONKEY--Origin of the Name--THE ONAPPO--Its Nocturnal Habits and Peculiar Cry--THE DOUROUCOULIS, OR OWL MONKEYS--General Description of the Family--Peculiar Formation of the Arm-bone--THE THREE-STRIPED OWL MONKEY--Described by Humboldt and Bates--THE RED-FOOTED DOUROUCOULI--THE SAKIS--Remarkable Resemblance in the Face to Man--Structural Peculiarities--THE COUXIO--THE PARAUACÚ--THE MONK--Description of the Brain--Other Varieties of the Sakis--Anecdotes of them--THE BLACK-HEADED SAKIS--General Description 185

CHAPTER XII.. The Marmosets and Tamarins--Hapale--Midas.

THE MARMOSETS AND TAMARINS--HAPALE--MIDAS.

The Dentition of the Genus Hapale, or the Marmosets, or Ouistitis--The Face--The Paw-like Hands and Feet--Their Claws--The Skull and Brain, and the Nature of the Diet--THE COMMON MARMOSET--Its Habits--THE CLOAKED MARMOSET--THE GENUS MIDAS--THE TAMARINS--Their Dentition--THE NEGRO TAMARIN--Its Habits--MIDAS ARGENTATUM--DEVILLE’S MIDAS--THE SILKY TAMARIN--Notes on the Arctopithecini in General 197

CHAPTER XIII.. General Remarks on the Monkeys.

GENERAL REMARKS ON THE MONKEYS.

The Classification of the Monkeys of the New World--The Geographical Distribution of the Genera--The Fossil Monkeys of the New and Old World and their Alliances--The Former Old Fauna of Europe, Asia, and Africa--The Resemblance of Monkeys to other Animals and Man 203

CHAPTER XIV.. The Lemuroida.

THE LEMUROIDA.

THE GENERA INDRIS AND LEPILEMUR HAPALEMUR.

The Name of the Genus Lemur popularly given to the Group--Lemuroida the Correct Name--Their Distinctive Characters--Their Hands and Feet--Ankle-bones--Tail--Rete Mirabile--Nostrils--Colour of the Eye--Ears--Teeth--Brain--Resemblance to Monkeys--Their Locality--Lemur at Liberty--Its Playfulness--Division of the Lemurs--Beauties of Madagascar--GENUS INDRIS--Described by Grandidier--Their Locality--Colour--Fingers--Teeth--THE DIADEM INDRIS--Specimens at the British Museum--Little known about it--THE WOOLLY LEMUR--Described by Sonnerat--THE SHORT-TAILED INDRIS--Distinguished by its Tail--Its Skull--GENUS LEPILEMUR--Their Teeth--Tail--THE WEASEL LEMUR--THE GREY LEMUR--Specimens obtained by Pollen--Their Cry 210

CHAPTER XV.. The Lemuroida (_continued_).

THE LEMUROIDA (continued).

THE GENERA LEMUR AND CHEIROGALE.

Called by the French Makis--Restricted to Madagascar--Their Activity--Different Species--How to Distinguish them--THE RING-TAILED LEMUR--Reason for the Name--Tail--Colour of Body--Eye--Hand and Foot--Geographical Range--Anatomical Peculiarities--Playfulness in Captivity--THE WHITE-FRONTED LEMUR--Specimen in the Zoological Gardens--THE LEMUR OF MAYOTTE--Where Found--Colour--Manner of Life--THE MONGOOSE LEMUR--Description of one sent to Buffon--THE RUFFED LEMUR--Described by Ellis--Domesticated Specimens--THE BLACK LEMUR--Geographical Range--Hand--Foot--GENUS CHEIROGALE--Bushy Tails--Resemblance to the Hapalemur--Nocturnal Habits--Difficult to Distinguish--THE FORKED-CROWNED CHEIROGALE--Wonderful Powers of Leaping--Cry--Reason for the Name--A Nest-making Variety--Specimens in the Jardin des Plantes--Resemblance to the Galagos 225

CHAPTER XVI.. The Lemuroida (_concluded_)--the Galagos.

THE LEMUROIDA (concluded)--THE GALAGOS.

THE GALAGOS--DEMIDOFF’S GALAGO AND THE MOUSE GALAGO--THE SENEGAL GALAGO--THE SENNAAR GALAGO--THE MAHOLI GALAGO--THE GRAND, OR THICK-TAILED GALAGO--MONTEIRO’S GALAGO--THE AFRICAN SLOW LEMURS--VAN BOSMAN’S POTTO--GENUS ARCTOCEBUS, OR BEAR MONKEY TRIBE--THE ANGWÁNTIBO--THE ASIATIC SLOW LEMUROIDS--THE SLOW LORIS--THE SLENDER LORIS--GENUS TARSIUS--THE SPECTRE TARSIER, OR TARSIUS--THE MALMAG--GENUS CHEIROMYS--THE AYE-AYE--The Puzzle of the Naturalists--Opinions regarding it--Specimen Examined by Owen--Feeding--Teeth--Hands--Classification of the Lemuroida--Geographical Distribution 236

CHIROPTERA, OR WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

THE BATS.

CHAPTER I.. Introduction--Classification of Bats--the Fruit-Eating Bats.

INTRODUCTION--CLASSIFICATION OF BATS--THE FRUIT-EATING BATS.

One of Æsop’s Fables--Opinions of the Ancients regarding Bats--Scaliger’s Statement of the Puzzle--Opinions of the Middle Ages--The True Position of the Bats--The Wing of the Bat--General Structure: The Breast-bone, Arms, Fingers, “Wing-membrane,” Wings, Skull, Ribs, Pelvis, Legs--In Repose--Walking--The Teats--Organs of the Senses--“Blind as a Bat”--The Eyes--Spallanzani’s Experiments--The Bat’s Power of Directing its Flight in the Darkest Places--Their Food--In Winter-Quarters--A Battue of Bats--FRUGIVOROUS AND INSECTIVOROUS BATS 259

CHAPTER II.. Sub-Order I.--Megachiroptera, or Large Bats.

SUB-ORDER I.--MEGACHIROPTERA, OR LARGE BATS.

PTEROPIDÆ, OR FRUIT-EATING BATS.

Characteristics of Fruit-eating Bats--Distribution--Diet--Flying Fox of Ceylon: its Habits, as described by Sir E. Tennent--The Flight of the Pteropidæ--Known to the Ancients--The Fruit Bats in the Zoological Gardens--INDIAN FLYING FOX--Diet--Dissipated Habits--GREAT KALONG--Linnæus’s Description--In their Dormitories--NICOBAR, MANED, JAPANESE, AND GREY FRUIT BATS--GREY-HEADED FRUIT BAT--GOULD’S FRUIT BAT--ROUSSETTE--EGYPTIAN FRUIT BAT--HOTTENTOT FRUIT BAT--MARITIME FRUIT BAT--MARGINED FRUIT BAT--WHITE’S FRUIT BAT--HAMMER-HEADED BAT--HARPY BAT--GREATER HARPY BAT--CLOAKED FRUIT BAT--DWARF LONG-TONGUED FRUIT BAT--BLACK-CHEEKED FRUIT BAT--FIJIAN LONG-TONGUED FRUIT BAT 266

CHAPTER III.. Sub-Order Ii.--Microchiroptera, or Insectivorous Bats.

SUB-ORDER II.--MICROCHIROPTERA, OR INSECTIVOROUS BATS.

HORSESHOE BATS AND MEGADERMS.

INSECTIVOROUS BATS--Mr. Dobson’s Objection to the Name--Characteristics--Nasal Appendages--THE VESPERTILIONINE AND EMBALLONURINE ALLIANCES--The Fur in the two Alliances--THE HORSESHOE BATS--General Characteristics--Distribution--Diet--Carnivorous Propensities--GREATER HORSESHOE BAT--General Appearance--“Nose Leaves”--Habitat--THE LESSER HORSESHOE BAT--Habitat--THE MOURNING HORSESHOE BAT--THE AUSTRALIAN HORSESHOE BAT--THE ORANGE BAT--PHYLLORHINÆ--THE DIADEM BAT--Character of their “Nose Leaves”--Captain Hutton’s Account of their Habits--THE PERSIAN TRIDENT BAT--THE MEGADERMS--THE LYRE BAT--Characteristics--Called Vampire by Europeans in India--Mr. Blyth’s Account of a Megaderm’s Blood-thirstiness--THE CORDATE LEAF BAT--THE AFRICAN MEGADERM--THE DESERT BAT 279

CHAPTER IV.. Vespertilionidæ, or True Bats.

VESPERTILIONIDÆ, OR TRUE BATS.

The Genus Vespertilio and the Family Vespertilionidæ-- Characteristics: Nostrils--Tail--Ears--Dentition--Diet--Distribution --LONG-EARED BAT--Ears--Distribution--Asleep--In Captivity-- BARBASTELLE--Characteristics--Distribution--Habits-- Flight--In Captivity--BIG-EARED BAT--TOWNSEND’S BAT--The Genus Nyctophilus-- Its True Place--Characteristics--GEOFFROY’S NYCTOPHILE--PIPISTRELLE --Distribution--Diet--NOCTULE--Natural Food--Mr. Daniell’s Observations--SEROTINE--PARTI-COLOURED BAT--HAIRY-ARMED BAT--NEGRO BAT--KUHL’S BAT--NILSSON’S BAT--COROMANDEL BAT--THICK-FOOTED BAT-- TEMMINCK’S BAT--WELWITSCH’S BAT--NEW ZEALAND BAT--MOUSE-COLOURED BAT--NATTERER’S BAT--DAUBENTON’S BAT--WHISKERED BAT--BLACK AND ORANGE BAT--PAINTED BAT--HARPY BAT--RED BAT--SCHREIBER’S BAT--BROWN PIG BAT-- STRAW-COLOURED BAT 292

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