Distribution.—Siam.
Habits.—This rare species is very active and gentle in confinement. It will hang suspended, as Martin observed in the first specimen brought to Europe, from a branch for the whole day, except when asleep or reposing.
The type specimen was described in 1840,—its skin being preserved in the British Museum; but it was not till 1877—after a lapse of thirty-seven years—that a second specimen was brought to this country. It was sent to the Zoological Gardens by Mr. W. H. Newman, H.B.M. Consul at Bankok.
IV. THE WHITE-HANDED GIBBON. HYLOBATES LAR.
Homo lar, Linn., Mantiss. Plant., App., p. 521 (1771).
Simia longimana, Wagner in Schreb. Säugeth. i., p. 66, pl. iii., figs. 1, 2 (1775); Erxl., Syst. Reg. An., p. 9 (1777).
Simia lar, Bodd., Elench. An., p. 55 (1785); Fischer, Syn. Mamm., p. 12 (1829; in part).
Pithecus lar, Latr., Hist. Nat. Buff., xxxvi., p. 276 (1809).
Pithecus varius, Latr., op. et loc. cit.
Pithecus variegatus, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 88 (1812).