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th and strength of the arms； and the width of the face continues increasing to a very great age； while the standing height； from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head； rarely if ever exceeds 4 feet 2 inches。
As this was the last Mias I shot； and the last time I saw an adult living animal； I will give a sketch of its general habits； and any other facts connected with it。 The Orangutan is known to inhabit Sumatra and Borneo； and there is every reason to believe that it is confined to these two great islands； in the former of which； however； it seems to be much more rare。 In Borneo it has a wide range； inhabiting many districts on the southwest； southeast； northeast； and northwest coasts； but appears to be chiefly confined to the low and swampy forests。 It seems； at first sight； very inexplicable that the Mias should be quite unknown in the Sarawak valley； while it is abundant in Sambas； on the west； and Sadong； on the east。 But when we know the habits and mode of life of the animal； we see a sufficient reason for this apparent anomaly in the physical features of the Sarawak district。 In the Sadong； where I observed it； the Mias is only found when the country is low level and swampy； and at the same time covered with a lofty virgin forest。 From these swamps rise many isolated mountains； on some of which the Dyaks have settled and covered with plantations of fruit trees。 These are a great attraction to the Mias； which comes to feed on the unripe fruits； but always retires to the swamp at night。 Where the country becomes slightly elevated； and the soil dry； the Mias is no longer to be found。 For example； in all the lower part of the Sadong valley it abounds； but as soon as we ascend above the limits of the tides； where the country； though still flat； is high enough to be dry； it disappears。 Now the Sarawak valley has this peculiaritythe lower portion though swampy； is not covered with a continuous lofty forest； but is principally occupied by the Nipa palm； and near the town of Sarawak where the country becomes dry； it is greatly undulated in many parts； and covered with small patches of virgin forest； and much second… growth jungle on the ground； which has once been cultivated by the Malays or Dyaks。
Now it seems probable to me that a wide extent of unbroken and equally lofty virgin forest is necessary to the comfortable existence of these animals。 Such forests form their open country； where they can roam in every direction with as much facility as the Indian on the prairie； or the Arab on the desert； passing from tree…top to tree…top without ever being obliged to descend upon the earth。 The elevated and the drier districts are more frequented by man； more cut up by clearings and low second…growth junglenot adapted to its peculiar mode of progression； and where it would therefore be more exposed to danger； and more frequently obliged to descend upon the earth。 There is probably also a greater variety of fruit in the Mias district； the small mountains which rise like islands out of it serving as gardens or plantations of a sort； where the trees of the uplands are to be found in the very midst of the swampy plains。
It is a singular and very interesting sight to watch a Mias making his way leisurely through the forest。 He walks deliberately along some of the larger branches in the semi…erect attitude which the great length of his arms and the shortness of his legs cause him naturally to assume； and the disproportion between these limbs is increased by his walking on his knuckles； not on the palm of the hand； as we should do。 He seems always to choose those branches which intermingle with an adjoining tree； on approaching which he stretches out his long arms； and seizing the opposing boughs； grasps them together with both hands； seems to try their strength； and then deliberately swings himself across to the next branch； on which he walks along as before。 He never jumps or springs； or even appears to hurry himself； and yet manages to get along almost as quickly as a person can run through the forest beneath。 The long and powerful arms are of the greatest use to the animal； enabling it to climb easily up the loftiest trees； to seize fruits and young leaves from slender boughs which will not bear its weight； and to gather leaves and branches with which to form its nest。 I have already described how it forms a nest when wounded； but it uses a similar one to sleep on almost every night。 This is placed low down； however； on a small tree not more than from twenty to fifty feet from the ground； probably because it is warmer and less exposed to wind than higher up。 Each Mias is said to make a fresh one for himself every night； but I should think that is hardly probable； or their remains would be much more abundant； for though I saw several about the coal…mines； there must have been many Orangs about every day； and in a year their deserted nests would become very numerous。 The Dyaks say that； when it is very wet； the Mias covers himself over with leaves of pandanus； or large ferns； which has perhaps led to the story of his making a hut in the trees。
The Orang does not leave his bed until the sun has well risen and has dried up the dew upon the leaves。 He feeds all through the middle of the day； but seldom returns to the same tree two days running。 They do not seem much alarmed at man； as they often stared down upon me for several minutes； and then only moved away slowly to an adjacent tree。 After seeing one； I have often had to go half a mile or more to fetch my gun； and in nearly every case have found it on the same tree； or within a hundred yards； when I returned。 I never saw two full…grown animals together； but both males and females are sometimes accompanied by half…grown young ones； while； at other times； three or four young ones were seen in company。 Their food consists almost exclusively of fruit； with occasionally leaves； buds； and young shoots。 They seem to prefer unripe fruits； some of which were very sour； others intensely bitter； particularly the large red； fleshy arillus of one which seemed an especial favourite。 In other cases they eat only the small seed of a large fruit； and they almost always waste and destroy more than they eat； so that there is a continual rain of rejected portions below the tree they are feeding on。 The Durian is an especial favourite； and quantities of this delicious fruit are destroyed wherever it grows surrounded by forest； but they will not cross clearings to get at them。 It seems wonderful how the animal can tear open this fruit； the outer covering of which is so thick and tough； and closely covered with strong conical spines。 It probably bites off a few of these first； and then； making a small hole； tears open the fruit with its powerful fingers。
The Mias rarely descends to the ground； except when pressed by hunger； it seeks succulent shoots by the riverside； or； in very dry weather； has to search after water； of which it generally finds sufficient in the hollows of leaves。 Only once I saw two half…grown Orangs on the ground in a dry hollow at the foot of the Simunjon hill。 They were playing together； standing erect； and grasping each other by the arms。 It may be safely stated； howeve