3-011-593 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The chimpanzee and the ourang-outang at the Zoological Society's Gardens, Regent's Park, 1864. 'The new monkey-house lately erected now contains specimens of both of the best known species of apes usually called "Anthropoid," from their resemblance to mankind. These are the ourang (Simia satyrus) and the chimpanzee (Troglodytes niger)...The ourang is a young female about four years old...In its native state the ourang is only found in Borneo and certain parts of Sumatra...The chimpanzee, also a young female...was brought into Liverpool by the last mail steamer from the West Coast of Africa, and there purchased for the society by the superintendent of the gardens, who was dispatched to secure the prize upon its arrival... It has been stated that the ourang and chimpanzee had never before been exhibited together; but this, we believe, is not strictly correct...In 1831...two so-called "orangutans" were exhibited at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, one of which, from the details given, appear to have been, without doubt, a chimpanzee. This fact, however, it may be supposed, will scarcely prove any detraction from the interest excited by the present pair of "Anthropoids," who have already received a host of fashionable visitors'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.