1869

THE LIBRARY

Gift

Sydney Anderson

THE ANIMALS OF THE WORLD.

BREHM'S

LIFE OF ANIMALS.

A COMPLETE NATURAL HISTORY FOR POPULAR HOME
INSTRUCTION AND FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS

BY

DR. ALFRED EDMUND BREHM.

:OP10USLY ILLUSTRATED WITH WOOD CUTS AND COLOR-PLATES BY FR. SPECHT, W. KUHNERT,

G. MUTZEL, R. KRETSCHMER, W. CAMPHAUSEN, L. BECKMANN, E. SCHMIDT,

T. F. DEICKER, P. MENERHEIM, ETC., ETC.

VOLUME L-MAMMALIA.

BROUGHT DOWN AND ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF ENGLISH READERS.

Translated from the Third German Edition as edited by Prof. Dr. Pechuel-Loesche and Dr. William Haacke,
and revised and abridged by Prof. Richard Schmidtlein.

CHICAGO :

A. N. MARQUIS & COMPANY.
1895.

Copyright 1894 by A. N. Marquis & Co., Chicago.
Copyright 1895 BY A. N. Marquis & Co., Chicago

INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.

devoted hi
creatures ii
ance with

REHM'S immortal book, "Life of Animals," is one of the most
fascinating works ever written upon natural history. The author
3 life to a study of animate nature, seeking out the
1 their wild state and making most intimate acquaint-
their habits, traits and characteristics. Many years
were spent by him in the great forests, where he seemed to court
danger in order that he might arrive at knowledge of the truth.
The results of his studies and observations are shown in this mas-
terly production, which, while detailing all the facts essential to
scientific knowledge, clothes his narrative in descriptive details that
hold the attention of old and young as strongly as the most thrill-
ing romances.

The new and revised edition of this work, carefully corrected
and brought down by the scholarly Dr. William Haacke and Pro-
fessor Pechuel-Loesche, the latter no less distinguished as an ex-
plorer than as a naturalist, has passed under the hands of Richard
— —wi ■!■ ^^JB/P y Schmidt 1. in, the celebrated German naturalist and author, who has
preserved in it all the rich and splendid material of the original,
but has omitted details and descriptions of a strictly scientific nature, the object being to furnish a
book for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Professor Schmidtlein, in his scholarly
and entertaining revision, made such changes as the progress of modern science demanded and per-
fected his work in a manner to call forth the highest praise from critics everywhere.

The present edition has been translated from the German by linguists of distinction who have in
the happiest manner transferred to the English tongue the rich, exuberant and fascinating style of the
original ; while competent scholars have carefully revised the translation, making only such changes
as were calculated to bring it closer to the mind of the English reader. These changes are either inclosed
in brackets, or are set in smaller type than the body of the work. The short sketches introduced under the
pictures, independent of the text, are also the work of the American editors. This edition is, therefore,
practically a complete work brought down to date, containing substantially all the matter to be found in
Brehm's "Life of .Animals," adapted t© meet and reach the popular taste, and rendered into English in such
manner as to make it clear and intelligible to every one, the child as well as the adult, only those
animals being omitted which are little known and of interest to none but specialists.

The book is designed to meet in the highest degree a great popular need, technical terms and
long scientific descriptions being avoided, whenever possible, and it is invaluable as a work of reference
and of study. It not only contains narratives of Brehm's exciting personal experiences and observa-
tions in forest and field, but also those of all other leading naturalists and explorers of the world,
■. whose intimate touch with animate nature inspired them to speak in words that glow with interest and
that thrill the reader.

A most attractive feature of the present work is the superb illustrations, which include, with few
exceptions, all that are contained in Brehm's complete work, and also numerous additions designed and
executed at great expense and including the best efforts of the greatest artists in delineation of animal
life. The work of these distinguished artists, supplemented with faithful mechanical reproductions, has
resulted in the presentation of the various animals precisely as they appear in a state of nature, the
figures being of a size to enable the student to obtain a most accurate knowledge of each creature,
while parents and teachers can be assured that nothing is exaggerated, but that every detail is given
with absolute fidelity. Too frequently it is the case that children are shown mere caricatures of beasts

iv INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.

and birds, executed without artistic sense and in entire ignorance of the structure of the animals. The
pictures in this work are faultless, all of them having been reproduced from living subjects and showing
the hand of the master in every line. No such extended and comprehensive system of illustration of
animals was ever before undertaken and this feature of the work alone must make it invaluable to
every one who seeks acquaintance with those creatures, which, while they cannot speak, are so closely
connected with the life of Man, contributing in some part at least to his support, his enjoyment and
his amusement.

Interest in natural history is extending, as Man's scope of vision enlarges and he grasps more
firmly the thought that the lower animals enter so closely into his own life and form so important a
part in the great economy of nature. The great Scheitlin, as quoted by Brehm, has truly said, " The
brute's fate is like ours. It is oftentimes made to share Man's fate, or Man shares its fate ; it perishes
with him in fire and water and battle. It is a pity that Man forgets that the higher animals, at least,
know the difference between treatment that is good and treatment that is bad." Man is greatly in
debt to the humbler creatures, which supply them with their flesh for food, their hide, their hair and
their horns. It has been truthfully claimed that Man could not live in comfort if deprived of the serv-
ice rendered by animals in life or death. They supply meat, milk, fat, perfumery, drugs, fur, wool,
feathers, ivory, bone and a thousand other useful and ornamental commodities. They are companions,
as the Dog, the Monkey and certain birds ; beasts of burden, as the Horse, Ass, Ox, Camel, Llama,
and afford endless sport and diversion for hunters, who, unfortunately, are too frequently cruel and
make unnecessary slaughter of the defense-less. The student finds in the successive steps of animal
life order and arrangement and takes delight in classifying the creatures according to their station, ob-
serving the points of difference, and determining the uses and adaptations of the individuals to their
environment.

Extending the thought of imparting facts to the youthful mind, it might be shown that seven ver-
tebrae usually form the neck of the vertebrate animals, whether it be the Giraffe or the Mole ; but that
in the tail they vary from four to forty-six. It might also be shown that the muscles of animals se*-
the bones in motion, and that these muscles form meat, which in certain animals is the food of Man
It is interesting to note that Man alone of all the mammals walks erect ; that the flight of swift birds
is far more rapid than that of the most fleet mammal ; and that the Bat cannot really fly because birds
alone can do this, but that they flutter in the air. Men who have not been taught to swim, the Man-
like Apes and the Baboons, are the only- mammals which are unable to sustain themselves in water ;
while the Whale and the Sea-Lion, the Dugong and the Manatee, spend their entire lives in the sea.
Take the eye of the animal, which is the most expressive part of its face, and there can be seen in it
in many cases the character of its individual possessor, as the wicked eye of the Snake, the piercing
eye of the Eagle ; this being especially true among mammals, as the dull eye of the Cow, the mild
one of the Gazelle, the stupid ones of a Sheep, the false ones of a Wolf, etc.

Characteristics, traits, etc., are thus observable in all the creatures, from the highest to the lowest,
and may be pointed out, emphasized and indelibly impressed upon the mind of the young, especially
by aid of the incomparable pictures contained in this work. The advanced reader and student will
discover a complete and perfect system, extending from the highest Ape to the lowest creature, each
in its place and every one well defined and accurately described.

It will be seen that the creatures are distributed all over the world and that America contains a
larger variety and more interesting types, especially of higher animals, than the other portions of the
globe. In the northern part are the Bison, the Prairie Dog and the Opossum, while in the southern
portion are prehensile-tailed Monkeys, Vampires, Peccaries, Llamas, Alpacas and various Edentata, that
are peculiar to these localities. In the representation of the various belts of earth the division made by
Wallace is followed in this work. It will be seen that, as a rule, the color of an animal corresponds
closely with its surroundings ; that the majority of mammals live in flocks, each having a leader, that
may be male or female; that when awake most animals are employed in search for food; that Birds
eat more than mammals and that the former are much more active than the latter.

The comprehensiveness and interest of the work must be discovered in a perusal of its pages, as
only brief and disconnected references have here been made as to its scope and general value. It
covers a field not hitherto occupied in this country, embracing as it does the most thorough informa-
tion with most graphic narrative, the whole embellished by artistic illustrations which so faithfully por-
tray the lineaments of the animals as almost to make unnecessary the work of verbal description. Such
a work as this, within the mental grasp of all, must enter the home and the school and result in a
wide dissemination of additional knowledge concerning the beasts of the field, the birds of the air
and all manner of creeping things. .

THE LIFE OF ANIMALS.

PRELIMINARY NOTES ON MAMMALS.

However superficially the student or reader may
examine any subject, the necessity for some system
in the arrangements of the facts will at once be
apparent. This is especially true in connection with
investigation into the truths of nature, and more par-
ticularly those connected with our globe. The most
casual observer sees that the various natural objects,
each different from the other, align themselves into
larger and smaller groups having some one or more
characteristics in common. The systematic arrange-
ment of these classes, the division of them into
smaller groups, the proper classification of names
for these segregated assemblages of things, and the
orderly presentation of the facts in regard to these
divisions and the units of which they are composed,
constitutes, in broadly generalized terms, natural
science.

In arranging the facts of nature that plan is best
which is simplest: and science has begun its work of
classifying the things on our globe by dividing them
into three primary groups called the Animal, Vege-
table and Mineral Kingdoms. Then, taking up the
classification of the Animal Kingdom and looking for
the first and most obvious division, it is found that
one large group of animals is made up of species
widely variant in other respects but agreeing in the
fact that each is possessed of what is popularly
known as a "backbone," consisting of a number of
segments of bone or cartilage jointed together, which
have been given the scientific name of " vertebra;,"
the whole column of jointed segments being called
the " vertebral column." Therefore the Animal King-
dom has been scientifically divided into two sub-
kingdoms, known respectively as the Vertebrates
( Vertebrata) and Invertebrates {Invertebrata), the
latter class including insects, mollusks, cephalo-
pods, worms, snails, animalcules, protozoa and other
classes of animals.

The Vertebrates have several characteristics in
common besides the mere possession of a backbone.
Between the backbone and the back is what is
known as the vertebral canal, formed by arches
of bone or cartilage extending from the vertebrae,
this canal being the receptacle in which is stretched,
like a rope, the substance formed of nerve-tissue
which is popularly known as the spinal marrow or
spinal cord, and which is the main portion of the
nervous system of the animal. On the other side
of the backbone is placed the heart, the lungs and
the stomach and other organs of digestion. The
two jaws of Vertebrates are placed one above the
other instead of being right and left, as is the case
in insects. No vertebrate animal has more than four
legs, while some of the invertebrates have a very
large number. There are other physical character-
istics common to all, or nearly all, Vertebrates, but
their consideration involves technical explanations
which would be out of place here.

Since Lamarck in 1797 suggested the division of
the Animal Kingdom into the two sub-kingdoms of
animals with and without backbones, this division
has been generally accepted. In the subdivision of
the Vertebrates there are usually recognized five
classes: the Mammals {Mammalia); the Birds (Aves);
the Reptiles (Reptilia); the Amphibious Animals,
like the Frog, Newt, etc. {Amphibia), and the Fishes
( Pisces ) .

The Mammals, which form Class I. among the
Vertebrates, represent the highest forms of life on
our globe. Some have a much higher organization
than others, but still, from the highest to the lowest,
they have many characteristics in common. The
primary distinction upon which the class Mammalia
is founded, is the secretion in the glands of the
female of a fluid for the nourishment of her young
during the earliest period of infancy. In nearly all
of the animals of this class the fluid secreted is milk,
and the mammary glands are directly suckled by the
young, which are born alive and in a more or less
developed condition. In the lowest order of Mam-
mals, however, — the egg-laying Monotremes, — the
newborn, scarcely vitalized offspring is placed in a
pouch and there sustained by a nutritive perspira-
tion emitted from sweat-glands. In the order next
above them — the Marsupials — the development of
the animal at birth is only slightly more mature than
that of the Monotremes, and the pouch for maturing
the young places the infant in direct connection
with the mammae of the mother, which thus sup-
plies it with the milk needed to bring it to full
life and vigor.

Mammals, besides being nurtured on mother's
milk in their infancy, are also characterized by the
possession of warm, red blood, circulated through
the system by means of veins and arteries leading
from a four-chambered heart. Every animal of the
mammalian class agrees with the other in possess-
ing a diaphragm muscle, or midriff, separating the
cavity of the chest from that of the abdomen. For
further statement of the general characteristics of
Mammals we quote from the introduction to the
German edition of Brehm's work, which says: "The
skull is separated from the vertebral column, or
backbone, in all Mammals; the upper jaw is united
to the skull, and the teeth, though varying consider-
ably in number and shape, show that in common
they are in all species placed in hollows. Seven
vertebrae usually go to form the neck, be it long, as
in the Giraffe, or short, as in the Mole. The chest
or thorax part of the vertebral column (known as
dorsal or thoracic vertebrae), consists of from ten to
twenty-four vertebrae; the lumbar vertebras, or those
in the middle of the back, number from two to nine,
the sacrum has from one to nine and the tail from
four to forty-six. Ribs may be attached to differ-
ent vertebras: but in speaking of ribs we usually

THE LITE OE ANIMALS.

mean the flat, curved bones attached in the back to
the dorsal or thoracic vertebrre, and in front to the
sternum or breast-bone and enclosing the chest
cavity. The number of the true ribs reaching the
sternum and of the false ones, which are either at-
tached to it by cartilage or are not joined to the
breast-bone at all, is subject to a great many varia-
tions. In the skeletons of the Mammals there is
great diversity in the structure of the limbs, and in
some Whales the hinder pair is totally lacking or
the bony skeleton of the animal only reveals two
stunted rudiments. In the fore-limbs the shoulders
and the hand show the greatest variety; the clavicle
(or collar-bone) may be very strong or it may be
lacking; the fingers and toes may be all there, or
may be stunted, according as the hands and feet
become paws, hoofs or fins; the usual number of the
fingers — five — may decrease to one. The bones of
the leg are also variously developed.

"The bones of the skeleton are set in motion by
muscles, which in some animals are for us the most
important part, as they form our daily food. These
muscles, which in plain, every-day speech, we call
"flesh," are attached to the bones and move them in
different directions. It may be sufficient to say
that the muscles are developed to a close accord-
ance with the skeleton of the animal and the mode
of life, which latter is closely allied to its form and
general structure.

"The organs of digestion are very similar, yet
they show some variations in their structure. The
mouth is always furnished with soft, fleshy lips,
plentifully supplied with nerves; the teeth reach
their highest development in the Mammals, and are
of great importance to the mode of life of the ani-
mal, and of special importance to naturalists in its
scientific classification.

"The mouth is connected with the oesophagus (or
gullet), which never shows such a dilatation as in
birds. The stomach is always more or less thin-
skinned, and may be plain or show as many as three
compartments. Its arrangement is quite peculiar
in those animals which, when time permits, com-
fortably ruminate their food and then send it to the
digestive organs past the first storage receptacle.

"The chest cavity is completely closed by the
diaphragm; the lungs float in it and do not com-
municate with any special pneumatic cavities. The
trachea, or windpipe, usually divides into two
branches, and has only one larynx, which lies at the
upper end of the windpipe and is formed by a vary-
ing number of cartilages. A few Mammals have
peculiar cavities connected with the larynx, but the
vocal chords are lacking only in the Whales.

"The brain and nerves are variously developed.
The former always fills its cavity in the skull, but
this cavity may be very small, and the amount of
brain is then accordingly slight. In no other Mam-
mal does the brain so greatly exceed the spinal cord
in bulk and weight as in Man, and in no other ani-
mal is the cerebrum (or the higher and front portion
of the brain) so developed. This alone shows the
structural superiority of Man to all other animals.
The organs of sense are similar in all Mammals, the
Whale alone showing a marked deviation from the
general rule, for although it possesses a nose its
sense of smell is certainly very deficient. The
organs of hearing are usually perfect, and the ear
shows three labyrinths. The sense of vision is not,
in Mammals, so greatly superior to the other senses
as is the case with birds; the eyes are always two in

number, usually small in size and never inwardly
movable, as with the birds. The sense of taste is
acute in Mammals, as may be concluded from the
muscular tongue well supplied with nerves. The
sense of touch is highly developed and may have its
seat in the nose, in the hands or in hairs on the lips.
Nearly all parts of the body are sensitive.

"As a bodily covering hair prevails; yet the coat
may consist of scales, bristles, horny shields, horny
callosities or simply the skin, which in such cases
may have its outer layer developed so as to furnish
the requisite protection. The nails may be flat and
thin, round and thick, straight or curved, blunt or
sharp, and may be nails proper or developed into
claws or hoofs."

The variety in the life of the Mammals is very
great, although with most species eating and sleep-
ing comprise the daily history of their lives. Yet
the lively Monkeys in Africa, the still more odd
swinging, prehensile-tailed Monkeys of South Amer-
ica, the flitting Bats, the night-prowling beasts of
prey, the diving Seals, the leaping Squirrels, the noble
Horse, fleet Antelope and other animals lead lives
which are peculiarly their own, differing greatly
from those of other creatures and affording a most
interesting subject of observation. As a rule all the
senses, except that of sight, (in which the birds
excel) are more completely developed in the Mam-
mals than in any other class of animals. The vocal
expression of mammals is sometimes remarkable for
its volume but very seldom for its beauty, that of
Man alone being really musical and superior to
the voice of birds. The sounds made by different
animals are quite varied, as is illustrated by a com-
parison between the mewing of Cats, the barking of
Dogs, the lowing of Oxen and braying of Asses
with the dismal howls of the Jackal and Coyote and
the deafening noises of the Howler Monkeys.

The varied uses to which the tail is put forms an
interesting subject of observation. In Man, the
Man-shaped Apes and some varieties of the Sloth,
the coccyx, or vertebra? forming the rudimentary tail,
curves forward and does not project externally. In
the other Mammals it varies from an invisible stump
to a most extensive adornment. By most long-
tailed animals, the member is used as a weapon of
defense against winged tormentors, and Cattle,
which are especially subject to annoyance from
Flies and Gnats, have a tail which is tufted at the
end in such a manner as to afford an effective brush
with which to fight these insects. Many South
American Monkeys, some of the Marsupials, and
other animals, have prehensile tails by means of
which they can sustain their entire weight. To the
Bats, and also to the Mammals having a membra-
nous formation which enables them to flutter through
the air, such as the Taguan, the Assapan and some
of the pouched animals, the tail serves as a rudder
to steer its wearer while progressing through the air.
Others have the tail so developed as to use it as an
organ of touch, while the Kangaroo utilizes its tail as
a third leg, which forms, with the others, a tripod
upon which it supports its body when at rest.
Some tails, like those of Rats, are nearly or quite bare
of hair and are covered with scales, some have a
covering of short hair, others are bushy. Some
bushy tails, like those of the Squirrel, are what is
called distichous, that is, they are arranged or parted
into two rows of long hairs and make a pretty or-
nament, while the tail of the Great Ant-cater is
draped into a long mane.

77//- LIFE OF ANIMALS.

In the classification of animals into species the
tail is often useful, and the character of the animal's
coat, especially if it be composed of spines or horny
shields, or presents other peculiarities, also serves,
quite often, to give a name to its wearer. The num-
ber, character and arrangement of the teeth, or what
is called the dentition, is the most useful of all in
making a scientific arrangement of the different ani-
mals into the various subdivisions. The teeth of an
animal are so perfectly adapted to its mode of life
that they especially serve to characterize it, and
since the imperishable nature of their tissues pre-
serves teeth for an indefinite time, they are particu-
larly useful in affording an idea of the characters,
habits and affinities of extinct species of animals.

The number of species of Mammals which now
live and have their being on earth is about two
thousand, but this forms only a small minority of the
aggregate number of species which inhabited the
globe at earlier periods of its history. The study of
fossil Mammals has revealed the fact that many
animals of strange forms and characteristics for-
merly lived on this earth. Some were closely re-
lated to living species and genera, some are espe-
cially interesting because they furnish a connecting
link between existing forms of animal life and
structure, and some of the animals now living, like
the Elephants, now represent, by a few species,
families or orders of which many species are ex-
tinct. In its more extended form natural history
includes the study of these fossil genera, and an
elaborate system of classification has been created
in recent years, as a supplement to the investigations
and theories expounded by Darwin, which begins at
Protozoa and ascends to Man, including all the ex-
tinct genera of which anything is known. This, how-
ever, is a classification involving so much of a tech-
nical character and for its proper appreciation re-
quiring so great a degree of knowledge of compara-
tive anatomy, that it is obviously not adapted for
use in treating of zoology from a popular stand-
point. Therefore other systems of classification
are used, and that followed by Brehm in this work
divides the class Mammalia into fifteen main groups
or orders as follows:

i. Apes and Monkeys {Pithed).

2. Half-Monkeys or Lemuroids {Prosimii).

3. Wing-handed Animals, or Bats {Chiroptera).

4. Beasts of Prey {Candvora).

5. Seals or Fin-footed Animals {Pinnipedia)

6. Insect-eating Animals {Insectivora) .

7. Rodents or Gnawing Animals {Rodentia).

8. Toothless Animals {Edentata).

9. Proboscis Animals or Elephants {Proboscidea) .

10. Odd-toed Animals {Perissodactyta) .

11. Cloven-hoofed Animals {Artiodactyla) .

12. Sea Cows {Sirenia).

13. Whales {Cctacca).

•- 14. Pouched Animals ( Marsupialia) .

15. Egg-laying Mammals {Monotrematd).

This is a very convenient classification, agreeing
in the main with the arrangement generally in use
in the study of zoology, although frequently the
tenth and eleventh of these orders are regarded as
suborders of an order named the Hoofed Animals
( Ungulata).

Every scientific classification of the Mammals be-
gins or ends with Man, for, zoologically speaking,
the human being is only a Mammal: that is, a warm-
blooded Vertebrate, with a four chambered-heart,
nurtured in his infancy on mother's milk; and the

anatomical differences which separate him from the
higher orders of Apes are less marked than those
which differentiate the latter from the South Ameri-
can monkeys. The first order in the classification
of Linnaeus was called Primates, and included Man,
all the Apes and Monkeys, the Lemurs and the
Bats. Later zoologists by common consent ex-
cluded the Bats and made them a distinct order,
and afterward the same was done with the Lemurs,
but many still classify Man and all the Monkeys
together in the order of Primates, dividing them into
five families: First, Men {Hominidoz) containing as a
single genus Man {Homo); second, the Man-like
Apes {Simiid<z)\ third, the remaining Old World
Monkeys {Cercopithicidce.); fourth, the American
Monkeys except the Marmosets {Ccbidaf), and fifth,
the Marmosets {Hapalidce).

The anatomical distinctions between Man and the
nearest Apes are, principally, the greater size of the
brain and brain case, as compared with the facial
portion of the skull; the smaller development of the
canine teeth of the male; the more complete adapta-
tion of the structure of the vertebral column to the
vertical position, Man being the only Mammal who
habitually walks erect; the greater length of the
lower as compared with the upper extremities; and
the greater length of the hallux, or great toe, with
the almost complete absence of the power of bring-
ing it into opposition with the other toes.

Of course the mental difference between Man and
the highest of the lower animals is so great as to be
immeasurable, although the latter also have many
traits which may compare favorably with those of
human-kind. The devoted love of the mothers of
most species is a trait which they share with human-
ity, and in their lives and daily doings they are also
subject to many of the same physical conditions as
mankind. Like us they are born, live and die; are
subject to disease, to pain, to sorrow, and are capa-
ble of affection, sympathy and joy. Until they be-
come old and weary of life's struggle most species
of them find pleasure in association with their kind,
although, like Man, they have their quarrels and their
bickerings.

The various orders are divided into more or less
numerous families, these families into genera and
each genus contains one or more species. Science
has for convenience adopted a system of double
names to describe each species of animals. Thus,
the Tiger, which belongs to the Fourth Order or
Beasts of Prey {Carnivora) is a member of the Cat
Family {Fclida;) and of the genus of the Cats Proper
{Felis) and the species Tiger {Tigris) the scientific
name including both the generic and the specific
designations, thus: Felis tigris.

Dr. Brehm, in the great work to which these re-
marks are appended by way of explanatory intro-
duction, has excluded Man from his consideration of
the Natural History of Mammals. The book deals
with the facts that pertain to the lives of the animals
rather than with the anatomical details, only giving
so much of the latter as is necessary to a complete
portrait and biography. In the field of descriptive
zoology the work is unique, and brings the various
animals nearer to human comprehension and human
sympathy than is possible by any other method of
treatment; and for this reason this English transla-
tion of the work must be regarded as a valuable
acquisition to the resources of the American student
of zoology.

J. W. L.

Zhc Hpes anb fllbonkqjs.

FIRST ORDER: Pitheci.

AGLER calls the
Apes trans-
formed Men,
thereby but giving
utterance to the opinion
of all nations, ancient as
well as modern, which
have had anything to do
with these strange creatures.
S#j!F^7 T^ " Pretty nearly the reverse of
his words would correspond to
the scientific opinion of to-day ;
which is that it is not the Apes
that are transformed Men, but that
the latter are more perfectly devel-
oped cousins of the former.
The Egyptians and Hindoos seem
1* to have been the only people among
the ancients who exhibited any affection
for this animal. The old Egyptians chis-
eled the likeness of the Ape in indestructi-
ble porphyry and modeled the images of their
gods in its similitude, and the ancient Hindoos
inaugurated the practice, which their descendants
still follow, of building houses and temples for the
Monkeys. Solomon imported Monkeys from
Ophir, and the Romans kept them as pets, dissected
them in anatomical studies, and matched them against
wild beasts, but never established very friendly relations
with them, and, like Solomon, never thought them to
be anything else than animals. The Arabians go a little
further : they think them Men who, for their sins, have been
condemned by Allah to bear the form of Apes, their outward
appearance seeming to them to be a curious blending of devil
and Man.

Our own manner of thinking is not very different from that of
the Arabians. Instead of recognizing them as our next of kin we
only see in them caricatures of ourselves, and condemn them without
mercy, finding only those kinds attractive that show the least likeness
to a human being, while those in which the likeness is more distinct
excite our disgust. Our aversion to the Apes is based as well on their
physical as their mental traits. They resemble Men both too much and too
little. While the human body shows perfect harmony, that of the Ape often
seems a repulsive caricature. A single look at the skeletons of a Man and
an Ape shows us the difference in their respective structures, though this
difference is only conditional. At any rate it is wrong to term the Apes ill-
shaped, as people usually do. There are beautiful Apes, and there are very ugly
ones ; the same is true of Men, for an Eskimo, a Bushman or a native of New Holland
by no means a model for a statue of Apollo. Apes taken by themselves are very well
endowed animals ; it is only when compared with the highest developed Men that they appear to be
caricatures of the superior being.

The size of the Apes differs within rather wide boundaries, the Gorilla being as large as a well-grown

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

Man, while the Silky Monkey is not larger than a
Squirrel. The shape of the body differs very much,
also, as the names, "Man-shaped Apes" and " Dog-
shaped Monkeys," indicate better than would any
long descriptions. There are bulky and slender
Apes. They may be clumsy or graceful ; most of
them have long tails, some have short ones, and
some none at all. Their growth of hair is varied :
in some it is scant, in others plentiful, being mainly
of a neutral tint, but sometimes the coloring is
bright and pleasing. There are even some white
ones. In Siam, the country of the white Elephant,
where albinos from the animal world seem to be the
fashion, beautiful white monkeys are prized as pets.
Anatomical There is greater similarity in the ana-
Structure tomical structure of the different kinds
of Apes. f Apes than would be supposed from
their outward appearance. The skeleton has seven
cervical vertebrae, from twelve to sixteen dorsal, four
to nine lumbar, two to five sacral, and three to thirty-
three caudal ( going to form the tail ) ; the clavicle is
strong ; the bones of the forearm are separate and
movable, the wrist-bones are long, while the finger
bones seem stunted in their growth. The feet are
supplied with a thumb. The shape of the skull
differs very much, according to the greater or lesser
prominence of the jaws, and the size of the brain.
The arches of the eyebrows are strong and promi-
nent. The teeth are composed of all the different
kinds : two incisors, one canine, sometimes as large
as that of a beast of prey, two or three pre-molars
and three grinders or molars form each side of a
jaw. Among the muscles, those of the hand attract
our attention, as, in comparison with those of a hu-
man hand, they seem to be so much simpler. The
larynx is not capable of producing sounds that might
constitute articulate speech, in our sense of the word ;
but the sac-like projections of the trachea seem to
favor the production of shrill, howling sounds.

Special mention must be accorded the cheek
pouches, that distinguish certain Apes. These open
from the cheeks by a small aperture near the corner
of the mouth and serve to store away food. They are
most highly developed in the Guenons, Macaques
and Baboons ; they are entirely lacking in the Man-
shaped Apes and in all the New World Monkeys.
The Ape .Sometimes the Apes are called Quad-
Compared rumana, a distinction being made be-
with Man. tween them and Man. But science de-
clares that the difference in the structure of the
hands and feet of Men and Apes is, though remark-
able, by no means fundamental. In a careful com-
parison of the two it will be seen that their structure
is essentially similar. The thumb put in apposition
to the other fingers or toes is found in Man only in
the hand, in the Arctopitheci only in the feet, while
the rest of the Apes have it in both hands and feet.
We are far from denying the difference of hands and
feet in Man and the Apes, but we insist on this differ-
ence not being sufficient to be counted as a distinctive
cause for differentiating the two.

In spite of the great resemblance between Man
and Ape, there are characteristic differences between
them ; but no greater weight should be attached to
this fact than is usually given to the comparison of
other mammals. The lean body covered with hair,
the thin legs devoid of calf ; the long tail possessed
by many, the callosities on the hinder quarters dis-
tinctive of certain species, and above all the head
with its small, receding skull, and the thin lips, are
distinctive features of the Apes.

Oken describes the Apes in comparison with Man
in the following terms: "The Apes resemble Man
in all bad moral traits ; they are malicious, treach-
erous, thievish and indecent ; they learn a number
of tricks, but are disobedient and often spoil their
performances, behaving like awkward clowns.
There is not a single virtue that could be ascribed
to the Apes, and still less any use to which they
might be put. They have been trained to stand
guard, to wait on the table, to fetch and carry, but
they do these things only in the intervals of foolish
spells. They represent only the bad side of Man, in
regard to his physical as well as his moral nature."

There is no denying that this description is, in the
main, correct. Still we wish to give justice fair play,
even in dealing with Apes, and therefore let us not
forget to mention their really good traits. We can-
not judge of their intellectual qualities in the aggre-
gate, for the reason that the different species show
so many contradictory features.
Nature, Habits We must concede that the Apes are
and malicious, cunning, choleric, vindictive,

Intelligence, sensual, quarrelsome, irritable and peev-
ish ; on the other hand, we must take into account
their cleverness, their good humor, their gentleness,
their trust in, and kindness to Man, their amusing
social qualities, their cheering earnestness, their
courage and their readiness to stand by each other
in case of need, even against superior enemies, and
their inclination to play and tease. In one respect
they even rise to greatness, and that is in their love
for their offspring, their pity for the weak and de-
fenseless, not only of their own family and kind, but
even of other animals.

The intellectual development of which Apes are
capable does not place them so high above all other
mammals, Man excepted, neither does it place them
so much below the level of Man, as is usually as-
serted. The possession of a hand places the Ape in
so much more advantageous a position from a me-
chanical point of view than all other animals, that
his accomplishments seem greater than they are.
He is quick to learn, and the impulse to imitate
everything, that is so strong in most of his kind,
makes it easy for him to be taught certain tricks.
After short practice he is able to do a great many
things that can with difficulty be taught a Dog. But
it must be mentioned that he always performs his
tasks with a certain resistance, and never of his own
accord, or with enjoyment. It is not hard to ac-
custom an Ape to do certain things, but he will
never be as conscientious and painstaking about it
as a well-trained Dog. But it has taken several
thousand years of breeding, cultivation and teach-
ing to bring the Dog up to his present capabilities ;
while the Apes have had no opportunity of learning
from Man. The capabilities of Apes will be seen
in the course of this chapter, and will tend to prove
that they are the cleverest among animals. Their
memory is excellent, and they profit by experience.
They have a surprising talent for dissimulation,
know how to escape dangers and how to take good
care of their own interests. There can also be no
denying that they are affectionate. They are capable
of becoming attached to people, are grateful and
show a certain amount of good-will to those who
have done them a kindness.

It is remarkable, that in spite of their good sense,
all Apes may sometimes be deceived in the silliest
manner, their passions often getting the upper hand
of their prudence. Once their passions are aroused

TWT? rcnRTT T A This king of the African forests is found only in the deepest fastnesses of Equatorial Afric

15 degrees so^ot the 'equator) ^nd no adult of tins family has been held in captivity, its great strength and ferocity preventing it. capture
Jive Several young Gorillas have been taken but did not long survive contact with Man. The artist presents the animal la , it is seen in its
native forest with its terrible face, huge canine teeth, broad shoulders, great chest and immense hands intently alert that no enemy may
surprise it! and prepared for any emergency. Unarmed Man. the Leopard and the Crocodile are no match for this loadable creature, before
which even the Lion might tremble. (Gorilla gini.)

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

they give no heed to anything and utterly forget
safety in their eagerness to gratify their greedy ap-
petites. In this way the cleverest Apes are gov-
erned by their passions precisely as many people
are. It is doubtful whether this gives us a right to
underrate their intellect.

Where Apes In former periods of the world the
are Apes inhabited a larger portion of the

Found. globe than they do at present. Now
they are limited to the warm countries, a hot climate
seeming to be a condition essential to them. Bab-
oons are sometimes found rather high in mountains
and appear to endure a lower temperature than is
generally supposed ; but nearly all the rest of the
Apes are extremely sensitive to cold. Each conti-
nent possesses its own species, though Asia and
Africa have one in common. In Europe there is
only one kind, and that is limited to one troop which
lives on the Rocks of Gibraltar, under the protection
of the garrison. Australia has no Apes. Gibraltar is
not the highest northern point where Apes are found,
for a Japanese Macaque probably extends his wan-
derings as far as the 37th degree of north latitude.
To the south the Apes go as far as the 35th degree,
but only in the Old World. In America they oc-
cupy a belt of land extending as far north as Chi-
huahua in Mexico, and as far south as Catamasca in
the Argentine Republic, inhabiting besides Mexico
the Central American states and portions of all the
countries of South America except Uruguay.

The home of an individual species is usually
within rather narrow boundaries, though it hap-
pens that there are corresponding varieties in two
countries that are far apart on the same continent.

Most of the Apes live in forests, but a few are
sometimes found on rocky mountains. Their ex-
tremities are adapted to climbing, and trees are
naturally their favorite haunts ; the mountain Apes,
however, climb trees only when compelled to do so.

Agility and Apes are doubtless the liveliest and

Predatory most agile of all mammals. While on
Traits. their hunt for food, they do not know
repose. The variety of their diet alone would call
for great activity in the search, for almost every
thing eatable comes handy to them. Fruit, onions,
roots, seeds, nuts, buds, leaves and juicy plants form
their staple food ; eggs and young birds are dainties
not to be despised. So there is always something
to be caught, or plucked, something to be smelled
or tasted, enjoyed or thrown away. Such investiga-
tions require a great deal of moving about. Their
ideas as to personal property are extremely hazy.
"We do the sowing, the Monkeys see to the reap-
ing," is a common saying among the Arabians of
East Soudan. Fields and gardens are regarded by
them as extremely agreeable places of rest, and are
pillaged to the utmost. Each Monkey destroys ten
times more than he eats Neither locks nor bolts,
fences nor walls, can keep these thieves out. They
force the locks and climb the walls, and what cannot
be eaten is taken away, including gold and jewelry.
One must have seen a pillaging band of Monkeys to
understand how a farmer can half die with rage over
their visits, or, rather, visitations. To an onlooker a
troop showing themselves at the climax of their
agility during such a raid presents, indeed, a very
interesting spectacle. They run, jump, climb, swing
themselves, and, in case of necessity, swim. The
feats' performed on trees are incredible. Only the
Man-shaped Apes and the Baboons are clumsy ; all
the others are perfect clowns ; they seem nearly able

to fly ; jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet are child's
play to them. From the top of a tree they will jump
down a distance of thirty-five feet, seize the end of a
branch, which will go down with their weight ; at its
rebound they will give themselves a mighty impulse,
and using the tail or their hind limbs as a rudder, go
flying through the air like an arrow. The minute
they land somewhere, they go on, paying as much
heed to the sharpest of thorns as if they were dis-
porting themselves on smooth parterre. A tree is to
them a most comfortable pathway. They climb up
and down, under a branch or over it ; if they are
thrown into a tree, they seize the first twig they can
find, patiently wait till it is at rest, and then climb up
on it, as if they were on terra firma. If the branch
breaks, they take another ; if this also breaks, a third
one does for them, and if they have a fall they are
not disconcerted in the least. If they cannot reach
a thing with their hands they use their feet, and the
Broad Noses (American Monkeys) have recourse to
their tail. The tail is always used as a rudder in
long jumps, and serves a variety of other purposes
besides, sometimes forming a ladder for another
Monkey. With the American Monkeys the tail may
be considered as the fifth, nay, the first hand. The
Monkey may twist it around the bough of a tree and
rock to and fro on it ; he may use it to get food out
of narrow holes and crevices ; he uses it as a ladder,
and lastly, this useful member serves its owner as a
hammock for an after-dinner nap.

Climbing Climbing is the only movement that
and shows off the agility and gracefulness

Walking. f t h e Apes. Even the Man-shaped
Apes are wonderful in this respect, though their
climbing is more after human fashion. Their walk
is always more or less clumsy. The Guenons, Ma-
caques and Marmosets walk the best of all ; the first
mentioned can even run for a short time, and so fast
that an ordinary Dog could not overtake them ; but
even the Baboons hobble along in the funniest sort
of way. The walking of the Man-shaped Apes is
hardly deserving of that name. While the first walk
on the soles of their feet, the latter lean on the
knuckles of their hands, and bend their body over
in such a way that the feet practically have their
position between the hands.

Apes in Some kinds are excellent swimmers,
the others sink in water like a piece of lead.

Water. Among the first are the Guenons, of which
Brehm saw several specimens crossing the Blue Nile
with the greatest ease ; among the last are probably
the Baboons and the Howlers. Those which cannot
swim are remarkably afraid of water. A family of
Howlers was once found on a tree, isolated by an
inundation. They were half starved, yet did not dare
start out for the nearest tree, that was barely sixty
feet distant. Ulloa, a writer on Brazilian animals,
has invented a pretty little bridge for the poor
Monkeys that cannot swim and it would be of great
service to them, if only they would use it. He tells
us that each Howler grasps another's tail, the whole
band forming a chain. The Monkey at one end
holds fast to the top of a tree at one shore, and
through the combined efforts of all, the chain is
swung back and forth till the last Monkey at the
other end is in a position to seize the branch of a
tree on the other shore. On this artificial bridge the
younger and weaker ones cross first, and then the
first Monkey draws the others after him. Prince
Wied, a very conscientious observer, gives this story
its right name, calling it " a funnv fable."

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

Social Life The social
of life of the
Apes. Apes is a
very attractive one for
every observer. There
are but few kinds which
live singly; the majority
prefer to live in small
troops or bands. Each
of these latter selects a
permanent home of
greater or less extent.
The choice as a rule
falls on a country that
seems favorable in all
respects. There must
be something to eat, or
else they emigrate. In
a poor country, forests
near human dwellings
seem to be regarded as
paradisaical; the for-
bidden tree does not
trouble the Ape's con-
science, so long as the
apples on it are tooth-
some. Plantations of
sweet corn and sugar-
cane, fields of onions,
orchards and banana
trees are preferable to
anything else ; villages
also are liked, where
anybody chastising the
robbers has to dread the
superstition of the in-
habitants. As soon as
the band has come to a
conclusion about a place
of habitation, the real
life of the Monkeys be-
gins, with all its joys and
sorrows, its quarrels and
its cares. The oldest
and strongest male is
made the chief, this
dignity is not conferred
by universal suffrage,
but by long and hard
fights with the other
aspirants, that is, with
all the old males. The
longest teeth and the
strongest arm prevail.
Whoever does not sub-
ject himself good-nat-
uredly, is brought to his
senses by a few cuffs,
bites and scratches, and
the crown is to the
strong : in his teeth is
wisdom.

The language of Apes is by no means a poor one,
for each Ape has the most varied sounds for his dif-
fering emotions. Man soon learns to recognize the
significance of these sounds.

The cry of terror, which also includes an invitation
to flee, is especially expressive ; it is hard to de-
scribe, and still harder to imitate ; one can only say
that it consists of a succession of short, vibrating
and inharmonious gurgling sounds, whose meaning

A FAMILY OF GORILLAS. This picture represents a family ot Gorillas, the month or two old baby

in the foreground, at the teet of its watchful mother, while the ever-alert fatner is keeping guard from a perch ol
strong vines. The mother's face is placid, because she knows the father's ear is never closed and that his mighty arm
will protect her and the helpless little one. whose dreamy face expresses entire satisfaction. It is a most graphic and
faithful delineation ot a life-like scene in the great hot forest in Equatorial Africa, and portrays in pleasing measure
the home life ot these creatures so greatly resembling Man. Fierce and intractable as is the Gorilla, he is kind to his
wife and children, protecting them lrom all enemies and careful in providing for their comforts. (Gorilla gun I

the Monkey makes still clearer by grimaces. As

soon as this note of alarm is sounded, the whole

band starts to flee ; the mothers call their children,

and holding them fast, hurry on to the next tree or

rock. It is only when the chief recovers his spirits

that the band gathers again and returns.

Courage and The Apes undeniably have courage.

Fighting The stronger ones boldly resist the ter-

Qualities. rible beasts of pre}- and Man, and are

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

not deterred from fights whose outcome is more than
doubtful from the beginning. Even the graceful
Guenons fight, when driven to it. The large sized
Man-shaped Apes and the Baboons are endowed
with fearful weapons in their teeth, and no native
will dream of attacking them without fire-arms.
Against the Gorilla even fire-arms avail but little in
a great many cases. At any rate the fury of the
Apes, which redoubles their strength, and their agil-
ity that frequently prevents their opponents from
striking them a decisive blow, are greatly to be
feared. They fight with their hands and teeth,
striking, scratching and biting. A great many sto-
ries about their other modes of defense have been
disproved by careful observation. " It is said," re-
marks Pechuel-Loesche, " that the Apes defend
themselves with broken branches ; and it is gener-
ally conceded that they throw stones, fruit and
pieces of wood at their enemies, but this belief is
based on inaccurate observations. The people who
spread it probably saw only what they were pre-
pared to see, not what really happened. Apes often
break a dry branch in play, jumping on it, but they
do not throw it at people standing below ; neither
do they throw fruit or other things they may hap-
pen to be holding, though they might drop it in
their confusion when frightened. Neither do Bab-
oons ever throw stones at their pursuers. Pieces
of rock may crumble and fall down from the place
where they sit, but that is all ; the active animals
are forever rolling stones from their places, look-
ing for insects under them."

Conduct In captivity nearly all Apes live in har-
in mony together ; still a certain relation of
Captivity, dependence soon forms itself, just as in a
troop in the wild state. The strongest Ape maintains
his authority and torments the weaker ones until
they recognize it. To be tenderly considerate of the
feelings of others is not an Ape's character, though
it is true that the stronger kinds, male as well as
female, always protect the weaker ones ; and strong
females often go as far as to show a liking towards
human babies or small, young animals, that they can
carry in their arms. Badly as Apes treat other
animals, they show kindness to their young and to
children, naturally preferring their own to any
others ; this fondness has become proverbial.

Mother Ape The female Ape usually has one young
and one at a birth ; a few kinds have two.

Child. flic baby Ape is always an ugly little
being, with arms and legs looking twice as long
proportionately as its parents', and with a face so
wrinkled and furrowed that it looks like that of an
old man rather than of a child. This little monster
is the mother's pet in a still higher degree than is
the case with a human mother ; she fondles it and
takes care of it in a manner not only touching but
bordering on the ridiculous. Soon after its birth the
young Ape attaches itself to its mother, putting both
arms around her neck and both legs around hei hips,
so as not to interfere with her in running. When it
gets a little older, it sometimes jumps on the mother's
back in times of danger. In the beginning the little
Ape is naturally devoid of all sentiment, not appre-
ciating the tenderness the mother bestows on it.
She is forever playing with it ; she licks its body,
she hugs it, she holds it in both hands as if she
were admiring it, and rocks it to sleep in her arms.
Pliny assertc that Apes sometimes hug their little
ones so close as to strangle them, but his statement
has not been verified by modern observers. In a

short time the young Ape begins to be independent
and longs for a little freedom, which is granted it.
The mother lets it play and romp with other little
ones, but she does not take her eyes off from it,
following its every step and permitting only as much
freedom as she deems proper. At the least danger
she utters her sound of warning, inviting the little
one to take refuge at her breast. If it is disobedient
she slaps it, sometimes giving it a box on the ears.
But she seldom has to resort to this, for an Ape-
child is very obedient and might serve as a model
for many a human child. In captivity I have often
seen Apes divide everything with their offspring ;
and the death of a young one is frequently followed
by the death of its mother, she dying of a broken
heart. When a mother dies, leaving a child, the
orphan is regularly adopted by some member of the
troop, either male or female. The solicitude be-
stowed upon an adopted child is nearly as great as-
that of a mother Ape for her own offspring ; al-
though, when an Ape takes care of other animals,
as it sometimes does, it is quite different. It will look
after the adopted animal, cleaning and caring for it,
but usually giving it nothing to eat ; on the contrary,,
the food destined for the orphan is, without a scru-
ple, devoured by its nurse, who meanwhile holds the
hungry little beast at arm's length.

Maturity, It is not known how many years an
Health and Ape requires for its growth. The Gue-
Longevity. n ons and the American Monkeys prob-
ably need no more than three or four years, while
the Baboons might need from eight to twelve. In
the wild state Monkeys seem to be subject to few"
diseases. At least we do not know anything about
epidemics that are said to have occurred among
them. It is also uncertain how long they live, but
we may accept forty years as about the average life
of the larger species, such as the Gorilla and Chim-
panzee. [In North America] as well as Europe those
in captivity suffer from the severity of the climate.
Cold depresses them physically and mentally, and,
as a rule, they soon die of consumption. A sick Ape
is a spectacle that would move a heart of stone.
The poor fellow, but recently so full of fun, sits
miserable and sad, with a plaintive, really human
look. The nearer he approaches death, the gentler
he gets ; the animal side of his nature is lost, and the
spiritual side shines brighter. He is grateful for
every little help, soon looks on the physician as his
benefactor, willingly takes medicines, and even sub-
mits to surgical operations without resistance. Apes
that otherwise seem quite healthy, often get a disease
of the tail, the end of which ulcerates and becomes
gangrenous and the tail is lost by degrees.
Monkeys as I do not know whether I may advise
Domestic people to keep Monkeys as pets. The
Pets. merry animals give much pleasure, but
also a great deal of annoyance. One must always
be prepared for all kinds of pranks, but if he does
not wish to study the intellectual resources of the
animals he will soon grow very tired of them. The
larger kinds sometimes become dangerous, for they
bite and scratch furiously. It is not wise to give
a Monkey the freedom of the whole house, for his
active spirit requires constant occupation, and when
he is not provided with it he finds employment for
himself, which, as a rule, does not turn out to be
very profitable to his master. Some kinds are not
to be tolerated on account of their indecent behavior.
The life of the tame Apes, which comprised several
Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Guenons and others, at the

THE GORILLA AND THE LEOPARD. The great strength of the Gorilla is clearly brought out in the abov

the manner in which it attacks the Leopard. This treacherous animal dare not assail an adult Gorilla, but will prowl
when an opportunity offers, seize and run off with a young one of the family. Being more fleet of foot than the Gorilla i
this case the Gorilla has come up with the predatory wretch and is making short work of h
interested spectator, from her perch on the tree-bough, of the deadly struggle beneath.

(7)

asterly illustration, which depicts

und the home of the latter, and-

asily escapes with his victim. In

The mother with her darling pressed close to her breast is an

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

station of the Loango exploring party, is described
by Pechuel-Loesche as follows : " Our Apes used to
select some animal or thing and become sincerely
attached to it. In this way several of the strangest
friendships came about. It is generally known that
Apes adopt young animals, care for them and cling
to them even when they are dead. When our large
collie, ' Trina,' gave birth to pups, and these became
infested with fleas, we put the puppies in a cage with
the Apes, where they were received with open arms
carefully and tenderly cleaned and caressed, while
the old Dog was sitting outside and attentively look-
ing on. But there was always great trouble when
we went to fetch the pups ; they evidently had been
distributed with a view to keeping them.

" Our mischievous Dog-faced Monkey struck up
a friendship with the Gorilla and the tyrant of the
yard, the smooth-coated Billy Goat, Mfuka. The
Baboon, Jack, had selected a fat little Pig for his
particular friend and performed the strangest eques-
trian feats on its back ; later, a Dog took the place of
the merry little Pig, and they played together in the
drollest way. Forbidding Isabella had taken a lik-
ing to a parrot ; but when she one day started to
pluck out his scarlet tail-feathers, one by one, this
remarkable friendship came to an end."

Taking into consideration the bad habits of the
Ape and the tricks he plays, his usefulness counts
as nothing. It is very easy to teach him ; you show
him what is required of him and beat him till he does
it himself ; that is all that is necessary ! In an hour

or two he will know how to do a thing, but he has to
be kept in practice, for he soon forgets. His feed-
ing is no trouble, for he eats anything Man eats.

In their native countries, in places that are not
very fertile but more or less thickly settled, the
harm done by the Apes more than outweighs their
usefulness. The flesh of some kinds is eaten, and
the skins of some of the others are used for various
purposes, but this little profit is as nothing com-
pared with the damage they cause in the fields and
orchards, and it is hard to understand how the Hin-
doos can think them sacred and care for them as if
they were demi-gods.
Classification We divide the Apes into three classes :
of The Narrow-nosed (Catarrkzni), the

Apes. Broad-nosed (Platyrrkim), and the
Marmosets (Arctopithecim), The first two have
nails on their fingers and toes ; the Marmosets have
nails only on the thumbs of their hind limbs, while
their other fingers and toes are provided with claws.
The Narrow-nosed and Broad-nosed are distin-
guished by a difference between their nasal septa
and their teeth. The former have a narrow nasal
bone, the latter a broad one, their nostrils being
placed on the side. The Narrow-nosed are found
only in the Eastern hemisphere. They are " Old
World Apes," and are restricted, except a single
species, the Barbary Ape, to Asia and Africa and
the great islands of these continents. The two
others are limited to Mexico and Central and South
America.

Zbc IFlaiTOW^IFloseb Hpes.

FIRST FAMILY: Catarrhini.

The Narrow-nosed Apes resemble Man in the ar-
rangement of their teeth and the structure of the
nose. Their upper jaw shows a gap between the
incisors and canines, for the accommodation of the
lower canine tooth, which is very strong. Not one
of the representatives of this class has a prehen-
sile tail. They are subdivided into two groups, the
Man-shaped Apes {Anthropomorpha), and the Dog-
shaped Monkeys {Cyfwpithecim). The former step
only on the extreme outer edge of the feet, the lat-
ter on the entire sole. The Man-shaped Apes lack
a tail and cheek-pouches, and very few of them have
the callosities on their hinder quarters, that are al-
ways possessed by the Dog-shaped Monkeys, which
also, as a rule, often have cheek-pouches and a tail.

THE MAN-SHAPED APES.

The Man-shaped Apes {Anthropomorpha) form
the highest developed group of Apes, which in the
structure of their skeleton, and also in the formation
and position of the eyes and ears, come nearest to
Man. Their upper extremities are longer than his,
their lower extremities shorter. The tail is lacking.
The face and toes are not covered with hair. Of the
four known species, two, the Gorilla and Chim-
panzee, inhabit Africa ; the Orang-utan and Gibbon,
the southeast of Asia.

Hanno Over two thousand years ago the Car-
and the thagenians sent out a fleet with a view
"Wild Men." f founding colonies on the western
coast of Africa. Thousands of men and women,
well provided with provisions and household articles,
found room on sixty large ships. The commander of
the fleet was Hanno, who left a description of his
journey in a well-known work, the " Periplus Han-
nonis." They founded seven colonies in the course
of their voyage, but were obliged from a lack of pro-
visions to return sooner than they expected. Still,
when this happened, the bold seafarers had gone a
little farther than Sierra Leone. A description that
is of importance to us may be found in Hanno's
work. It says : " On the third day after our depart-
ure from that place, we crossed the Fiery Rivers and
came to a bay, called the Southern Horn. In the
background there was an island with a lake, in which
a smaller island rose to view, peopled with wild men.
The greater part of the crowd were women, who had
a body all covered with hair, and the interpreters
called them ' Gorillas.' We could not catch the
men when we started to pursue them ; they escaped
us easily, as they climbed over precipices and threw
rocks at us. We caught three of the women, but
could not keep them prisoners as they bit and
scratched us ; so we had to kill them. We slew

THE MAX-SHAPED APES-GORILLA.

them and conveyed the skins to Carthage." Pliny
tells us that these skins were kept in the temple of
Juno, in the latter city.

There is scarcely any doubt that Hanno, in speak-
ing of wild men covered with hair,
can only mean a Man-shaped Ape,
and though he might have had
the Chimpanzee in view, it is now
known that the greatest of the
Apes is the Gorilla.

THE GORILLA.

The Gorilla, Njina, or in the
language of the natives, Mpungo,
{Gorilla gitui), the sole represent-
ative of the family of the Gorillas,
is scarcely smaller but a great deal
broader in the shoulders than a
full-grown Man. The height of
the male reaches on an average
from sixty to seventy-two inches ;
the width of the shoulders thirty-
eight inches. The females are
smaller. The length and strength
of the trunk and the upper ex-
tremities, the large size of the
hands and feet, the middle fingers
and toes of which are joined by
membranes, form the most prom-
inent characteristics. The most
striking features in the large head,
which because of the shortness of
the neck and its powerful muscles
seems to be set immediately on
the trunk, are the prominent

arches Of the eyebrOWS, the eyes like'mouth. the mild and gentle

lvillF deeo in their sockets the P anzee - whiIe d«'dedly unath
ijiug uetp in uieu socKeib, uic Gorj „ a All d indeed the Chimp

broad, flat nose, and the large

mouth, bounded by thick
lips and provided with a
fearful set of teeth The
hair is rather long, shaggy,
of dark colors, gray, brown
or reddish. The face is
left free from hair to the
eyebrows, as also the ears
and the hands and feet
laterally and at the extrem-
ities.

It is still impossible to
determine the native coun-
try of the Gorilla exactly.
It seems to be found only
in a relatively limited part
of western Africa, or, more
definitely speaking, in
Lower Guinea. It has been
seen on the coast between
the equator and the fifth
degree of south latitude,
and in the western parts of
the adjoining mountains.

As it always lives in
woods, it is not probable
that it would be found to
the south as far as the
Congo or beyond the

t picture of the Chimpanzee, displaying to the greatest mountains to the east,
the eye as well as the great ears for which it is noted. The large, though it mifdlt go to the

north of the Ogowe and the
Gaboon country, at least as
far as Cameroon, as that part of the continent has
more rain, and, in consequence, abounds in woods.
It is possible that the Gorilla also lives in those
parts of Upper Guinea that are equally favored.

FACE OF A CHIMPANZEE.

advantage the immense frontal ridge

slit-like mouth with the extended lower lip, the length of the upper lip, the misshapen nose and the deep-set eyes

are all brought out with the most faithful exactitude.

i^

PROFILE OF

CHIMPANZEE. This picture shows to good advantage the large and slit-

and the quaintly shaped nose that are peculiarities of the Chim-
ractive there is absent the ferocity that marks the countenance of the
panzee has a disposition that is gentle and kind except when it has suf-
fered from privation or age and infirmity overcome it.

*v-

of the chest would send awe if not terror to the bravest of Men.

ORANG-UTAN. The naturalists have given the name Satyr to this animal because ot its resemblance to man and beast, the face, head, ears, beard and

whiskers, the long arms and large hands all being wonderfully like those of a human being; while the shaggy coat of hair suggests the brute. It is not strange
that the superstitious natives should think the Orang-utan a human being gone wild. The picture represents this Ape at rest in its forest home, both hands
lightly holding to a vine, while the fingers of the left are laid upon the forehead. The great strength of the hands and arms, as well as of the broad shoulders,
are distinctly shown and the face recalls that of human beings one has frequently seen. (Pithecus satyrus.)

(u)

12

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

The Account Among the numerous accounts of the
of Gorilla, where truth seems to be plen-

Du Chaillu. tifully mingled with exaggeration and
tales of natives, the descriptions of Du Chaillu have
in their time made a great deal of stir. I would
have used his works extensively, if they had not at
the first perusal aroused a feeling of distrust. I am
decidedly of the opinion that Du Chaillu's glowing
descriptions are a wonderful blending of truth and
fiction. Other travelers who have explored those
parts and entered into communication with the
natives have arrived at the same conclusion. Like
his predecessors, Du Chaillu bases his narrative on
hearsay, though he gives it the interest of a personal
experience. So I will give here only a few words of
Du Chaillu, in relation to a young Gorilla that came
into his possession, though his observations were
by no means confirmed by later and better ones :

" On the fourth of May several young Negroes,
whom I had sent out for a hunt, brought home a
young, living Gorilla. I cannot do justice in words
to the emotions that overwhelmed me, when the lit-
tle monster was brought into the village. The Ape
was about two or three years old and twenty-four
inches high, but as ferocious and obstinate as any
full-grown brother of his might be. My hunters had
caught it in the country between Rembo and Cape
St. Catherine. According to their story, the hunters,
five of them, had been noiselessly creeping through
a wood near a settlement, when suddenly they heard
a growl, which they at once recognized as the call of
a young Gorilla for its mother, and they decided to
follow the sound. Their guns in their hands, the
brave fellows crept on towards a gloomy place in
the forest, thick with underbrush. They knew that
the mother must be near, and expected the dreaded
father to be not far away, but decided to try to get
the young Ape alive at any risk. As they ap-
proached a sight new even to them met their eyes.
The little one sat near its mother, plucking berries,
and the old one was eating of the same fruit. My
hunters got ready to fire immediately, and were
barely in time ; for the mother caught sight of them
when they were lifting their guns. Fortunately
they killed her with the first volley. The little one,
frightened by the report of the guns, ran towards its
mother, hugged her close and hid its face. The
hunters hurried forward, but it then left the mother,
ran to a small tree and climbing it with the greatest
agility sat down on one of the branches and roared
at its pursuerc. But the Negroes did not get scared,
nor were they afraid of being bitten by the furious
little beast. So they cut down the tree, and as it
fell they quickly threw a cloth over the head of the
little fellow, and in that way were able to master it.
Still the little Ape, who as far as age went was but a
young child, showed itself to be amazingly strong
and anything but good-natured ; so that the men
could not lead it, but had to put its head between
the prongs of a pitchfork, and thus force it to be
quiet. In this way he entered the village, and the
news spread like wild-fire. As the prisoner was be-
ing lifted out of the boat, in which it had come part
of the way, it roared and barked and stared wildly
around, as if it was assuring us that it would take
its revenge as soon as it could get a chance. I
saw that the fork had wounded its neck, and there-
fore ordered a cage to be prepared for it. In two
hours we had built it a strong cage of bamboo, in
which we could observe it in security. It was a
young male, independent enough to shift for him-

self, endowed with extraordinary strength' for his.
age. His face and hands were black ; the eyes lay
not quite so deep in their sockets as with the older
ones ; the body was thinner ; the hair on the arms
longer. The hair of the eyebrows and of the arms
was of a reddish-brown color ; the upper lip was
covered with short hair, the lower one with a slight
beard ; light gray hair getting darker towards the
shoulders covered his neck and back. I never saw
so ill-natured an animal as this Ape. He raged at
everybody who approached him, bit at the bamboo-
palings, looked around with ferocious eyes and.
showed his viciousness and ill-nature at every op-
portunity."

Later Lately our information about the Gorilla
Account of has been vastly increased. German ex-

Gorillas. plorers, members of the Gussfeldt Loango-
expedition, have succeeded twice in capturing live
young Gorillas, in 1876 and 1883, and forwarded,
them to Europe, where, under the care of Director
Hermes, they lived long enough in the Berlin Aqua-
rium to enable scientists to settle a few complicated
questions. Furthermore Hugo von Koppenfels, a
passionate hunter, has made several voyages to the
Gaboon and Ogowe country within the last decade,
with a view of finding the Gorillas in their native
forests. So far Koppenfels has been the only Euro-
pean who can prove that he has observed Gorillas
in the wilderness and killed them. He confirms
many accounts that others have reported from hear-
say, and completes them from his own stock of ex-
perience :

" As incredible as it may seem, I can affirm that
even of the hunting tribes, hardly a third have ever
met a Gorilla in the forests. The Gorilla — with the
exception of old, hypochondriac males — lives with
his family, and roams from place to place, as the
demand for food impels him. He spends the night
where he happens to be at the approach of darkness.

" This means that he builds a new nest every even-
ing, and for this purpose selects strong young trees,
having a circumference not over twelve inches. The
nest is built somewhat like a Stork's, out of greem
twigs, in the embranchment of stronger boughs, at
a height of fifteen to eighteen feet. It is used by
the young ones, and if these still stand in need
of warmth, also by the mother, while the father
crouches down at the foot of the tree, his back
against the trunk, and in this way protects his fam-
ily from Leopards. In the dry season, when foodi
and water begin to fail him in the inner depth of
the woods, he makes raids on the plantations of the
natives, where he, Ape-like, causes troublesome dev-
astations.

" If let a'one, the Gorilla does not attack Men, but
rather avoids them. If he is taken by surprise, he:
rises, utters a series of short half roaring, half grunt-
ing noises, that cannot be described ; beats his gigan-
tic chest with his huge fists and shows his teeth with'
an exceedingly ferocious expression on his face,
while the hair on his head and on the nape of his
neck stands vibratingly erect. An old Gorilla in a
rage is a sight to inspire terror. Yet, if one does not
irritate him and beats a cautious retreat before his
fury has reached its height, I do not think he would
attack anybody. But if one should have the mis-
fortune to wound him slightly, then I, who it is true
have not been in such a terrible plight, am positive
that he would turn on the hunter, who is lost if he
has not a second ball ready. Flight is impossible, as
is a defence with any weapon but fire-arms."

FAMILY OF CHIMPANZEES. The great artist here represents a charming scene in the home lite of the Chimpanzee. After

having fed, the family— father, mother and child— are thirsty, and they have come to a cool and sparkling spring in the great African forest, far
away from the Man-hunter, who seeks their lives. But there are Leopards and Crocodiles that are to be dreaded, and while the father slakes
his thirst, the mother, with her head thrown slightly back, shades her eyes with her large hand that she may more clearly discern a possible
approaching enemy. The baby impatiently observes the movements of its father, because it, too, is thirsty, and it and the mother must wait
until the father is fully satisfied. When he is done he will, in turn, take the place of sentinel while they drink.

u

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

Koppenfels' H. von Koppenfels killed his first Go-
Gorilla rilla Christmas, 1874. He had taken
Hunts. his position near an Iba tree, whose
fruit is very much liked by that animal. " I had
waited in vain for about an hour. Night was com-
ing on ; the Mosquitoes began to annoy me and I
was just going to quit, when I heard the sound of
breaking twigs near the Iba tree. Peeping from be-
hind my tree, I saw a whole family of Gorillas, consist-
ing of the parents and two children. Taking human
growth as the standard, these latter might have been
six years old and one year old, respectively. The
solicitude of the mother for the baby was touching,
while the father seemingly cared for nothing but the
gratification of his own appetite. The best fruit
within reach seemed to have been consumed, for the
female climbed up the tree and shook it, to make the
ripe berries fall to the ground.

" At this time the male, his mouth still full, started
for the river flowing near, evidently to get a drink.
I did not take my eyes off him, for the stories of
Du Chaillu and the fairy-tales of the natives had
combined to throw me into a state of great agitation,
when I first caught sight of the animals. But this
gave way to a sudden calm, when the Gorilla, on his
way to the river, seemed to grow distrustful and
turning round, made for the tree that concealed
me. It was too late — I kept track of his every
movement, and had my gun in readiness. A few
moments sufficed to take aim and shoot. Before
the smoke cleared away I had put another cartridge
in my. gun, anticipating an attack. My black com-
panion stood trembling behind me, another gun in
hand. The expected attack did not occur. The
male Gorilla had fallen on his face, dead. The
young ones, giving one scream, fled into the thicket;
the mother jumped down from a considerable height
and followed them. I was so excited that I forgot
to shoot her. So my hunting luck had, at the same
time that the Christmas candles were being lighted
in Germany, given me, too, a magnificent present."

Not long after this Koppenfels shot, at a chance
meeting, the strongest Gorilla it ever was his good
fortune to kill Accompanied by his servants he
had followed a narrow trail in the woods. " Sud-
denly the Galloa nearest me screamed : ' Take care,
master, a large Gorilla ! ' and the cowards threw
down the things they were carrying and took to their
heels. I started at the cry, and just then a terrible
growl coming from the side attracted my notice,
and I saw barely fifteen paces away a gigantic mass
standing erect. It was the largest Gorilla I had ever
seen and the only one which ever stood awaiting me.
If he had profited by my confusion, I would have
been lost. I did not wait, though, to see how long
our staring at each other might last. As I lifted my
gun his roaring took on more of a barking sound ; he
beat his chest quicker, the shaggy hair on his head
raised itself with a vibrating motion, and it seemed
that my terrible opponent was going to attack me.
If I had retreated in time, I am fully convinced
that the Gorilla would not have approached me,
but such was not my intention. Mastering my agi-
tation, I took a steady aim at his heart, and pulled
the trigger. The animal jumped high up, and spread-
ing his arms, fell on his face. He had seized in fall-
ing, a liana, two inches in circumference, and so pow-
erful was his grasp that he tore it down along with
dry and green branches from the tree. His weight
seemed to be about four hundred pounds, and he was
six feet high."

H. von Koppenfels' plain, unvarnished tales, based
as they are on personal experience, give us a more
correct idta of this curious inhabitant of the forests,
and do away with a great deal of the terror with
which he has inspired us. To use the words of R.
Burton : " He is only a poor devil of a Monkey, and
not a fiendish freak of the imagination — half man,
half beast."

77,, Gorilla The attempt to import young Gorillas
in to Europe had always been unsuccess-

Captiuity. fu^ until the members of the German
Loango exploring party tried it. Falkenstein, '"heir
physician and zoologist, by a lucky chance got hold
of a young Gorilla, that was studied first in Africa
and then in the Berlin Aquarium.

Director Hermes mentions the growth and further
development of this Gorilla at great length in a lec-
ture delivered at the meeting of German natural-
ists and physicians in Hamburg : " The Aquarium
of Berlin has always set great value on the posses-
sion of Anthropomorphous Apes. During the last
few years it has been able to procure specimens of
all of the four species — the Gibbon, Chimpanzee,
the Orang-utan and the Gorilla. In this way I had
the best of opportunities to study them in captivity
and compare them with each other.

"The chief among all the Anthropomorpha is the
Gorilla. It seems as if he was born with a patent of
nobility among Apes. Our Gorilla, about two years
old, is nearly twenty-eight inches high. His body
is covered with gray, silky hair, the head alone hav-
ing a reddish color. His thick-set, robust shape, his
muscular arms, his smooth, shining black face with
well-shaped ears, his large, black, clever eyes — all
strike one as exceedingly human. If his nose was
not so broad he would look like a Negro boy.
What serves to heighten this impression is his awk-
wardness ; all his movements seem those of an un-
gainly boy rather than an Ape. When he sits there
like a Chinese pagoda, his gaze directed upon the
spectators, and suddenly with a bright nod claps his
hands, he has conquered all hearts at a stroke. He
likes company, makes a difference between young
and old, male and female. He is kind to little chil-
dren, likes to kiss them, and allows them liberties,
without taking advantage of his superior strength.
Older children he does not treat so well, although
he likes to play with them, to race around tables and
chairs which he frequently upsets, playfully slaps
their faces sometimes, and also thinks nothing of
trying his teeth on their legs. He is fond of ladies,
likes to sit in their laps and hug them, or sit still,
with his head on their shoulders. He also likes
to play in the common cage, but conducts him-
self there as an unconditional autocrat. Even the
Chimpanzee has to obey him, though the Gorilla
treats him more as an equal, selecting him as
his only playfellow and sometimes bestowing rather
rough caresses on him, while he pays no attention
to the smaller fry. Sometimes he gets hold of
the Chimpanzee and rolls on the floor with him.
If the Chimpanzee escapes, the Gorilla falls to
the floor, on his hands, like an awkward boy.
His gait resembles that of the Chimpanzee : they
both walk on the soles of their feet, supporting
themselves on the back of "he hands. But the
Gorilla turns his toes out more, and holds his
head higher, producing the impression that he
belong to a better class of society. When he is
in good humor — which is nearly always the case
— he sticks out his red tongue, which in that

CHIMPANZEES AT SCHOOL. The artist here presents two most amiable and accomplished young Chimpanzees that enlivened the famous zoolog-
ical garden at Stuttgart for some years, and performed a number of delightful pranks, which made them favorites with everybody. The picture represents them,
at school, the master examining the work of one of the pupils who is, unlike some school-boys, anxious to resume the task. The smaller sketch shows them
at dinner' and proves how cleverly they have mastered the accomplishments of eating and drinking like Girls and Boys. They were amiable, playful, knew-
scores of entertaining tricks, would sit in chairs, sleep in beds and walk around like h'-man beings.

(15)

16

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

black face of his, forcibly reminds one of a negro
boy.

" His manner of life is just as human as his ap-
pearance. At about eight o'clock in the morning he
wakes up, yawns, scratches himself in various places
and remains sleepy and apathetic till his glass of
morning milk is brought. That rouses him. He
gets up, peers around to see whether he cannot find
something to destroy in the room, looks out of the
window, claps his hands, and if he has no better
company, tries to play with the keeper. The latter
must always be with him. The moment he is left
alone, he screams. At nine o'clock he is washed, a
process in which he finds much pleasure, and ex-
presses his satisfaction in grunts. Living with his
keeper, he gets his meals at corresponding times
with him. For luncheon he eats a couple of Frank-
furt or Vienna sausages, or a sandwich with cheese,
or smoked beef. His favorite drink is Weiss beer,
and he looks remarkably funny when he tries to
hold the large glass with his short, thick fingers and
one foot. At one o'clock the keeper's wife brings
in dinner. While he was living in. my house, last
summer, he was evidently yearning for this hour.
He always ran to open the door himself, when he
heard the bell. As soon as the woman came in, he
would investigate the dishes and sometimes help
himself to a little of some dainty. She would punish
him with a slap, and then he would behave and sit
quietly. The first course is a cup of bouillon, which
is emptied to the last drop. Then comes a dish of
fice or vegetables, preferably potatoes, carrots or
parsnips, cooked with meat. The woman insists on
his eating properly, and he can handle a spoon quite
well, but the minute he thinks he can do so unob-
served, he puts his mouth in the dish. He likes a
piece of roast fowl best at the end of his meal. At
the conclusion of dinner he takes a nap of an hour
or an hour and a half, and is then ready for new
pranks. In the course of the afternoon he gets some
fruit, while his evening meal consists of milk or tea
with bread and butter. At nine o'clock he goes to
bed. He has a nice mattress and covers himself
with a blanket. The keeper stays with him till he is
asleep, which does not take long. He likes best to
sleep in the same bed with the keeper, hugging him
and putting his head on some part of his body. He
sleeps all night through and does not awaken until
eight in the morning. A glass house in connection
with a little conservatory adapted for palms, has
been built specially for him, to take the place of the
damp atmosphere of his tropical home. In this way
I hope that aided by his robust nature, our Gorilla
will be spared us and will long be the greatest orna-
ment of our Aquarium, an honor to Germany, a joy
to humanity, a glory to science."

This Gorilla died on the 13th of November, 1877,
after having been watched for nine months in Africa
and for fifteen months in Berlin, and having success-
fully made a trip to England. The second Gorilla
was taken to Europe by Pechuel-Loesche, the former
.companion of Falkenstein, who arrived with him in
1883, on his return from the Congo, and was also
presented to the Berlin Aquarium. He lived under
the care of Director Hermes for fourteen months
and died of the same disease as the first Gorilla.
It is a notable fact that neither of the animals suf-
fered from sea-sickness.

All other attempts to take living Gorillas to Europe
and to keep them there, have been unsuccessful; [nor
has one ever been brought to America.]

THE CHIMPANZEE.

Let us now consider the second species of the
Antkrdpomorpha, the Chimpanzee (Simia troglodytes).
He is considerably smaller than the Gorilla ; old
males reach a height of sixty-four inches ; females,
forty-eight inches. The skull is flatter, the arches of
the eyebrows not so prominent and the expression
of the face with its large, clear eyes a great deal
gentler. The nose is flat, the upper lip long, arched
and wrinkled ; the lower lip, prominent. Both lips
are exceedingly mobile and may be projected so as
to produce a snout-like impression. The ears are
larger and less human than those of the Gorilla.
The arms are long, reaching a little below the knee,
and possess great muscular power. The thumb in
the hands is thin and short ; the fingers are long, the
middle finger being the longest. In the feet the
large toe is separated from the others by a deep
incision ; and the sole is flat. The hair of the Chim-
panzee is smooth, that on the head usually showing a
parting ; it is long on the back part of the head, on
the cheeks, the back, arms and legs ; and shorter on
the other parts of the body. The color usually is
black ; but in some specimens is a dull, reddish-
brown. The lower part of the face has short, whitish
hair. Chimpanzees walk on all fours, resting them-
selves on the calloused back of their hands. The
toes of the feet are sometimes drawn in when walk-
ing. There is a strong inclination in this species to
show remarkably varying individual types which has
led to controversies as to whether there were not
several different species.
The Chimpanzee As a proof that the Chimpanzee was
Long and known to the ancients, mention is
Weil-Known. usually made of the famous mosaic
picture, which once adorned the temple of Fortuna
in Prxneste, [and which is still preserved in the
Barberini Palace at that place, now the town of
Palestrina in Italy.] This mosaic represents, among
many other animals of the Upper Nile country, what
is believed to have been the Chimpanzee. This
Ape is often mentioned by the authors of the past
few centuries, mostly under the name of " Inseigo"
or " Nschiego," a name he still bears in Central
Africa. A young Chimpanzee was taken to Eu-
rope in the beginning of the seventeenth century,
dissected by Tulpius and Tyson and described by
Dapper. He has been taken there repeatedly since
and is a not infrequent feature on the European
animal market. [Several have been brought to the
United States and placed in museums and menag-
eries.]

Formerly he was supposed to inhabit, exclusively,
Upper and Lower Guinea and the country back of
it, ranging from Sierra Leone to the Congo. He
lives in the forests on the rivers of the coast and in
the mountains. H. von Koppenfels has hunted him
in the Gaboon and Ogowe country. To the south
he was frequently seen by the German Loango ex-
pedition near the Congo. German explorers have
established the fact that he is found in central Af-
rica, deep in the region of the lakes, probably going
as far as the oil-palm and the gray Parrot. Heuglin
says : " In the thick foliage of the forests growing
along banks of rivers in the country of the Niam-
Niam the Mban (more correctly Baam) has made
its home, an Ape the size of a Man and of a savage
character, fearlessly turning on his pursuers. He
lives with his family and builds large nests in the
trees, making them water-tight and proof against

FEMALE ORANG-UTAN AND CHILD. The artist here presents a home-scene in the life of the Orang-utan, a mother resting upon

a tree-branch while her grotesque-looking child plays with her long fore-arm. These interesting animals are found in the islands of Borneo and
Sumatra, and are sluggish creatures, who spend their lives in the trees, but are capable of greatest activity when pursued by enemies, their arms,
which are much longer, proportionally, than those of the Chimpanzee, enable them to swing prodigious distances through the air. The enor-
mous length of jaws of the animal is shown in the face of the baby The striking resemblance to Man is more apparent in the benevolent
face of the mother and explains why the name, satyr, "Wild man of the woods," is applied to the Orang-utan. {Pithecits satyrus.)

18

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

the rain. His hair is olive-black, his face hairless
and flesh-colored, and his buttocks white."

Character- Savage, who made his observations in
istic Lower Guinea, writes : " We cannot say
Traits. that the Chimpanzee is a gregarious
animal, as there are seldom more than five, or, at the
utmost, ten living together. Relying upon trust-
worthy reports, I may say, though, that they some-
times gather in greater numbers for play. One of
my narrators claims to have seen at one time about
fifty of them which had assembled on trees and
amused themselves with screaming and drumming
on the tree-trunks. They avoid human habitations
as much as they can. Their dwellings, which are
more nest-like than hut-like, they build on trees, not
at a great height from the ground. They break and
twist and cross larger and smaller branches, and sup-
port the whole on an embranchment, or on a strong
bough. Sometimes you find such a nest at the end
of a bough, twenty or thirty feet from the ground, but
I have seen some that could not be less than forty
feet high. They do not care for a permanent home,
but change abiding places often in looking for food
or for other reasons. We frequently saw them in the
mountains, probably because the valleys, more favor-
able to the agriculture of the natives, lacked the
trees necessary for their nest-building. Two or more
nests are rarely seen in the same tree or even in the
same neighborhood, though five were once found
together. Nests, properly so-called, consisting of
interwoven branches, as Du Chaillu describes, have
not been seen by any of the other narrators."

When in repose the Chimpanzee in the wild state
usually assumes a sitting posture. He is often seen
standing or walking, but the minute he is detected,
drops on all fours and flees. As may be supposed
from his nest building, the Chimpanzee is an adept
at climbing. In his play he swings himself from tree
to tree and jumps with amazing agility. His food
probably is the same as that of the Gorilla, — fruits,
nuts, buds and, perhaps, roots, forming the staple
articles of diet.
The C him pan- The Chimpanzee is made a captive
zee in oftener than the other Man-like Apes,

Captivity. Du t unfortunately does not live over
two or three years in that state, although it is said
that in west Africa he has lived over twenty years
in captivity. Captive Chimpanzees under obser-
vation have so far always shown themselves gentle,
clever and amiable. Degrandpre saw on a ship a
female which performed various tasks. Button re-
lates that his Chimpanzee had a sad and serious look,
and moved about in a dignified manner. He had not
a single one of the nasty qualities of the Baboons,
neither was he so playful as the Guenons. He was
very obedient, shook hands with people, ate at the
table, used his napkin, poured out wine for himself,
got a cup and saucer when he wanted tea, put in
the sugar and always waited for the tea to get cold.
He never harmed any one, but had a very modest,
gentle bearing, and delighted in being petted.

Out of all the numerous stories about the Chim-
panzee we select here the accounts of the celebrated
painter of animals, Fr. Specht, concerning one in
Nill's Zoological Garden in Stuttgart. This Chim-
panzee, as Specht affirms, could laugh like a human
being : " I took notice of this, for no other animal
.can show its joy by loud laughter. When I would
take this sympathetic fellow under the arms, throw
him in the air and catch him, the cage rang with
his merry peals of laughter. One day I brought a

piece of chalk along, and sat down on a chair. Jn
a moment he was sitting on my knees awaiting,
further developments. I put the chalk in his hand,
and leading it, drew several figures on the wall,
when I let go of his hand, he started to shade the
drawings with such diligence that they soon dis-
appeared, to the great amusement of the spectators.
There are now two Chimpanzees in the Stuttgart
Zoological Garden, which are the closest of friends.
The female had been there before, and when the
male arrived his box was put over night in her warm,
roomy cage, the presentation being intended for the
morrow. When the box, which, by the way, had
been upholstered, was opened and the male got out r
they both stood on their hind legs for a few minutes
earnestly gazing at each other. Then they flew into
each other's embrace and exchanged hearty and re-
peated kisses ; and the female brought her blanket,
spread it on the floor, sat down on it and by gestures
invited the male to do likewise. It makes a charm-
ing picture to see these two taking their meals at
a table. They both use spoons and do not in the
least interfere with each other. The female has the
peculiarity of cautiously taking the male's glass and
drinking a goodly portion out of that, too, after
which she returns it. She evidently does not want
him to drink too much. Both these animals laugh
heartily when at play.
, u r I •< The same fate has befallen Chimpanzees
mr. oiowiey hrought t0 the United States as was met by
Npid Ynrk those taken to Europe. All will readily

recall that most attractive fellow, "Mr. Crow-
ley," so long the chief object of admiration in the museum of
Central Park, Xew York. This Chimpanzee was greatly at-
tached to his keeper and displayed a readiness and agility in
performing amusing tricks that won the attention of every one.
He acquired a number of accomplishments in the way of eating
and drinking, and displayed, until the ravages of disease spoiled
his temper, a mildness of disposition that charmed his daily
visitors. "Mr. Crowley" had two attacks of pneumonia before
his final, fatal illness, consumption, that nearly certain enemy
of all Apes in captivity. " Miss Kitty," a less amiable, and,
therefore, less attractive Chimpanzee, was his companion for
awhile, but she, too, shared the same fate as the idolized " Mr.
Crowley." Two Chimpanzees which kept house in a cage in
the zoological gardens at Cincinnati were very accomplished.
They would sit comfortably eating together in a manner similar
to that of the Apes of the Stuttgart Museum as illustrated on
page 15. They would also disport themselves for quite long
periods by rocking themselves in chairs, human fashion, but
would then show their Ape nature by clambering over the backs
of the chairs with great agility, besides performing many other
tricks which made them the great attraction of the pleasant
and well-stocked zoological gardens in which they were kept.
Death severed the pair. Barnum, the American snowman, had
two Chimpanzees, " Nip " and Tuck," on exhibition in various
towns and cities in this country, but they did not display the
intelligence shown by "Mr. Crowley," nor did they live for a
great while. Perhaps their narrow quarters in a cage and con-
stant traveling combined to sour their tempers and limit their
capacity for learning. Other attempts to introduce the Chim-
panzee into this country have not been encouraging, lack of
understanding of the habits of the animal being in some meas-
ure the cause ; but it is a fact that this Ape does much better in
warmer and drier climates like Paris than in that of England
and the colder parts of the continent of Europe and the north-
ern states of this country. The experiment of keeping one has
not been tried in the South, which is to be deplored, for there
are doubtless cities in the southern states where the climatic
conditions would prove to be especially favorable for keeping
Apes much longer than is possible in the more northern zoo-
logical collections, which have never been able to keep speci-
mens of the anthropomorphous Apes for any extended period.

THE ORANG-UTAN.

The most important Asiatic Man-like Ape is the
Orang-utan (Man of the Woods), sometimes incor-
rectly called Orang-Utang, and named Mias or
Majas in Borneo [Pithecus safyrus). He is distin-
guished by his disproportionately long arms, reach-

YOUNG ORANG-UTAN. -

The expression is older than a child's

-like f
3ut the features

young Drang is clearly brought out in this picture which is an exact reproduction from life.

ly identical, there being the round, prominent forehead, full, clear and fearless eyes and large

mouth and ears characteristic of the human child, and the wisp of straw held in the mouth and fingers show that like the human creature it is fond of play

- ™ug bed and sleeps restfully beneath the covers, drinks from its own cup, runs and jumps, plays all kinds of mad pranks and enjoys

:r s own baby in any one of ten thousand happy homes. {Pithecits salyrus.)

<IQ)

This Orang has its ow
life fully as much as n

20

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

ing as far as his ankle joint, and by his conically
shaped head and protruding jaws. He has only
twelve rib-supporting vertebras. The skull of a
young Orang-utan resembles that of a human child
to a high degree ; but as it grows older, the animal
nature is developed and this likeness almost entirely
disappears.

Physical The largest male Orang-utan killed by

Character- Wallace was four feet two inches high,
istics. but he could spread his arms to the
width of six feet two inches. The face was thiiteen
inches wide, and the circumference of the body was
four feet. The abdomen of the Orang-utan pro-
trudes and the hips are very wide ; the neck is short
and wrinkled in front, for the animal has a large
pouch at his throat, which can be inflated ; the nails
are frequently lacking on the thumbs of the feet.
The lips have a very unsightly appearance, for they
are not only wrinkled, but also greatly swollen ; the
nose is pressed flat ; the eyes and ears are small but
resemble those of a human being. The canines are
the most formidable among the teeth, and the lower
jaw is longer than the upper. The hair is scanty on
the back and breast, but is long and plentiful on
the sides of the body. In the face it grows beard-
like, and on the upper lip, on the chin, on the skull
and on the fore-arms its position is upwards. The
face and palms of the hands are bare, the breast and
fingers nearly so. The color is usually red, some-
times merging into brown, darker on the breast and
back and lighter in the beard. The bare parts look
bluish or slate-gray. Old males are distinguished
from females by their larger size, longer and thicker
hair, thicker beard and peculiar callosities on the
cheeks, spreading from the eyes to the ears and
upper jaw, and giving the face a hideous aspect.
The young Apes have no beard, but their hair is
darker and longer.

Early Accounts The Orang-utan has been known for
of the a very long time. Pliny avers that

Orang. there were Satyrs on the East-Indian

mountains, "very ferocious animals with human
faces, sometimes walking upright, sometimes on all
fours, and so agile that they could be captured only
in old age or when sick." His story goes on down
to our own times, receiving new additions every cen-
tury, until one nearly forgets that they are animals
concerning which the stories are told. They get to
be treated like wild Men. Exaggerations of all
kinds disfigure the truth. Bontius, a physician liv-
ing in the seventeenth century, speaks of his own
experience. He says he has seen "the dwellers of
the woods" several times, males as well as females.
They sometimes walked erect and behaved like hu-
man beings. One female in particular aroused his
wonder. She was ashamed when strangers looked
at her and covered her face with her hands ; she
would sigh and weep and do everything exactly like
a human being; she only lacked speech. The Japa-
nese affirm that Apes could talk very well if they
were so inclined, but they are dumb through fear of
being made to work. It is almost needless to state
that in all these stories the Orang-utans walk erect,
though it is sometimes added that they are also
" able " to go on all fours. In reality the narrators
of all these fables are innocent of deception, only
repeating what they heard from the natives.

Wallace's Owing to the excellent observations of

Account of Wallace, we know more about the life

the Orang. j n a natural state of the Orang-utan than
of any other of the Man-shaped Apes. This traveler

had the best of opportunities to become acquainted
with the animal and to compare his experiences with
the tales of the natives. Some of his predecessors,
especially Owen, Kessel and Brooke, had tried to
get at the truth, and his accounts in the main go to
prove their statements.

"We know," he says, "that the Orang-utan is a
native of Sumatra and Borneo, and, we have cause
to think, is limited to these two islands. But he
seems to be much more frequent in the latter than
in the former. He is found in extensive tracts of
land in the southwest and southeast, northwest and
northeast coasts, but occurs exclusively in marshy,
low-lying woods. In Sadong he is only found in
the plains covered with virgin forests and crossed
by many rivers. Isolated mountains, inhabited by
Dyaks and planted with fruit trees, rise here, and
form a point of attraction for the Mias. They often
visit them on account of the fruits, but always retire
at night into their bogs. In all those parts of the
country where the surface rises and is dry, the
Orang-utan does not appear. An extensive plain of
uninterrupted and level virgin forest seems a condi-
tion essential to the welfare of this Ape. These for-
ests offer to him a field for as unimpeded progress
as a prairie to an Indian or the desert to an Arab.
He goes from tree-top to tree-top without ever alight-
ing on the ground. A high and dry country, with
the trees cleared away in places and the ground cov-
ered by underbush, may be better adapted for Men,
but not for this Ape with its peculiar mode of loco-
motion.

" It is an attractive and strange spectacle to see a
Mias (Orang-utan) easily making his way through
the forest. Without hurry he goes along one of the
larger boughs, in a semi-erect position, which the
length of his arms and the shortness of his legs ren-
der obligatory; he does not use his soles, but walks
on his knuckles, like so many of his cousins. He
always seems to select trees whose branches inter-
weave ; he stretches out his long arms, seizes the
branches with both hands, seemingly trying their
strength, and then deliberately launches himself for-
ward upon the next tree, where he goes through the
same performance. He never hops or jumps, or
seems in the least to hurry, yet he proceeds on his
way as quickly as anybody could run underneath."
In another place Wallace says he thinks the Mias
could easily cover a distance of five or six miles an
hour. "His long, powerful arms are of the greatest
use to him ; they enable him to climb the highest
trees with ease, to pluck fruits and young leaves
of thin branches that would not hold his weight,
and to gather leaves and twigs for his nest." An
Orang-utan wounded by this explorer revealed to
him the manner of building a nest. " As soon as I
had shot," says Wallace, "the Mias climbed to the
top of the tree. He started to break off branches
and put them down crosswise. The place had been
admirably selected. With surprising quickness he
reached out in every direction with his unwounded
arm, breaking strong branches and crossing them,
so that in a few minutes he had formed a close
wall of foliage, which effectually concealed him
from my sight. A similar nest is used by Orangs
for their night's rest, but this is usually built on
smaller trees farther down, as a rule not higher than
thirty to sixty feet ; probably because it is not here
so much exposed to the winds. It is said that the
Mias builds a new nest every night, but I think this
improbable, for, if such were the case, the renin ins

THE MAN-SHAPED APES— ORANG-UTAN.

21

WHITE-HANDED GIBBONS.— These active and prettv animals are
found in Terrasserim, southwest of Burmah, and are noted for their loud
voices. Troops of them will get together in the deep forests and fill the
air with their not unmusical cries for hours at a time. A white band of hair
encircles the entire face and the body is black, dark-brown or ochre-brown.
These interesting creatures drink water from the palms of their hands, are
readily tamed in India but do not long survive foreign captivity. The artist
represents them in the picture mounted on a favorite tree, suspiciously
regarding some approaching object. {Hylobates lar.)

of these nests would be oftener found. The Dyaks
claim that in wet weather the Mias covers him-
self with pandanus leaves or large ferns. Perhaps
thfs is the origin of the belief that the Orang-utan
builds a hut in the trees in which to live.

" The Orang-utan leaves his bed when the sun is
well above the horizon and has dried the dew on the
leaves. During the day he eats, but seldom visits
the same tree two days in succession. As far as I
could determine he feeds almost exclusively on fruit,
but occasionally on leaves and buds. In very rare
cases he descends to the ground ; probably only
when, driven by hunger, he looks for juicy young
leaves on the banks of a river ; or when in exceed-

ingly dry weather he comes down for water,
which is usually supplied him sufficiently in the
hollows of leaves. Only once I saw two half-
grown Orangs on the ground in a dry hole.
They were standing erect, holding each other's
arms and playing. This Ape never walks up-
right, unless he holds to the branches of trees,
or is attacked. Pictures that represent him walk-
ing with the help of a stick are pure inventions.
" They do not seem to fear Men very much.
Nearly all of those I observed stared at me for
a few minutes and then deliberately repaired to
a tree in the neighborhood. It frequently hap-
pened when I saw one, that I had to go a thou-
sand paces or more after my gun ; nevertheless I
would find him on the same tree upon my return,
or within a hundred feet of the spot where 1
had first seen him. I never saw two full-grown
Orangs together, though males as well as females
sometimes are accompanied by half-grown young
ones.

" All the Dyak chiefs, who had spent theii
lives in a country where the Orang abounds-
assured me that no animal was strong enough to
hurt one, and the only animal he fights with is the
Crocodile. When the Orang runs short of fruit, he
descends to the river banks to look for young shoots
and fruit. Then the Crocodile tries to seize him, but
the Orang jumps on it, beats it with hands and feet
and kills it.

"Rarely does it happen that an Orang fights with
a human being. One day several Dyaks came to
tell me that one of these animals had nearly killed
a companion. His house was standing on the bank
of the river, and he saw an Orang-utan making a
meal of the young leaves of a palm. He frightened
him, and the Ape beat a retreat into the woods. A

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

number of Men armed with spears and hatchets ran
to cut off his retreat, and the foremost Man tried to
spear the animal, but the Mias seized him and buried
its teeth in the muscles over the elbow, tearing the
flesh into shreds. If the others had not come to the
rescue, he would have fared still worse, but they suc-
ceeded in killing the plucky beast. The wounded
Man was sick for a long time, and never recovered
the complete use of his arm." The truth of this
story was proven by Wallace, who on the following
day, visited the field of battle, and cut off the head
of the Orang-utan, for an addition to his collection.

The Orang- To complete this picture so excellently
Utan in represented by Wallace, we will draw

Captivity. on several of the older reports. For
the first correct observations we are indebted to the
Dutchman, Vosmaern, who was in possession of a
tame female. She was a good-natured animal and
never proved herself false or malicious. One could
without fear put his hand into her mouth. Her usual
expression was that of sadness and melancholy. She
liked all human beings without distinction of sex,
but preferred those who took care of her. Her
owner kept her chained, which at times made her
desperate ; she would throw herself on the floor,
scream pitifully and tear all the blankets that were
given to her. Once she was let loose, and imme-
diately made her escape to the roof, where she
climbed about with such agility that four persons
spent an hour in trying to recapture her. On this
same excursion she laid her hands on a bottle of
Malaga wine, drew the cork and made haste to ap-
propriate the contents, afterwards placing the bottle
in its former position. She ate everything that was
given to her, but preferred fruit and juicy plants to
other food. She also liked boiled or fried meat and
fish. Insects she did not hunt for, and a Sparrow
that was offered her caused her great fright; still she
finally killed it with a bite, pulled out a few feathers,
tasted the meat and threw it away. Raw eggs she
ate with pleasure, but strawberries seemed to de-
light her most. Her usual beverage was water, but
she liked all kinds of wine, and especially Malaga.
After drinking she would wipe her mouth with her
hand, and she used tooth-picks in the same manner
that human beings do. She was an accomplished
thief and stole candy out of people's pockets in a
masterly way. Before going to sleep she always
made great preparations. She shook the hay and
spread it fresh, put a bundle under her head and
carefully covered herself; she disliked to sleep
alone, for she dreaded solitude. Sometimes she
took' a nap in the day-time, but never a long one.
She had been given some clothing, and this she
alternately wrapped around her body and her head,
without reference to the temperature of the room.
When she saw the lock on her chain opened with a
key, she got a little piece of wood and kept turning
it in the lock. Once she was given a Kitten.
While she was smelling it, Pussy scratched her arm.
Then she .threw it away and never had anything
more to do with Cats. She could untie the most
complicated knots with her fingers or her teeth, and
this seemed to afford her such pleasure, that she
always untied people's shoes when she had a
chance. Her hands were exceedingly strong and
she could lift the heaviest burdens. She used her
feet with the s.ini.' dexterity as her hands. When
she could not reach an article with her hands, she
threw herself on her back ami got at it with her
feet. She never screamed unless left alone. At

first her screams resembled the howling of a Dog.
She soon fell a prey to consumption.

An Orang- Another description comes to us from
Utan on a careful observer, who had an Orang-

Shipboard. u t an on a sn jp for three months. As
long as the ship was cruising in Asiatic waters, the
animal lived on deck, selecting a sheltered place for
the night. During the day-time he always was in
the best of humor, played around with little Monk-
eys that were on board, or disported himself in the
rigging. Turning and climbing seemed to afford
him especial pleasure, for he would practice it on
different masts and cables His agility and mus-
cular power were astonishing. Captain Smitt, the
observer, had taken a few hundred cocoa-nuts
along, the Orang daily receiving two He was
very expert in destroying the tough outer covering
of the nuts with his teeth, though it was two inches
thick and the sailors had to use a hatchet for the
task. He would insert his formidable teeth into the
tapering end of the nut, as the shell is very uneven
there ; then he would seize it with the right foot and
in this way tear the tough covering to pieces. Then
he would pierce one of the natural apertures of the
nut with his finger, drink the milk, break the shell
on some hard object and eat the kernel.

Besides the cocoa-nuts he liked salt meat, flour,,
tapioca, etc., and resorted to a great many tricks to
get the greatest possible amount of meat at every
meal. What he once procured he never released
even though he was beaten for his obstinacy. The
flour he daily received in the kitchen, and when the
cook was absent, he never failed to open the flour-
bin, take out a good handful and then wipe his hand
on his head, so that he often appeared on deck pow-
dered. Every Tuesday and Friday he unfailingly
made the sailors a visit when the dinner-bell rang,
for on these days they had tapioca with sugar and
cinnamon. Just as regularly he would make his ap-
pearance in the cabin at two o'clock, to get his share
of the meal served at that hour. He was very quiet
at meals, and, unlike other Apes, clean, though he
never could be taught the proper use of the spoon.
He put his plate to his mouth and simply drank the
soup, without spilling a drop. He was very fond of
spirits, and always received a glass of wine at dinner,
which he emptied in a peculiar manner. He could
project his lower lip in such a way as to form a cup
three inches long and nearly as wide, and capable
of holding a tumblerful of water. Into this curious
cup he poured the wine, and never drank otherwise.
After having carefully smelled of the wine, he pro-
jected his lip, poured the liquid in, and then pro-
ceeded to suck it in between his teeth, deliberately
and slowly, as if he intended to make the pleasure
as lasting as possible. Then he reached out his
glass for more. He never broke a dish, thereby dif-
fering from the other Apes, who, as everybody
knows, usually break everything.

He was never heard to make but two different
sounds ; a feeble, piping one, designed to express
agitation, and a dreadful roar, resembling the lowing
of a Cow, and denoting fear. Once he uttered the
latter at sight of a Whale swimming near the vessel,
and again when he caught sight of several Water-
Snakes that Iiis owner brought from Java. The ex-
pression of his face never changed. Unfortunately
an accident, resulting from his love of liquor, ended
his life before he reached Germany, which was his
destination. lie stole a bottle of rum, nearly emp-
tied it, became sick and died on the fourteenth day-

THE MAN-SHAPED APES— GIBBON.

23

THE GIBBON.

No other Apes show such a development of the
tipper extremities as the Gibbons or Long-armed
Apes {Hylobatcs). They perfectly justify their
name, for when they stand erect their fingers touch
the ground. This one trait would suffice to distin-
guish the Long-armed Apes from all others of their
class.

The Gibbons form the most numerous tribe of the
Man-shaped Apes, there being about seven different
kinds of these animals. They are all inhabitants of
Asia, being found in East
India and the adjoining
great islands of Sumatra,
Java and Borneo. Thcy
attain a considerable size,
though none of them ex-
ceed three feet, four
inches in height. The
body appears very slen-
der in spite of the highly
developed chest, for the
hips are very narrow, re-
minding one of a Grey-
hound; the lower extrem-
ities are very much longer
than the upper, and the
elongated hands in some
species show the forefin-
ger to be connected with
the middle finger by
means of a membrane.
The head is small and
egg-shaped, the face very
human, the callosities on
the hind quarters are
small and the tail not vis-
ible. Their fur is plenti-
ful and sometimes silky ;
the coloring may be
black, brown, brownish-
gray or cream. All the
Gibbons are gifted with
an exceedingly strong
voice, which they use a
great deal in the morning
hours.

Leading The most
Varieties of remarkable
the Gibbon, of the Long-
armed Apes are : the Sia-
mang {Hylobatcs syndac-
tylits), the Hoolock
{Hylobatcs hoolock), the
Lar or White-handed
Gibbon (Hylobatcs lar), the Ungko (Hylobatcs raf-
flesii) and the Wau-wau or Oa {Hylobatcs variegatus).
The largest of the tribe is the Siamang, which pos-
sesses a soft black coat of fur, and a pouch at the
throat, which he inflates in screaming, to strengthen
his voice. His native country is Sumatra. The Hoo-
look, a trifle smaller than the Siamang, is usually
black with the exception of a white band on the
forehead ; although there are several lighter kinds.
He has no pouch and inhabits India. The Ungko,
which has his home in Sumatra and is a rarer animal,
shows still greater varieties of coloring. He, as well
as the Siamang, is found sometimes as high as three
thousand feet above sea-level in the mountain-forests.
The Wau-wau has a face of a bluish-black hue, the

THE WAU-WAU. Native of the great Asiatic islands, and is also

known as the Silvery Gibbon, from the coloring of its fur. It is among the
most agile of all its group and can easily swing through the air from tree-
branch to tree-branch, a distance of fifty feet or more. The deepness of the
chin and the two prominent ridges on the forehead give to the face a rather
unpleasant appearance, but in captivity it is amiable and readily attaches itself
to its master. (Hylobates variegatus.)

Astonishing
Agility of
Gibbons.

head, the breast, and the inner sides of the arms and
legs being dark brown, the rest of the body lighter.
He inhabits the Malay Peninsula, together with the
Lar, but is also found in Sumatra and Borneo. The
frame of the Long-armed Apes is especially adapted
for climbing. They are possessed of every qualifica-
tion necessary for rapid, protracted and agile climb-
ing and jumping. The large chest is endowed with
capacious lungs, which do not tire or give out when
the blood circulates faster during active exercise,
the strong lower extremities give the necessary im-
petus for long leaps, the long arms lend security in
the seizing of a branch
destined to be the next
point of support, and
which might easily be
missed with shorter arms.
How long these arms are
proportionately is best
seen by comparison with
Man. The latter, extend-
ing his arms, takes in a
width equal to his length;
the Gibbon, double his
length. A Man standing
erect, touches the middle
of his thigh ; a Gibbon,
his ankle-joint. Of
course these arms are no
fit instruments for walk-
ing ; they are only in-
tended for climbing.
Therefore, the walk of a
Long-armed Ape is but
an awkward balancing of
the hind legs, a clumsy
waddling, while its move-
ments in climbing and
dancing among the
branches- are full of life
and grace, seemingly
knowing no bounds and
ignoring the laws of grav-
ity. On the ground the
Gibbons are slow and ex-
tremely clumsy. There
they are awkward and
out of place ; in the trees
they are swift as birds.
All narrators are unani-
mous in their admiration
of the climbing accom-
plishments of the Long-
armed Apes, in which
they excel every other
species.
Duvaucel relates with what incredible
rapidity and assurance the Wau-wau
climbs a bamboo-cane, a tree top or a
branch, swings to and fro on it, and then flings him-
self through space, covering distances of forty to fifty
feet with the greatest ease, flying like an arrow or a
bird It looks as if the consciousness of this incom-
parable agility gives him great pleasure, for he takes
immense leaps that he could easily avoid ; sometimes
changing his direction in the air, hanging on to the
nearest branch and throwing himself forward again.
It really produces the impression of magic, as if he
could fly without wings, and lived more in the air
than in the trees. What could such a being do on
the ground ? He is a stranger there, and only visits

24

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

of a Turkey. He made cries denoting joy as well
as anger. The female Ungko in London sometimes
cried in a peculiarly harmonious manner. She began
with E t ascending and descending a full octave in
chromatics. In ascending the notes became slower
and slower ; in descending they followed in quick
succession, the finale being a piercing yell. The
regularity, assurance and rapidity of this perform-
ance invariably excited the enthusiastic admiration

of the audience.
Opinions of ob-
servers as to the
intellectual quali-
ties of the Long-
armed Apes are
divided. Duvau-
cel calls the
Siamang slow,
stupid, awkward,
lazy, cowardly
and uninteresting,
indifferent toward
his keepers, and
incapable of af-
fection as well as
revenge. Forbes,
on the contra.)',
i\ praises his tame-
\l ness and familiar-
ity: "The pretty,
caressing way he
had of encircling
my neck with his
long arms and
leaning his head
on my breast,
emitting a satis-
fied little grunt,
was very prepos-
sessing." Ben-
nett also judges
him in a more
favorable light.

URSINE COLOBUS AND BLACK COLOBUS. — Th.sr monkeys are found in the deep woods c . & .

of Africa. The Bear-like appearance gave to the Ursine Colohus its name. The cheek bones and biamang nearly

chin art- covered with long, while hair which stands outward or downward as shown in the picture, as far as Europe

It is very timid and flees at the approach of Man. Tin- HI. u-k Colohus. like the Ursine, has stunted an( J says that in

thumbs and the fur is thick, long and black, (See chapter on " Dog-shaped Monkeys.'!) short time he

it to allay his thirst. His home is in the air, where
he enjoys peace and security, easily escapes every
enemy and, of a verity, lives and luxuriates in the
enjoyment of motion.

The Natural Study of these animals in the wild state
Traits is extremely difficult, as they are very

of Gibbons. s hy and seldom leave the depths of
their native forests. Only a good telescope — an in-
strument indispensable to the observer of all of the
more timid ani-
mals-enables one
to see a little of
their life. In this
way it has been
discovered that
the mothers carry
their little ones to
the river, where,
in spite of great
screaming, they
proceed to wash
and afterwards
dry them, taking ^
as much pains in
the whole process
as we might de-
sire to be lavished
on some human
children.

At sunrise and
sunset they usual-
ly join their loud
voices in such a
concert as to
deafen a near-
by observer, and
frighten any one
not used to this
curious music.
They are the
alarm clocks of
the Malay moun-
taineers, and the
greatest annoy-
ance of the town
inhabitants,
whose suburban
summer life they
manage to spoil.

It is said that their cries are heard
a mile away. Captive Long-armed Apes both with
and without the cheek-pouches have been heard to
utter very loud shrieks.

Bennett, a careful observer, had a living Siamang
in his possession, and noticed that when he was
excited he projected his lips like a funnel, inflated
his pouches and made a sound resembling the gobble

made his way into the affections of all his fellow-
travelers. He died before they reached England
and was mourned by the entire crew. Gibbons
are rarely seen in captivity, even in their native
country. They cannot bear the loss of freedom,
and when deprived of it they constantly long for
their native forests and their plays and become more
and more quiet and sad, until finally the)- die.

Hoonuman Monkey

Gbe 1Warrow*mo0^ Hpcs— Continued.

■i

7^

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS.

The second group of the Narrow-nosed Apes consists of the Dog-
shaped Monkeys {Cynopithecim). Their distinguishing features are the
forward projection of the snout, especially noticeable in the lower tribes,
the shorter arms, the frequent occurrence of a tail and cheek-pouches,
and the regular existence of callosities on the hinder quarters. In other
respects they show a great variety of structure, ranging from the elon-
gated shape of the Slender Monkeys to the bulky form of the Baboons.
Where Dog- They are natives of the warm countries of the Old World,
Shaped especially India, from the Himalaya Mountains south,
Monkeys Liue. Cochin China, the Malay Archipelago, Southern Arabia
and the whole of Africa, with the exception of the Eastern Sahara
country. They are the most active of their family, clever, but in the
majority of cases malicious and indecent. They do a great deal of
damage, plundering plantations and orchards in the boldest manner, and
sometimes exciting general fear by their malicious propensities. By the
people of some of the countries which they inhabit they are looked upon
with the greatest contempt, while among others religious superstition
invests them with the attributes of sanctity.

SLENDER OR SACRED MONKEYS.

Among the Dog-shaped Monkeys we will first turn to the Slender or

Sacred Monkeys (Semrwpiihecus) , which are, as their name indicates,

•a R ty inches in length its color gUg^iy Du jit anc j are endowed with lonp, fine extremities and a very

• / \J is a deep gray, with tinges & / ' • , r i • 1 i

to, and its lips, chin long tail, a small, high head, a face devoid of hair, and a short snout, pro-
St&"di^s^s W ^u E r , Se i S videdwith small cheek-pouches. Their callosities are very small. The
and easily escapes pursuit. (Semnopithecus last molar tooth in the lower jaw is furnished with five cusps. Their

skeleton in its slenderness reminds one of that of the Gibbons. The
hands have long fingers, but the thumbs are short or very little developed, and not adapted for grasping.
The hair is wonderfully fine, its coloring agreeable, and in one tribe peculiar; and the hair of the head
is sometimes considerably longer than that of the body.

They are found in the southern part of the continent of Asia, Ceylon and the islands of the Indian
Ocean. Here they live in more or less numerous troops in the forests, preferring the banks of a river or
the neighborhood of villages or plantations, and being universally protected by the natives they lead an
exceedingly enjoyable life.

The foremost place among the Slender or Sacred Monkeys belongs to the Hoonuman, or Hulman, the
Sacred Monkey of the Hindoos {Semiwpithccus entellus), which is the most common of all the Ape species

(25)

'JL

THE PRIAMUS
MONKEY. — A native of
Ceylon, very active and intel-
ligent, and is about sixteen
inches long, with a tail twen-
ty inches in length Its color
is a deep gray, with tinges

26

THE APES AXD MONKEYS.

in the greater portion of India. He continues to
spread, as he is not only protected and petted, but is
also imported into various parts of that country in
order to perpetuate his species. His length is from
three to four feet, and his tail is as long, or even
longer, than this. The fur is cream-colored and the
naked parts have a dark violet tint. The face, hands
and feet — as much of them as is covered with hair —
and a stiff crest of hair over the eyes, are black,
while the short beard is creamy.

The Hoonuman The Hoonuman occupies a very high
in Hindoo place among the innumerable deities
Mythology. f t h e Hindoos, and has enjoyed this
honor since time immemorial. Tradition holds that
the giant Rama carried off
Sita, the wife of Thri-Rama,
and brought her to the
Island of Ceylon; but a
Monkey rescued 'the lady
and brought her back to her
husband, and ever since he
has been considered a hero.
There are a great many
stories afloat concerning his
remarkable intellect and his
swiftness. For one of their
most valued fruits, the man-
go, the Hindoos are in-
debted to him, as he stole
it from the giant's garden.
For this theft he was con-
demned to be burned alive
— we are not informed by
whom — but he extinguished
the fire, badly burning his
hands and face, which have
ever since been black.
These are the reasons as-
signed by the Brahmins for
adoring him.

Hoonuman This Monkey

Protected by has been stud-
Natives. , ec j f or a g rea t
many years in his native
country, and that is the rea-
son why we came to make
his acquaintance so late.
Every person who visited
India thought that so com-
mon an animal must cer-
tainly have been often taken
to Europe[or America],and
therefore each one neg-
lected to stuff him and send
him over. Besides, it is
dangerous to kill this sacred
animal ; for only the Mah-
rattas, among Hindoos, hold
it in low esteem ; all the
other Hindoos caring for and protecting it wherever
they can. An European who dares attack a Hoonu-
man imperils his life, if he is the only foreigner in a
Hindoo crowd, for the Monkey is sacred. A reign-
ing family boasts descent from it, and its members
style themselves " Tailed Ranas," as they maintain
that their ancestor was endowed with this, to us,
seemingly unnecessary appendage.

A High-Priced A Portuguese viceroy of India, Con-

Monkey's stantino de Braganza, had in his pos-

Tooth. session a Monkey's tooth, taken in

war from the treasures of a prince of Ceylon ; and a

^m

^f^W^rr^m

BUDENG OR NEGRO MONKEY. Lives in large troops in

the forests of Java and is hunted vigorously by the natives for its
beautiful, long and silky black fur. which is used by the armies of
Europe for decorating purposes. The Budengs build rude nests in
the tops of the trees and live upon fruits and buds. The mop of
hair surrounding the face gives them a peculiar expression. The
care and affection of the mother for her young is shown by the art-
ist in the picture. The length of a full-grown Budeng is about five
feet, the tail coming in for more than half of the measurements.
(Semnopithccus maurus.)

special embassy of the king of Pegu came to offer
him 300,000 cruzados for the valuable jewel. So'
high a price was probably never before or since
offered for a tooth. The more astonishing is it to
know that the Europeans did not accept it. The
viceroy held a meeting of his counselors ; the lay-
members of the council tried to persuade him to
accept so great a sum, but a priest protested against
it. He claimed that such a barter would promote
heathen superstition, and his opinion prevailed.
This might have been of no importance to us, if
the tooth had not been destroyed on this occasion
and thereby lost a valuable clue to Indian theology
and to natural science. This one tooth might have
served very well for the
classification of the Monkey
to which it once belonged.
Hindoo Vener- The sacred an-
ationforthe imal is held in
Hoonuman. as high esteem
to-day as in by-gone times.
The Hindoos complacently
look on when the impudent
fellows plunder their gar-
dens and rob their homes
and regard with disfavor
every one who dares to in-
sult a Monkey. Tavernier
relates how a young Dutch-
man, recently arrived from
Europe, shot one of these
animals from a window;
whereupon there was a
frightful commotion among
the natives, which was with
the greatest difficulty
allayed. The servants at
once handed in their res-
ignations, being fully con-
vinced that the foreigner
would be killed and they
probably along with him.
Duvaucel also says that in
the beginning it was very
hard for him to kill one of
these Monkeys, as the na-
tives always contrived to
prevent it. Forbes assures
us that in Duboy there are
as many Monkeys as there
are people. These creat-
ures inhabit the top story of
the houses and make life a
burden to foreigners. When
a native has a grudge
against his neighbor, he puts
some rice or corn on his en-
emy's roof, selecting the ap-
proach of the rainy season,
when it is incumbent on ever)' landlord to repair his
housetop. As soon as the Monkeys see the prepared
food, they not only eat what is within easy reach,
but also tear up the tiles to get at the grains that
have fallen into the crevices. As at this time of the
year the roofers are in great demand, it is next to
impossible to procure one, so the house stands open
to the rain and the furniture is spoiled.

Hospital Not only the well Monkeys but also

for Sick the sick ones are cared for in that coun-

Monkeys. try. Tavernier found a hospital for

Monkevs, Oxen, Cows, etc., in Ahmadabad. All the

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— SLENDER OR SACRED.

27

balconies are strewn from time to time with rice,
millet, dates, fruits and sugar-cane — all for the
Monkeys. These latter are so bold that they not
only pillage the gardens, but sometimes enter the
houses at meal-time and take the food out of peo-
ple's hands. A missionary declared that only by
constant watchfulness was he able to protect his
clothing and other belongings from these thieves.
It is verv probable that the sacred character

The Budeng or This group has yet other remarkable
Negro Monkey members. The Budeng or Negro
of Java. Monkey of the Javanese (Semno-

pitheais mcturus) is a beautiful animal. In mature
age he is black and glossy, his face and hands being
like velvet, his back like silk. The head is covered
by a peculiar cap of hair falling on the forehead and
encircling the cheeks. New-born Monkeys of this
are of a cream color, and only the ends of

HOONUMAN MONKEYS. The mc

sacred of all the sacred Monkeys of Ind
Here are portrayed a troop of Hoonumans
their arboreal home in the hot lowlands of the
Upper Ganges. The full-grown H
from three to four feet in length, with a tail
still longer than the body. It is a handsome
creature, the fur being cream-colored, except
parts of the head and the extremities of the

Monkeys is connected in some way with the belief in
the transmigration of souls. It seems that the Hin-
doos think that after death their souls, as well as
that of their king, enter the body of some Monkey.
Notwithstanding their impudence these animals are
attractive and handsome creatures. The missionary,
John, says that he never saw more beautiful Monk-
eys than the Hoonumans. Their friendliness towards
each other and their enormous leaps attract the atten-
tion of every observer.

limbs, which are black, while the bare portions
are of a deep violet hue. It is protected on
account of its supposed sanctity, for the na-
tives dare not molest it. It is one of the great-
est thieves in the world, robbing shops, houses
and fields and standing in no dread of Man,
whom it seems to regard as a sort of servant
to provide for its greedy wants. (Semnopithe-
cits eniellus.)

the hairs on the lower part of the back, the upper
part of the tail and its tuft take a darker tinge.
Soon the dark color begins to spread, and in a few
months the hands, the head and the tuft of the tail
are black, and then the whole coat gradually as-
sumes the color of mature age. The length of this
handsome creature is about five feet, the tail coming
in for more than half of this measurement.

" The Budeng," says Horsfield, " is found in con-
siderable numbers in the extensive forests of Java.

28

THE APES AXD MONKEYS.

One sees whole companies on the tree-tops, a single
troop sometimes numbering more than fifty. It is
best to study these troops at a distance. At the
approach of .Man they raise a terrible noise, jump-
ing furiously from branch to branch, thereby often
breaking strong boughs, which 'they throw down at
the pursuer." I ? i

The Budeng A captive Budeng is a quiet, gentle,
in patient creature. In Antwerp a Bu-

Captivity. deng lived among Macaques and other
little Monkeys, which were forever teasing and tor-
menting him, and he never thought of retaliating.
The scene was very grotesque when a Guenon,
barely a year old, compelled the big Monkey to
attend him, and brought him to order by pitilessly
boxing his ears and pinching him. One cannot
doubt that good-nature is the essential quality of
the Budeng mind, and very nearly misses that spirit
of mischief and malice that appertains to all others
of the Monkey tribe. The Budeng also seems to
suffer much from a foreign climate. In captivity
abroad he enjoys every glimpse of the sun, and is
happy when he can bask but for a few moments in
the rays of that life-giving orb, whose glow bestows
on his native country all the splendor of the tropics.

The Long-Nosed There is another tribe that is now
Monkey of separated from the Slender Monkeys
Borneo. proper, the Long-nosed or Proboscis

Monkey, or Kahau ( Nasalis larvatus). In general
this Monkey has the structure of the Slender or Sa-
cred Monkeys ; but the long nose, which is movable
in every direction and capable of being projected
or drawn in, lends his countenance a highly peculiar
aspect. The body is slender, the tail very long, the
extremities are nearly of equal length, the cheek-
pouches are lacking. The nose forms a hook-like
projection over the upper lip, is rather broad in its
middle part, pointed at the end and shows a slight
furrow in the median line ; the nostrils are very
large and can be considerably dilated. In the young
animal this organ is small and blunt, and reaches its
full size only in the adult Monkey. According to C.
Bock, it is a peculiarity distinguishing only the adult
male, and lacking in the female. The fur is thick
and soft ; the hair is short on the parting, longer on
the back of the head and sides of the face, and on
the neck it goes to form a collar. The color of this
Monkey is red. The extreme length of the Long-
nosed Monkey is five feet. The females are smaller,
but are said to be capable of reproduction before
they have attained their complete growth. They
live in bands in Borneo. Their life in the wild state
is very little known. According to Wurmb, they
assemble together in large troops at mornings and
evenings and howl, the cry bearing some resem-
blance to the word " Kahau," whence they derive
their name. Although at first glance the Kahau's
nose looks like a burlesque of the same organ in
Man, the real resemblance is slight, for the nostrils
are at the extremity of the nose.

THE THUMBLESS MONKEYS.

The African relatives of the Slender Monkeys, the
Thumbless Monkeys (Colobits), are striking animals,
distinguished by their peculiar color, and queer but
beautiful manes. India shows more life and color
than arid Africa, and so the Slender Monkeys are of
a lighter and brighter hue than the Thumbless Monk-
eys, though one cannot say that the latter are less
pleasing to the eye than the former. On the whole,

the differences between the two groups are but slight.
The Thumbless Monkeys are mainly distinguished
from the Slender Monkeys in having the thumbs on
the two fore-limbs docked or stunted. Their body is
slender and graceful, the snout is short, the tail very
long and the limbs also long and slight ; the cheek-
pouches are lacking.

Guereza, Among these animals we ought to con-

Handsomest sider the Guereza ( Colobus guereza) first.

of Monkeys. He is indisputably the handsomesi of
all Monkeys. His color is exceedingly prettv, and
his hair as peculiar and, at the same time, striking in
appearance as that of any other animal in the Monkey
family. The merit of discovery of this beautiful crea-
ture belongs to the distinguished German, Ruppell,
who found it on his Abyssinian tour, in the province
of Godsham, and gave it the same scientific name as
that employed by the natives. This Monkey was
previously very little known. Hiob Ludolf men-
tioned it in his valuable work on Ethiopia. Ruppell
saw a living Guereza and so could write about it from
his own experience. After him several other natural-
ists have observed it. I found the skin of a Guereza
on the lower White Nile, in the possession of a Has-
sanie, who used it as a tobacco-pouch, and who told
me that farther south the Guereza was by no means
a rarity. Heuglin also saw it frequently in Abyssinia
and along the White Nile, and had reliable reports
concerning the Monkey's existence in quite different
parts of Central Africa ; hence we may conclude that
the animal ranges over a larger area than is com-
monly supposed. Thompson found it in the Massai
country, and, according to Johnston, Hans Meyer
saw it on the Kilima Ndjaro, at a height of three
thousand feet above sea level, and also farther to
the south in the Kahe country.

The Guereza is indeed a magnificent animal. On
a beautiful black velvet bod)', a white head-band, a
white neck, chin, throat, belt or mane, and tail-tuft
stand out in magnificent relief. But each white hair
has also brown ringlets on it, and this produces a
silver-gray impression of the whole. The mane, if I
may so call his side-belt, hangs on both sides like a
beautiful Bedouin cape and serves as an indescribably
handsome adornment.

Hunting The hunting of the Guereza is attended
the with a great many difficulties. He is nearly

Guereza. se cure from all dangers in his favorite
haunts, the tops of high trees. A rifle in the hands
of a native is a comparatively harmless thing, and
it is lucky that such is the case ; for if the Abys-
sinians knew how to handle a rifle, they probably
would have already exterminated this fine animal.
In former times he was much persecuted, for a
shield covered with a Guereza skin was a thing
much valued and consequently much sought after.
The shields of the Abyssinians and of the other East
African tribes were of oblong shape and were made
of the hides of Antelopes or Hippopotami ; and
these were covered with the side and back skin of
the Guereza and in this way showed the entire mane
as their chief ornament.

In Gondar, the capital of Abyssinia, a Guereza
skin used to command the price of one dollar, a
sum which might have bought half a dozen fat
sheep. Now their value has fallen, for fortunately
the shields are no longer in use. I say fortunately,
for in this way the attractive creature will be spared
and escape the mania of persecution, which man
everywhere exhibits against " his first-born brothers."
So far as I know living Guerezas have onlv twice

LONG-NOSED MONKEYS. — These grotesque looking Monkeys are natives of Borneo, and are sometimes called the Proboscis Monkeys, the organ
from which this name is derived. being large and long and movable in every direction. This illustration is taken from life and shows them as they appear in the
zoological gardens in Batavia, the Capital of Dutch India, where they thrive as well as in their native forests. In their wild state, troops of these Monkeys
assemble together mornings and evenings, and in this sketch they are apparently following the same custom. (Nasalis larertus.)

(29)

30 *

THE APRS AXD MONKEYS.

been taken to Europe [and none have ever reached
.America].

Other Further members of this group, of which
Thumb/ess there are eleven in all, are the Ursine
Monkeys. Colobus (Colobus ursinus) and the Black
Colobus ( Colobus Satanas). The first differs from the
Guereza in the absence of the white mane, in longer
hair and a nearly tuftless tail. He is a native of
Upper Guinea and Fernando Po. The Black Colo-
bus is uniformly black and is confined mainly to
Fernando Po.

THE GUENONS.

Africa harbors not only the largest, the cleverest,
and the ugliest of the Apes of the Old World, but
also the most beautiful and the most sympathetic.
To the latter undoubtedly belong the Guenons.
( Cercopithecus ) . We see
this or that member of the
family in every zoological
garden, in every wander-
ing collection of Monk-
eys and frequently as
merry companions of
people who are fond of
animal pets.

Home Habits The native
and Characteris- countrv of
tics of Guenons. t h j s group
is the torrid zone of Af-
rica, but they are never
found on the islands of
this continent. Wherever
there are virgin forests,
the Guenons are sure to
be found in great num-
bers. Several species are
found as well in the east
as the west and the cen-
ter of the continent, but
the majority come from
the west; although a
great many have their
home in Abyssinia and
the Upper Nile country.

They are small, grace-
ful creatures, have short,
fine hands with long
thumbs, a long tail devoid
of tuft, capacious cheek-
pouches and large callos-
ities. Their coloring is
usually bright. There are
about twenty different

kinds in this group. In the Nile countrv they go
as far north as the 16th degree of latitude ; in the
west and east they are found nearly as far as the sea-
shore. They always prefer damp' woods, traversed
by rivers, to the dry, mountainous regions. They
also show a decided predilection for the neighbor-
hood of cultivated fields. One may unfailingly count
on finding Guenons where there' are Parrots, and
may also look for the latter when these little Monk-
eys are around.

Merry and The Guenons are among the most

Sociable Traits sociable, lively, merrv and good-
of Guenons. humored of the Monkeys. They
nearly always live in rather large troops; single fam-
ilies bring seldom encountered. It is really amus-
ing to fall in with a troop of these animals in a for-
est. The life, the noise, the fights, the quarrels, the

jumping and running, thieving and pilfering, the
faces and contortions are a sight to see. They have
a government of their own, and the strongest of
their own kind is the only master they acknowledge ;
no right is lawful but the one pertaining to the old
Monkey patriarch, by virtue of his sharp teeth and
strong hands. There is no danger from which they
deem escape impossible. They make the best of
every situation, never fear hunger or privation, and
spend their life in perennial contentment and joy.
They are possessed of an unlimited carelessness and
a grotesque seriousness. No goal seems out of their
reach, no tree-top too high for them and no treasure
is secure in their presence, for they recognize 'no
right of property. It is, therefore, not astonishing
that the natives of East Soudan should refer to them
with the greatest scorn and anger ; neither is it sur-
prising that outsiders
think them the most
amusing little creatures
in the world.

It is impossible to miss
a troop of Guenons in the
forest. F.v e n if one
should not hear the vary-
ing call of the chief, he
soon detects the noise
produced by the running
and jumping society in
the trees, and if one
should escape that, he is
sure to see them run,
jump, bask in the sun and
seek each other's fleas.
for they never so much
as think of hiding them-
selves. They are not met
with on the ground unless
something to eat is to be
found there; they live in
the trees and make their
way from one branch to
the other. Should their
road lead through the
thickest and sharpest of
thorns, it is a matter of
perfect indifference to
them.

Guenons It is very
on a Stealing interesting
Expedition, to the ob-
server to watch a troop

DIANA MONKEYS. These handsome creatures are found

Guinea coast, the banks of the Congo and the Island of Fernando J"... They

are named for Diana, goddess of the moon, because of the white crescent on

the forehead. Little is known of the Diana Monkey in its wild state, on account

ol its KR-.it agility and its fear "t Man, but it is fn q and studied in

captivity where the disposition varii - being gay bent on a ste aling expe'-

and amiable, while others are cross and sullen. K Cercoptthecus aiana.) . » "

dition. I he boldness with
which they proceed always charmed me as much
as it disgusted the natives. An old, experienced
male Monkey assumes the leadership and shows the
way to the corn-field ; the females with children
carry them upon their backs, the little ones hooking
their diminutive tails around the tails of their par-
ents. In the beginning a great deal of caution is ob-
served, and they use the tree-tops as far as possible.
The old gentleman is always first, and the crowd fol-
lows step by step, selecting not only the same trees,
but even the same branches as he. From time to
time the wise leader climbs to the extreme top of a
tree and surveys the neighborhood. If the sight
that meets his eye is favorable, he utters a few assur-
ing, gurgling sounds , if not, he gives a note of alarm.
The Monkeys alight from the tree nearest the clioseu
field and scamper to their paradise. The activity

GUEREZA MONKEYS. The most beautiful type of all the Monkey tribes and are natives of Abyssinia. Nature has given the Guerezas a most

magnificent covering of soft and beautiful fur, the black and white markings of which as well as the black tail with white tuft are faithfully brought out in this
picture. This pair of strikingly handsome Guerezas are represented securely perched in their forest home, where most of their time is spent, and where
.they are able to enjoy practical security from the natives, who are poor marksmen. {Colobus guereza.)

(3i)

32

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

they display on their arrival is unparalleled. Rap-
idly they go to work, tear off ears of corn or durra,
shell them and fill their cheek-pouches to the utmost.
Then they begin to be more fastidious in their choice.
All the ears and cobs are first carefully smelled, and if
they do not come up to their standard, which happens
rather often, they are thrown away, and the waste-
fulness that is a characteristic of all Monkeys is ex-
ercised to the highest degree. It may be estimated
that out of ten ears one is eaten. As a rule, they
take but a few grains from each ear and throw the
remainder away. This is just what excites the wrath
of the natives. If they feel themselves secure, the
mothers let their children play with each other, with-
out relaxing the extreme watchfulness they are ac-
customed to bestow upon their pets ; not one thinks
of looking out for danger that might befall the
whole band, for all place implicit confidence in their
leader. From time to time he stops in his meal,
stands upright like a man, and surveys the ground.
After each of these inspections one hears his as-
suring, gurgling sounds, if he has seen nothing that
threatens. If he scents danger, he utters an inde-
scribable, trembling note of warning. Immediately
his subjects rally, each mother snatches up her child,
and every one tries to grasp as much as he can in
a hurry. I have seen a single Monkey bearing
as many as five large ears of corn along, two being
held in the right fore-arm and the others in the
hands and feet, and the corn touching the ground
as the Monkey ran along. If the danger becomes
pressing, the load is thrown down with a wry face,
though the last ear is kept until the pursuer is very
near and they need both hands and feet for climbing.

Boldness Their way lies to the nearest tree. I
of the have seen them climb up an isolated

Guenons. tree, and then descend from it and pro-
ceed on their way upon the ground when I pressed
them hard. Once they reach the forest they are
secure from all pursuit, for their agility in climbing
is nearly as great as that of the Long-armed Apes.
There seems to be no obstacle that can stop them ;
not even thorns and hedges, nor long distances be-
tween trees. They are equal to anything. It is very
astonishing, for we do not know of a single ani-
mal in our own temperate climate that could do
anything approximating the feats which they easily
perform. The leader is always in front, making the
whole troop slacken or increase speed by his gur-
gling sounds. Fleeing Monkeys never show the
slightest fear or discomfiture ; and their presence
of mind is really remarkable. One might say with-
out exaggeration, that if they wish it, danger does
not exist for them. Only Man with his long range
rifles can overcome them ; escape from beasts of
prey is easy, and they know how to defend them-
selves from birds of prey.

Hunting In East Soudan the Guenons are not
the hunted, but are caught in traps, consist-

Guenon. m g f ncts enclosing some dainty Eood,
The Monkeys try to take the bait and entangle
themselves in the nets, so that they cannot get away.
Europeans have no difficult)' in shooting them, as
they think of flight only after a number of their
troop have been killed. ' They fear Men very little,
or not at all. I have often seen them look very
coolly at people on foot or on horseback, and at
Horses or Camels, while they would utter their cry
of danger as soon as a Dog came in sight.

I experienced what a "great many others do on
a Monkey hunt, and became thoroughly disgusted

with it. I once shot a Guenon that was looking at
me ; it fell off the tree and sat on the ground, calmly,
almost humanly wiping the blood from its face with
one hand, and the impression it made on me was so-
painful that I ran towards it and stabbed it twice
with my hunting-knife, to relieve it from its suffer-
ing. Since then I never have shot another small
Monkey, and advise nobody else to do so, unless it
be for scientific research. I felt as if I had murdered
a human being, and the face of the dying Monkey
has haunted me ever since.

Guenons These Monkeys have little to fear
Dread Nothing from beasts of prey. They are
but Reptiles. much too quick for them ; only the
Leopard can sometimes overtake an incautious
young Monkey. As to birds of prey, the Monk-
eys ward them off by their united efforts.

They have a great horror of everything that
creeps, and especially of Snakes. I have forgotten
to mention that these Monkeys ruthlessly destroy
all birds' nests and are passionately fond of eggs
and young birds. When they purpose robbing the
nest of one of those birds that breed in caverns or
hollows, they proceed with the utmost caution, for
Snakes are extremely likely to sleep in such a nest.
I hn e often seen them carefully investigate a hollow
tree, to see if a Snake was, perchance, in hiding there.
First, they looked in as far as possible, then they
listened, and then hesitatingly put in an arm. A
Monkey never yet made a bold plunge in such a
case, but he inserts his arm by degrees, all the time
watching and listening, and dreading the appearance
of a Serpent.

The time of reproduction seems not to be limited
to a particular season witli the Guenons. In every
troop one sees infants at the breast, children and
half-grown Monkeys no longer in need of maternal
supervision. Guenons reproduce well and thrive in
zoological gardens | in Europe or America] if they
are well taken care of, though they are not as hardy
as the Macaques and Baboons.
The Guenon During my stay in Africa, which lasted
in several years, I always kept a great

Captiuity. many Monkeys, and among them' sev-
eral Guenons ; and I may say that every one of them
had an individuality of its own, and was an attract-
ive and interesting object for investigation. ( >ne
Monkey would be quarrelsome and bite at every
provocation ; a second Would be gentle and tame ;
a third might be peevish, a fourth always cheerful.
One had a quiet and harmless disposition, while
another was cunning, scheming and forever plotting
some nasty tricks. Hut they all had this in common,
th.it they liked to play practical jokes on larger ani-
mals, while they protected and eared for little ones.
They knew how to make the most of every situa-
tion. Daily they gave me proofs of good common
sense and of cunning reflection, but also of great
good-nature and the tenderest solicitude for weak
or helpless animals, and several of them gained
my sincere affection. Several groups among the
Guenons are very sympathetic.

The Green One of the best known species, ranging
Monkey of from Abyssinia to the sources of the
Abyssinia. Nile, is the Green Monkey {Cercopitk*
ecus sadaeus), called Abulandj by the Arabs and by
others the Beautiful Haired. He is four feet long,
the tail being more than half of this length. The
hair on the upper part of the body is of .1 gray-green
tint ; the arms, legs and tail are gray : the short
beard and the under and inner surface of the leirs are

GREEN MONKEYS. The artist has put life and action into the above picture, which shows a troop of Green Monkeys fleeing from a

field of gram they have been robbing, a species of thievery of which these monkeys are very fond. The knave in the foreground has an ear of
corn in his left foot as well as in his left hand, and while making rapid progress is tenaciously holding on to his booty. Just behind him a mother
is reaching out for her young one ; and on the fence an old male stands guard, while the other members of the troop are escaping for their lives.
The Green Monkeys are natives of Senegal and jealously protect their territory from other monkeys. Some of this family are said to have been
brought over to the Island of St. Kitts, where they thrive, being the only Old World Monkeys living in a wild state in America. They are also
sometimes called Beautiful Haired Monkeys, because of the delicate marking ot each separate hair of their fur. The under portion of the body
and limbs is nearly white, the outer part ot the limbs is of a grayish shading, while the hair on the side of the face is a golden yellow. Many
Green Monkeys have been taken to Europe and brought to the United States. [Cercopitkecus sabaeus.)

34

Till: A PUS AND MONKEYS.

whitish ; the nose, mouth and eyebrows are black,
while the face is of a light brown color.

The Diana Among the prettiest and most grace-
Monkey of ful of the Guenons is the Diana

Western Africa. Monkey ( Cercopithecus diana) whose
color is slate-gray, merging into auburn on the back,
while the ui*der surface of the body and the beard
are pure white. He is a native of Western Africa.
The name is due to a crescent-shaped white band of
long hair stretching across the forehead. The length
of its body is about eighteen inches, while its tail
is longer. It is found in Guinea and Fernando Po.

The Blue-Faced The Blue-faced Guenon ( Cercopith-
G ue no n of ecus cephus), called Muido by the na-
West Africa. t ; ves f Loango, is an inhabitant of
western Africa. He is of the same size as the Green
Monkey, but his coloring is more vivid and pleasing.
The back, upper part of the head and neck and the
outer sides of the limbs are of an olive-green tint,
here and there showing a golden gleam, while the
under surface of the bodv and the inner side of the

RED, OR PATAS MONKEY. Native of West Africa, and its color is mainly a delicate yellowish red and

its face is decidedly humanlike. It has a mustache and full whiskers and is a verj pretty animal. Bruce, who
studied it in its wild state, declares that a troop "t Red Monkeys \\ :i t ■ hed, from their home in the trees, while his
boats were passing up the river, aii' 1 tli.it they finally became enraged and pelted the voyagers with bits of wood.
He adds that whet uttered the most frightful cries but continued the fight, even after several of their

comrades were slain. i< ruber.)

limbs are bluish-gray. The face is of a beautiful did she torment them,
blue, showing a white spot on the upper lip, and en-
circled by a beard of flaming yellow, separated from
the olive hair on the head by a black stripe. The
tail is red from the tip nearly to its root. Robust,
healthy .Monkeys of this tribe, without distinction
of sex, show this striking variety of color in as
perfect a manner as if they had been p. tinted or
stained.

The_\' are plentifully found in Lower Guinea, and
south from Yumba to the Congo, and are more
numerous than any other species. Their favorite
haunts are the forests along the coast and deeper
in the continent in the damp forests of the moun-
tains.

The Blue-Faced I'echuel-Loesche, who studied this
Guenon species, as well as a great many

Domesticated, others both in the wild state and iii
captivity, gives it as his opinion, that no oth r

species of Guenon is so well fitted for domestication.
" One Guenon that we called by the native name for
the whole species, Muido, a female, lived in my pos-
session for five years. She was very young when I
got her, and I took good care to keep her in perfect
health. In this Monkey I distinctly saw what an
effect experienced care and kind treatment, prac-
ticed from earliest youth, have on the Monkey
mind and how much ill-nature may be traced to
thoughtless teasing and rude jokes. One w 7 ould have
much less cause for complaint of the malice and vio-
lence of Monkeys, if they were properly cared for
during their childhood.

"Our .Monkey, whose childhood had been care-
fully guarded from all pernicious influences, had the
freedom of the whole house in Europe. She roamed
through all rooms and went over tables and cup-
boards, but so cautiously that she never broke any-
thing. She climbed out of the windows, performed
gymnastics on the porch, ran over the whole roof,
ami was free to go into the yard and the garden.
She followed us like a dog
on our walks in the woods
and meadows, catching
Spiders, Butterflies and
Grasshoppers (her favorite
kinds of diet), and romped
to her heart's content. Her
health was evidently much
benefited by it, and her con-
stitution became so hardy
that she could roll about in
freshly fallen snow without
catching cold. On our walks
she liked to invite atten-
tion to herself, and she had
her likes and dislikes. She
never harmed airs-body, but
delighted to hide in hedges
at the approach of some un-
suspecting farmer, and then
suddenly appear and startle
him. She was fond of little
Dogs, but avoided large
ones ; yet, if they growled
at her, she fearlessly jumped
on their backs, boxed their
ears, and bit and scratched
to such good purpose that
they hurriedly made their
escape. She did not fear
Frogs or Lizards, neither
If she soiled her hands, she
tried to clean then), and if she did not succeed, came
to us with a human-like request to perform that
office for her.
Amusing Traits " The only thing we could not teach
of the Blue- her was to be clean about the
Faced Guenon. house. In everything else she was
obedient ; she went to sleep in her basket, closed
the door of her cage herself, and even when too
noisy, would quiet down at a single 'hush!' from
us. She was fond of playing with dolls, balls, corks,
little pieces of wood, etc. For a long time, she
always took one little stick into her basket for the
night, putting others carefully away under cup-
boards, in the draperies, etc., and regarding them
as her personal property, which nobody had any
right to touch. She used her roomy cheek-pouches
as a store-room tor a great many trinkets. For
several little articles she showedagre.it predilei tion,

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— GUENONS.

35

and if we missed them, we knew where they
could be found. My wife early began the practice
of emptying Muido's cheek-pouches every night.
At the beginning, the Monkey resisted these opera-
tions but it was not long till she learned to dis-
gorge these hidden treasures herself, as soon as
my wife took her in her lap. Little stones, peas,
coins, beans, nails, corks, thimbles, glass-stoppers
and other things were brought to light, and the
articles we did not immediately need we gave back,
for she never lost anything. She took a great deal
of pleasure in looking at pictures, especially colored
ones, and attentively watched me turn the leaves.
She would swoop down quick as a flash on the

SOOTY MANGABEY. This Monkey received its name from its color, and the mistaken notion that it

came from Madagascar, where there are no true Monkeys It is a native of West Africa and, like all the class it
represents, has the upper eyelid white, in strong contrast with its sooty color. This Mangabey is easily tamed,
and, being the finest acrobat in the world, affords endless amusement to those who have the good fortune to observe
it. Besides it has a fashion of raising its upper lip and showing its teeth, at the same time twisting its face into
the most quaint of grimaces. It is fond of carrying its tail in the manner indicated in the picture, and also of sit-
ting with its eyelids half closed, in the most affected manner possible. (Cercopithecus fiiliginosits.)

picture of a Spider or Grasshopper, but soon came
to know that they were not edible. She would
not show any fear at the pictures of Snakes, but
knew them for what they were, as we could see by
the expression of her face and voice.

" Her food consisted of everything that came on
our table, except milk and sandwiches, for which she
had a decided contempt. She also liked ink and she
would take the pen out of the inkstand, lick it and
carefully put it aside ; then she would dip her finger
into the ink and lick that until she was satisfied.
She was fond of wine and beer, but never drank too
much, and gave the preference to beer-foam. Fruits
of all kinds were welcome, especially currants, straw-

berries and gooseberries. She did not care for eggs,
and never destroyed a nest. A couple of little birds
had their nest on our porch, and she was on quite
intimate terms with them, as well as with several
others, among which was a Woodpecker, to which
we threw crumbs every day, so as to entice it into
the room. Her day's work always began at the
breakfast-table. As soon as she awoke she threw
aside the warm blankets, and hurried to the table,
to be in time for the lighting of the lamp under
the coffee-pot, and she always received the lighted
match and extinguished it with her hands. Then
she would warm herself before the coffee-pot, and
look at the blue flame of the alcohol, whose flicker-
ing fascinated her just as
much as the boiling and
singing of the water. Af-
ter breakfast her mistress
brushed her from head to
foot, and this operation
was so thoroughly agreea-
ble to her that she took
all the necessary positions
herself. The daily bath-
ing of the face was liked
much less, and the weekly
bath, with its soap and
scrubbing, was held in
detestation.

Muido's Judg- " She was
ment of invariably

Human Nature, affected
with predilection or antip-
athy on first meeting a
stranger, never changing
the attitude thus assumed,
and she always recognized
him at subsequent meet-
ings. Those that she liked
she invited to play with
her by gestures, sounds, or
by touching their clothing;
she would sit in their
laps and take delight in
being petted. Those that
she disliked she treated
with indifference ; if they
persisted in occupying
themselves with her, she
at first declined their at-
tentions by violent gest-
ures ; if that was not suf-
ficient, she would lie
down, open her mouth
wide, show her teeth,
grunt and assume threat-
ening positions. Then it
became necessary to check her, lest she go farther
and bite. It seemed that she formed her opinion
of people from their appearance ; a kindly face, a
pleasant voice, calm, aristocratic manners, gained her
heart forthwith ; violent gestures, cold looks and a
loud, harsh voice were repulsive to her. As to chil-
dren, she liked them all without exception. She
romped and played with them, and when they be-
came too wild she quietly retired. She never bit or
scratched a single child ; they were all as personal
friends to her.

" Her affection for my wife was really touching.
She regarded herself as my wife's natural protector,
and whoever approached the latter or shook hands

36

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

with her always found the little Monkey ready to
defend her in case of need, sitting on her shoulder
cfr in her lap. Once her mistress was very sick, and
the animal became sad and melancholy and would
sit for hours at the door of the sick-room, demand-
ing admission. After several weeks she was let in,
when she immediately jumped on the bed, put her
arms around my wife's neck, uttering a plaintive little
sound, and could not be taken away again.
Muido's Vocal " This little Monkey had a very wide
Accomplish- range of vocal sounds. We distin-
ments. guished thirteen different sounds, or
groups of sounds, that she could utter, ranging from
a low, musical chirping or purring, expressive of

■Y?SS5^

BONNET MONKEY. Found in the hot regions of Asia and Alma, and is quite common in captivity, its

amusing tricks making it very popular in museums and zoological gardens. It has very large cheek-pouches and
stows away in them the greatest possible number of nuts. It is fond of hugging and nursing other animals and of
searching their bodies for vermin. Its color is an olive-gray and the hair of the head is parted in the middle. [Maca*
cus sinicu r.)

contentment or of a request for some favor, to the
yelling and shrieking of anger ; from a softly uttered
' took took,' when she was alone in a dark room,
and slightly nervous, to a loud ' teck ' that came
with a violent fright. There were all kinds of cry-
ing, gurgling, screaming, grunting, each expressing
different stages and kinds of excitement. The most
wonderful of all was what \vc used to call her ' greet-
ing to the sun.' When the sun shone bright in the
morning, she would look up a specially luminous
spot on the table or on the floor, make strange
gestures, lift her arms with a slightly swinging mo-
tion, and then, addressing the sun, would give us in
a loud, deep tone something like the greater half of
a chromatic scale, always ending with a deep, long-

drawn ' o.' They were the strangest of sounds, and
I never heard the like from any other Monkey."
[Other well-known members of the Guenon group
are the Mona, Talapoin and Red-bellied Monkeys,
all of which are distinguished for the beauty of their
fur and their striking appearance.]

MACAQUES.

A great variety of Monkeys are comprised in the
genus Macaque (Macaats) in Western Africa, but
scientifically speaking there are only a few kinds
having a right to this name, and they, with one ex-
ception, inhabit southeastern Asia. In general the
Macaques have the following distinguishing traits :
they are of sturdy build ;
the limbs are of moderate
length ; the snout pro-
jects about as much as
that of the Guenons; and
the tail may be as long
as the body, or quite
stunted. The cheek-
pouches and callosities
are well developed. A
further peculiarity of
these animals is, that the
hair on the head of some
shows a decided parting,
while in others it assumes
the shape of a huge w r ig,
and the beard, lacking in
some, is of unrivalled
growth in others.

In former ages they
ranged over a great part
of Europe, and even now
they l;o farther north
than other Monkeys. The
short-tailed species in-
habit the north of Africa,
China and Japan; the
long-tailed breeds are na-
tives of the East Indies.
The}' resemble both the
Guenons and the Bab-
oons, and live sometimes
in forests like the former,
sometimes on rocks like
the latter. As to charac-
ter, they seem to possess
the impudence of both ;
in youth they are playful
and good-natured like
the Guenons ; in old age
they are crabbed and
cross like the Baboons.
The Common The best known of this group is the
Macaque of Common Macaque or Monjet ( Maca-
Jaua. clls cynomolgus) , a native of Java. He
attains a length of three and a half feet, the tail
being about twenty inches long. The hair on the
head of the male is pressed down flat, while that of
the female forms a crest. Their color is brownish-
green in the upper part, grayish-white in the lower ;
the hands, feet and tail are black. This animal is a
native of Eastern Asia, especially of the great Sunda
Islands. Nearly every ship that reaches Europe
from the East Indies has a number of these Monk-
eys on board, as they can be purchased very reason-
ably from the natives[and many of them find their
way to America]. The Monkey cages in zoological

COMMON MACAQUE. This picture illustrates in a striking manner the impudence that is so strong a characterist

Macaques as of many other species of Monkeys. The Crocodiles shown in the stream are the most feared of all the enemies of the Monkey
tribes. But the mischievous troop in the trees know that they are beyond the reach of the reptiles, and they are having some fun with them —
the oldest and boldest males just out of reach, tne others at safer distance, but all evidently deriding their aquatic enemies with chattering glee.
The Common Macaques are natives of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes and Batchian. They are great thieves, going out in large parties for the
purpose of robbing fields of grain. They have very large shoulders and are clumsy animals. (Macacus cynomolgus.)

38

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

gardens are, therefore, mainly dependent on this
species for representing the group. He resembles
the Guenon in shape as well as behavior. He is easy
to feed in captivity, capable of reproduction, and
is often used in Monkey theatres, being easily in-
structed and of a cheerful disposition ; generally
playing the part of waiter or servant of some kind.
The Bhunder, The Bhunder or Rhesus Monkey, also
an Indian called the Markat (Macaczts rhesus), is
Macaque. sa jrj to be held sacred in his native
country. Captain Johnson says : " A man on whose
veracity I can rely, tells me that the reverence shown
this Monkey is nearly as great as that which the
Hoonuman (Semnopithecus entellus) inspires. The
natives of Baka leave one-tenth of their harvests
piled in heaps for the Monkeys, which come down

impression on them, and if one does them real injury,
he endangers his own life.

Lady Barker's The story of Lady Barker's great din-
Feast ner in Simla, shows how peculiarly civ-
Demolished. jli ze d pleasures may sometimes run
their course in India. Lady Barker had everything
prepared for the reception of a great number of
guests. She had herself decorated the table with
flowers, and the choicest delicacies to be found in
India and Europe were disposed about the table.
When the time for dinner drew near, she retired to
dress, while the servants, instead of watching the
rooms, amused themselves more congenially. When
she again descended, and went to cast a last glance
at her work of art, she found the dining-room full
of guests, but unfortunately not of the expected

BHUNDER, OR RHESUS MONKEY. This picture presents a very contented tamily of Bhunder or Rhesus Monkeys, which are

natives of British India, where, in many localities, they arc held in greatest reverence. On account of the protection thus afforded they are out-
rageous thieves and have not the slightest fear of Man. The mothers are at great pains to teach their young how to steal successfully and the
pupils are very apt indeed. The Bhunders, like the Sacred Monkeys, often crowd into villages, where nothing that is edible is safe from their
pilfering fingers. When detected they escape punishment, because the poor natives dare not whip a creature that, in their belief, is favored of

their gods. {Macacus rhesus.)

from the hills in a large body and gather
tribute."

Every Hindoo willingly gives his share

their kind. A band of Monkeys had effected an entrance
through the windows and were hugely enjoying
and themselves at the table. One may imagine the feel-

hereby shows a gentleness of spirit and goodness ings of the hostess, who could offer her guests noth

of heart which, though bordering on the ridiculous
does him so much honor, that we might well con-
form ourselves to his standard. Neither can I see
anything grotesque in their protection of the ani-
mals from foreigners ; I have always thought it but
just that men should protect animal's. Of course the
Hindoos go too far in this. It is hard for a foreigner
to live with these Monkeys without waging war on

ng but the soiled remnants of a splendid feast.
It was probably the same troop of Monkeys that
played another trick on Lady Barker. Her Lap-Dog,
"Fury," waged a continuous war on the creatures
and never missed an opportunity to drive them away.
Out of revenge one of the unbidden guests took the
poor thing along to its tree-top. There the pitifully-
howling little Dog went from hand to hand, shaken

them. It is scarcely possible to have a plantation or and tormented by all the Monkeys, and, at last, was

a garden ; for the protected rascals devastate it
the most relentless manner. If one puts out guards,
they are of no avail, for driven away from one side,
the Monkeys make their appearance at the other;
burning fires, scare-crows and such things make no

dropped into a precipice. So " Fury " met with an
untimely death, and the Monkeys were avenged,

The Bhunder reaches a length of about twenty
inches, its tail measuring ten inches. He is of strong,
sturdy build ; the color of the fur is greenish or

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— MACAQUES.

39

gray in the upper part, with a yellowish tinge over
the hips and buttocks ; the lower part is white, the
tail greenish above, gray below. The face, ears and

*s -e gy v^w » l-u , a ufc |sy^^

PIG-TAILED MACAQUES. Natives of Sumatra, Borneo, and the M

"Climbers of Palms,'' by the natives, on account of their fondness for the fruit
easily domesticated. The artist has sketched them with their favorite food,
comfortably upon it. (Macacus nemestrinus.)

hands are of a light copper color ; the callosities of
a vivid red. The female lets her tail hang down,
while the male curves his laterally and inwardly.
The Magot, or The most important of all Macaques in

"Barbary a certain respect is the Magot, Barbary
A P e -" Ape, or Tailless Ape {Macacos syl-
vanus, or Inuus ecaudatus) the only Monkey living in
the wild state in Europe. As he possesses no tail,
he has lately been considered as a representative of
a different species, but usually he is known as the
Turkish or Barbary Ape. His frame is slight, his
limbs slender, his fur and beard thick. The wrin-
kled face, the ears, hands and feet are flesh-colored,
the callosities bright red and the body is of a red-
dish-olive hue. The under surface of the body and
the inner sides of the limbs are lighter and grayish.
The length of a Magot is about thirty inches.

There is no doubt that this Monkey was known
to the ancient Greeks under the name of Pithecus.
Pliny tells us that it imitated everything, could be
taught to play certain games, liked to be petted,
and propagated in captivity, etc.

The Magot is a native of northwestern Africa.
It would appear that the animal lives gregariously,
in large troops, following the leadership of old ex-
perienced males. It is very clever, cunning and
scheming, agile and strong, and, in case of emer-
gency, defends itself excellently with its splendid
set of teeth. When the creature is excited it dis-
torts its face more than any other Monkey, moving
the lips in all directions and chattering with the
teeth. When it is frightened it utters a short, loud
scream. Desire and delight, horror and anger, are
only shown by grimaces and chattering of teeth.
When it is angry, it moves the wrinkled skin on the

forehead up and down, puts the snout forward, and
presses the lips together in such a way as to form a
small and perfectly round hole. The Magot inhab-
its mountainous regions,
and is as much at home on
rocks as on trees. It is
said that it feeds on in-
sects and worms like the
Baboon, and therefore
keeps lifting up stones,
which occasionally roll
down hill and endanger the
safety of passers-by. It is
also thought to be very
fond of Scorpions ; very
adroitly twisting off their
poisonous tails, and eat-
ing them greedily. But it
is also satisfied with small-
er insects and worms, and
the smaller the game the
more zealously it is hunted,
and the more voraciously
it is eaten. The prey is
carefully taken up, gazed
upon with a satisfied
chuckle, and speedily de-
voured.

The Troop of The Magot

Magots at is the only

Gibraltar. Monkey

that inhabits Europe in a

wild state. I was told

ilay Peninsula, and are called Bruh. or u„ n ] v1 VJt P H the south
of these trees. They are harmless and wnen \ \ lbliea Uie SOUtn
the hand of one of the animals resting of Spain, that the band of

these Monkeys at Gibral-
tar was rather numerous, but did not often show
itself. One could see the animals looking for in-

BLACK BABOON. This picture presents the Black Baboon when

in motion upon the ground and shows its Dog-like action, a characteristic
of its family. The thumbs spread out when it is walking or running and the
crest and stubby tail are shaken when it is angered. (Cynocephalus niger.)

sects under stones, from the fortress, if he had a
good telescope or field glass. They hardly ever

40

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

came into the gardens. Even the Spaniards do not
know whether the animals originally were natives oi
Europe, or whether they were imported from Africa.
A. G. Smith's account of his personal experiences
in this respect is very interesting. In the first place,
he says that the existence of Monkeys in Europe
had so often been doubted, treated as a silly story
and denied by captains of ships frequenting Gibral-
tar, that he himself had lost all confidence in the
reports. But he came to know better, when one day
he made the ascent of the rock, to the flag-pole, to
enjoy the magnificent view. The sentinel guard of
the flag, in the course of conversation, chanced to
remark that "the Monkeys were moving." This led
to a careful questioning about them and he learned
the following particulars :

MAGOT, BARBARY, OR TAILLESS APE. This is the onlj membei oi the Monkej familj that lives in

Europe in the wild state, a colony of them being dwellers upon the Rock ol Gibraltar. It is about the size of a Setter
Dog and a very robust animal. It is also found in the Barbary States, always living in the hilly or mountainous coun-
try. In the Atlas Mountains these Monkey- are known as great thieves, making raids upon fields ol grain, where they
destroy far more than they eat or take away with them, [fnuus ecaudatus.)

" The Monkeys gained a foothold on these rocks
a great many centuries ago ; how and when they
crossed the water is not easily determined, and the
Moorish story that to this day they pass to and fro
between Gibraltar and Morocco, through a sub-
marine passage, is a little too much for the credulity
of any one. It is a fact, though, that they live upon
the rocky elevation, although greatly reduced in
numbers. For a long time there were but four of
them. They are seldom seen, except when the wind
changes and they move to other quarters. They
are not very hardy animals and dread every change
of temperature, especially the shifting of the wind
from east to west and vice versa, and try to shelter
themselves from it behind the rocks. They are
active to a degree and preferably dwell on steep,

rocky walls, where they are the sole occupants of
the many holes and uneven places in the loose
ground. It does not seem that they have to work
very hard for their living, for they look quite slick
and well-fed. They are commonly supposed to be
very shy and to flee at the slightest noise ; but the
sentinel denied this, and showed me a few rocks
from which they had stared at him that very morn-
ing, without being in the least disconcerted by his
English uniform and soldierly gaze. They remained
for quite a little while at the distance of twenty or
thirty yards and then retired very deliberately. Yet,
as one sees them so little, chiefly when they are
moving, it may be concluded that the}' are of a shy,
unsociable nature, for nobody ever pursues them ;
they are carefully guarded from all intruders.''

Posselt's Account A year

of Gibraltar later Pos-

Monheys. S e» t says

about the same Monk-
eys: "On my passage
Erom Cadiz to Gibraltar
I had inquired after the
Monkeys and an English-
man residing in Cadiz
told me there were not
any. Arrived in town, I
learned that there were
from three to fifteen
Monkeys yet in exist-
ence; nobody knew the
exact number, as they
were shy and kept to
the steepest and most
inaccessible parts of the
rocks. Without a guide,
I slowly ascended the
main road leading to the
signal station, and after
having gone about two-
thirds of the way, I took
to the left and made for
the highest point on the
northern peak. The mag-
nificent view that spread
out before my eyes
quite engrossed my atten-
tion, and I forgot all
about the Monkeys, until
a sound resembling the
distant yelping of a little
Dog startled me. About
two hundred paces in
front of me was the first
battery with its huge can-
non pointing at Spain. On the brick platform of
the battery an animal, about the size of a Scotch
Terrier, was slowly running aw'ay from me, and from
it the sound had come. I stopped and saw that
it was a Monkey which had probably been standing
guard ; for on the farther end of the platform, nearer
the Mediterranean, two others were lying, lazily
basking in the sunshine. Step by step I cautiously
approached the interesting group, which drew to-
gether and attentively looked at me. At a distance
of about one hundred paces I stopped, and they
soon regained their composure. They resumed their
former occupation, and then started to play. They
hugged each other, ran around, and, sometimes, one
would enter the mouth of a cannon and come out
again. In a word, they seemed thoroughly tame,

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON.

41

and bent on enjoying the beautiful, warm sunshine."
The Tribe My brother requested the com-
Protected by the mander of the fortress himself to
Government. set us r ight in regard to these
Monkeys and we received the following report from
him : " The number of Monkeys at present inhabit-
ing our mountain is eleven. As we have found t,hat
they have no trouble in finding sufficient nourish-
ment on the rocks, we do not feed them, but leave
them entirely alone. The guard of the signals as
well as the detectives watch over them, and see that
they are in no way molested or hunted. The guard

of them, but last summer I saw as many as twenty-
five together, and I think that we may safely claim
as many as thirty. At this season they are not fre-
quently seen, -for food and water can be found in
plenty on the top of the hills. During the hot
summer lack of provision compels them to come
farther down, and then they cause considerable
damage in the gardens. In June or July of last year
there were about half a dozen young ones. The
adult male is of considerable size, being about three
feet high ; the largest females are also of good size,
but more slenderly built, and not so strong. The

COMMON BABOON. The group of animals here depicted are often seen in captivity in Europe and the United States. They are true

Dog-headed Baboons, and their home is in the West Coast of Africa, Abyssinia and the Nile farther northward, and in eastern Equatorial
Africa. They are large, and have hair of a uniform yellowish olive-green. This species is very strong and fierce when attacked, but the young

are amiable and full of pleasing tricks. The playfulness of the little or
that are older. {Cyiwcephalus babitin.)

keeps an account of them and as they always keep
together, he is soon made aware of an increase or a
death in the family.

" Nobody knows how and when they got on the
rocks, and the most divergent opinions prevail about
it. Six or seven years ago their number was re-
duced to three ; then Sir William Codrington, fear-
ing they might die out, imported three or four from
Tangier, and since then they have increased to the
number named."

Lately this number has more than doubled itself.
We wrote a letter of inquiry, addressed to some
officer of the English garrison of Gibraltar, and
Captain C. S. Shepard was kind enough to answer
us, on the 18th of March, 1889, as follows :

" It is hard to determine exactly the number of
our Monkeys. Day before yesterday I saw a dozen

5 indicated in the picture, as well as the teasing propensities of those

strongest male usually keeps a little aloof from the
band." According to these latest reports we may
rest assured that Europe's last Monkeys are not
going to die out just yet.

THE BABOONS.

The Baboons (Cynocepkalics) are one of the most
remarkable groups of the Monkey family, but are
by no means an attractive or pleasing one. We find
its members to be the ugliest, rudest, coarsest and
most repulsive representatives of the Monkey tribe.
We may say that the Baboon stands in the lowest
degree of development of the entire Monkey world.
All the nobler shapes are effaced, and all the nobler
qualities of the mind are drowned in the grossest
passions.

42

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

Like Aristotle, we call the Baboons Dog-headed
Monkeys, for the shape of their heads resembles that
of a rude, fierce Dog a little more than that of Man.
In reality the resemblance between the two animals
is but a superficial and unsatisfactory one, the head
of a Baboon being as much a caricature of a Dog's
head as the head of a Gorilla is a caricature of a
Man's. But in comparison with the other Monkeys
his snout is peculiar, and, therefore, we may safely
leave the designation which old Aristotle gave to
these animals.

Physical The Dog-headed Monkeys are the
Characteristics largest in size, after the Man-shaped
of Baboons. Apes. Their body is of a strong, bulky
make and their muscular power is enormous. Their
thick head is provided with a large, long muzzle
abruptly cut off at its end, often swollen or furrowed,
and endowed with a prominent, blunt nose ; the
teeth resemble those of a beast of prey on account
of the formidable ca-
nines, which on their
inner side are fur-
nished with sharp
edges. The lips are
very mobile, the ears
small, the eyes lie
deep in their sockets
and their expression
fully reflects the
Monkey's character
in its true light ; it is
cunning and brutal
to the extreme. The
limbs are short and
stout, the fore-paws
having five toes ; the
tail may be long or
short, smooth-coated !g
or provided with a
tuft; the cheek-
pouches are large, the
callosities are hid-
eous and of an enor-
mous size, and of a
very vivid color. The
long hair is some-
times developed into
a mane and is gener-

,, r A f. A is P ossesse<:1 ot g reat strength. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where its ferocity

ally Ot an Undefined brings terror to the Dogs, whom it does not hesitate to attack and frequently kill. It lives

CHACMA BABOON. Is very large, being about the size of an English Mastiff, and

is possessed of great strength. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where its ferocity

and in their greed of animal food also attack larger
animals. According to Fisher, the Baboons in east
Africa not only steal chickens, but kill the small
Antelopes and even the larger Bosch-boks. In
plantations, and especially vineyards, Baboons cause
the greatest damage ; they are even said to under-
take their raids in an orderly, deliberate, and nearly
military manner.

More than any other Monkeys, Baboons show,
by their gait, that they are really quadrupeds.
Their whole frame is adapted for progression on all
fours. They resemble awkward Dogs in their gait,
and even when they do stand erect they like to lean
on one hand. When not hurried their walk is slow
and lumbering ; as soon as they are pursued, they
fall into a singular sort of gallop, which includes
the most peculiar movements of the body. Their
walk is distinguished by a certain bold swagger,
that has to be seen to be appreciated.

Moral Their moral
Traits of traits do not
Baboons, contradict
their exterior in the
least. We will begin
a description of them
in Scheitlin's words :
"The Baboons are all
more or less bad fel-
lows, always savage,
fierce, impudent and
malicious; their muz-
zle is a coarse imita-
tion of a Dog's, their
face a distortion of
a Dog's face. Their
look is cunning, their
mind wicked. They
are more open to in-
struction than the
smaller Monkeys and
have more common
sense. Their imita-
tive nature seems
such, that they barely
escape being human.
They easily perceive
traps and dangers,
and defend them-
selves with courage

earthy Or rockv Color' in hilly places, and when not engaged in making forays upon

gray, gray-green, yd- much of its time slee P in e in its hiding-place :
low or brownish-green.

Homes and The Baboons are found widely spread

Habits of about in Africa, Arabia and India. Dif-
Baboons. f eren t countries possess their individual
species, but they may be common to several tracts
of country.

The Baboons are, in the main, mountain Monkeys,
but undoubtedly several kinds also live in forests
and are better tree-climbers than one might suppose,
seeing them in a country devoid of trees. In the
mountains they go as high as 9,000 to 13,000 feet
above the sea-level, sometimes reaching the snow-
region ; but they seem to give the preference to
countries having an elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
The oldest travelers assure us that mountainous
regions are their true home.

The food of the Baboons consists principally of
onions, tubers, grass, fruit, eggs and insects of all
kinds. But we may safely assume that these strong
and agile fellows are not satisfied with small fry,

neighboring field, passes and bravery. As bad

the rocks. (Cynocefhalus Porcarius.) ^ y ^ y m&y ^ they

still are capable of being tamed in youth ; but when
they become old, their gentle nature disappears,
and they become disobedient ; they grin, scratch
and bite. Education does not go deep enough with
them. It is said that in the wild state they are more
clever ; while in captivity they are gentler. Their
family name is 'Dog-headed Monkeys'; if they only
had the Dog's soul along with his head ! "

One cannot contradict Scheitlin ; the picture he
draws is correct. The mind of the Baboon seems
to be the Monkey mind in its highest development,
but more in the bad than the good sense. We can-
not deny that they have a few excellent qualities ;
they are very fond of each other and their children ;
they also become attached to their keeper and make
themselves useful to him. But these good qualities
are in no way sufficient to counterbalance their bad
habits and passions. Cunning and malice are com-
mon traits of all Baboons, and a blind rage is their
chief characteristic. Their anger is as easily aroused

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON.

43

as a straw fire is kindled ; but it passes away by no
means as quickly. A single word, a mocking smile,
even a cross look, will sometimes throw the Bab-
oon into a rage, in which he loses all self-control.
Therefore these animals are always dangerous, as
their brutality may break out at any moment. As
enemies they are really terrible.

Baboons The Baboons shun Man, but in case of
and their necessity they enter into combat with

Enemies. hi m as they do with a beast of prey.
The Leopard seems to be their chief enemy, though
he oftener attacks the little ones, having reasons for
considering whether his fangs and claws are strong
enough to cope with the teeth and hands of an adult

Africa they are said to be made use of in searching
for water in the desert. They are tamed and taken
along into those arid regions, where even the Bush-
men only know how to get water by drops. When
the supply of the liquid is running low, the Baboon
is given some food containing salt and a few hours
later he is turned loose at the end of a line. The
poor animal, crazed with thirst, runs hither and
thither, sniffs the air, tears out plants and examines
them, and finally either finds a place at which to
begin digging for hidden water, or hurries forward to
where he is sure of finding a running stream.

The first animal that we will consider in connec-
tion with this group, is a Monkey that by some is
counted among the Bab-
oons, by others among the
Macaques. In his habits
he is a true Baboon,
but in his structure he dif-
fers from it considerably,
and this is what gave rise
to the difference of opin-
ion among naturalists.
We must consider him as
a connecting link, possess-
ing the peculiarities of
both species. Those who
count him among the Mac-
aques cannot be accused
of error ; while those who
believe him to be a Baboon
are also in the right.
The Black The Black Bab-
Baboon oon ( Cynoccpha-
Described. / us n i ger ) dif-
fers from the others in
having only the rudi-
ment of a tail and also in
his muzzle. His snout is
broad, flat, and short, and
the nose does not project
over the upper lip, Baboon-
fashion, but ends about
I half way back on the up-
1 per part of the snout. For
these reasons this Monkey
is considered the repre-
sentative of a special kind,
the Dog-headed Monkeys
proper (Cynocephalus).
Face and buttocks are de-
of Abyssinia, and a void of fur, while the rest
of the body is covered by

SACRED BABOON, OR HAMADRYAS. The sacred Ape of the Egyptians. Nativ

most extraordinary looking animal, with its curious adornment of hair, the head, neck, shoulders and all the for
parts of the body being covered with a long and shaggy coat ; that of the back of the head and neck being more tha
i foot in length. It is about the size of a Pointer Dog and the jaws are possessed of great strength. (Cynocefhalus long, WOolly hair, which is

the longest on the head,

xdryc

Baboon. Dogs, as a rule, cannot successfully fight
with the Baboons, and yet these noble and brave
animals know of no greater treat than a Baboon-
hunt. With the exception of the Dog, the Leopard
and the Lion, the Baboon has no enemies that
-are very dangerous to him ; still it is to be sup-
posed that his tribe have had some very disagree-
able experiences in connection with the poisonous
tooth of Serpents. A Baboon never rolls away a stone
or investigates a bush without first making sure that
no Snake is lurking there. Scorpions they do not
fear, as they break off their poisonous tails with great
skill and enjoy eating them as much as they do any
other insect or Spider.

The usefulness of the Baboons is very slight.
They are taught a great many tricks, and in South

and so arranged as to form a crest. The color of
the fur and face is black, while the callosities are
red. In size this Monkey is inferior to all his rela-
tives. His length is only about twenty-five inches,
the tail being a little over an inch long.

He is a native of the Celebes, and though he is
found there in numbers, his life in the wild state is
very little known.

Lately he has been shipped to Europe [and Amer-
ica] and has lived for a considerable time in cap-
tivity. The Black Baboon which I saw in the
Amsterdam Zoological Garden seemed to enjoy life
very much. He was daily brought over to the Gue-
nons ; if these latter had been timid creatures, the
imperious and haughty black Monkey would have
tyrannized over them, but the agile crowd of Guenons

44

THE APES AXD MONKEYS.

was too quick for him. He seemed to be on
friendly terms with the Macaques, and sustained
very intimate relations with a female Baboon ; at
least, he was very attentive to the beauty, and, in
return, allowed her to look over his fur.

According to Brockmann, no other Monkey is so
eligible to membership in a Monkey theatre as the
Black Baboon. He learns his part in play, retains
what he has learned, and " works " with real pleas-
ure. Yet he is not a regular member of the stage,
as he is a rare and expensive Monkey, especially if
one considers his frail health when in captivity.

The Common Among the Baboons proper, the
Baboon, Chacma, Common Baboon ( Cynoceplialus bab-

and Sphinx. /a/l ) ; s the best known to me, though
only in captivity. He is not easily taken for the
Black Baboon, nor for other Monkeys that are pro-

GELADA BABOON. With its

sents a formidable appearance, and its loo
creatures encounters a body of Hamadryas
battle. The legs of the Gelada are black and the

Sphinx is smaller but of decidedly stronger frame ;
his muzzle is shorter and shows a peculiar thicken-
ing of the cheek-bones, and his hair has dark-gray
and reddish brown ringlets.

The mode of life and behavior of these three
Monkeys are very similar, and I therefore will speak
only of the Common Baboon.

This Baboon is a native of the same belt of land
as the Hamadryas, but penetrates farther into .the
centre of Africa. He inhabits Abyssinia, Kordofan
and other countries of central Africa and he is
found in troops. He is also common in German
Eastern Africa, according to Bohm and Reichard,
and goes as far to the southwest of Lake Tangan-
yika as the Upper Lualaba, if there is no case of mis-
taken identity in these reports.

In his movements and his gait the Common Bab-
oon is typical of all the Baboons ; but his character
is rather better. He is a very clever animal, and,
when caught young, soon gets accustomed to his
keeper, is easily trained to perform certain duties,
and clings to his master, even in spite of bad treat-
ment. The female is of a gentler and more amiable
disposition than the male, which often turns upon
while she lives with him on the most in-

The first Common Baboon that came
into my possession was named "Perro."
He was a good-looking, pleasant
grew to like me after a short interval
of three days. I made him guard
our doors, chaining him to the yard
gate. He soon selected a favor-
ite spot, from which he watched
the gate with extreme vigilance.
Only we, or our friends, were given
free access to the place ; strangers
were obstinately denied admission.
When the latter were suffered to go
in he would get very angry and he
always had to be held back until
the person had passed and gone
beyond his reach. At every oppor-
tunity he showed himself to be a
Baboon, from the top of his head
to the sole of his feet, with all the
characteristics, habits and nasty
traits of his kind. When in a rage,
he raised his tail, and stood on both
feet and one hand ; with the other
hand he would beat the ground,
reminding one of an angry Man

do not belie its character. Sometimes a troop of these bringing his hand down violently
ding expedition, and engage in desperate nn t'l 1P "t,Th1e nnlv that he did not
ale brown. ( Cvnocethalus eelada.1 ° n lne laDle . om > mat lie Q1U nOT.

: is a pale brown. (Cy

vided with manes ; but he closely resembles the
Chacma {Cynoceplialus porcarius) inhabiting South
Africa, and the Sphinx ( Cynocephalus sphinx) inhab-
iting Western Africa. His smooth, even coat of fur
is of a yellowish olive-green color, every individual
hair being alternately dark and yellow, the under
part of the body is lighter, and the cheeks are whit-
ish. The face and ears assume a gray tint, the upper
eyelids are white, the hands brownish-gray ; the eyes
light brown. Adult males reach a shoulder height
of twenty-five to thirty inches, and counting from
the tip of nose to the end of tail are four feet,
eight inches long. We must not forget, though,
that the relatively thin tail comes in for one-third
of this length. The Chacma is considerably larger,
clumsier of motion and darker of hue, while the

cphalns gelada.)

and

make a fist of it. With flashing
eyes and a loud yell he would then rush at his
opponent. Not infrequently he would, with con-
summate art, take on a kindly look, smack his
lips, something always intended as a token of
friendship, and put out his arms towards one to
whom he owed a grudge. If the intended victim
would then approach him, he quickly seized his
hand, drew it towards him and bit and scratched it.
He was friendly to all our other animal pets, except
the Ostriches, but these were really to blame for
the enmity existing between him and them. When
Perro's services as guard were not in demand, he
would usually sit on the wall, holding a piece of
straw matting over his head, as an umbrella. He
took no special care of his long tail, simply letting
it hang down the wall. Ostriches have a bad habit

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON.

45

of snapping at everything that is not nailed or glued
to a spot, and so it often happened that one of the
birds would waddle up to Perro, reach out for the
hanging tail with its stupid head and snap it. In an
instant the straw-matting was thrown away with a
yell, and the Ostrich taken round its neck and given
a thorough shaking. The Monkey often could not
master his rage for a quarter of an hour after such
an occurrence. It was not very wonderful that he
administered a cuff or a blow to the birds whenever
he had the slightest chance.
Fondness of All our Baboons had, in common with
Baboons for the natives, a passionate fondness for
Strong Drink. Merisa, a kind of beer, manufactured
from the grain of the durra or dohhen. They were

MANDRILL. This is a native of the Gold Coast and inland regions of Africa, and is noted for

huge callosities upon its cheeks, caused by swellings of the bones. The skin here is ribbed and has
ridges that are alternately light blue, scarlet and deep purple in color. The male is five feet high when
standing. The hair of the body is a black and olive-green above and silvery gray beneath. The Man-
drill is frequently seen in captivity in this country as well as in Europe. In old age the animal is very
brutal, and, in fact, under most favorable conditions it is very treacherous and likely for no cause to
assail the hand that feeds it. {Cynocephalus mormon,)

often drunk and in this way proved to me that the
Soudanese had told me the truth about the way Bab-
oons are captured. My Monkeys also drank red
wine, but whisky they scorned. Once we poured a
little wineglassful of this liquor into their mouths by
force. They had already been drinking some Me-
risa, and the effect of the combination soon showed
itself. They became completely drunk, made the
most fearful faces, and were boisterous and brutal ;
in a word, they presented a degrading caricature of
a brutish, drunken Man. The effects of the de-
bauch on the following morning were most dis-
tressing, showing that with Baboons as with Men,
strong drink is in the highest degree demoralizing
and harmful.

Great Courage Among my pets was a tame Lioness,
of the w h made the Guenons rather nervous,
Baboons. b ut did not strike terror to the hearts
of the courageous Baboons. They used to flee at
her approach, but when she really seemed to be
about to attack one of them, they stood their ground
fairly well. I have often observed them as they
acted in this way. My Baboons turned to flee be-
fore the Dogs, which I would set upon them ; but if
a Dog chanced to grab a Baboon, the latter would
turn round and courageously rout the former. The
Monkey would bite, scratch and slap the Dog's face
so energetically that the whipped brute would take
to his heels with a howl. More ludicrous still
seemed the terror of the Baboons of everything
creeping, and of Frogs. The sight of an innocent
Lizard or a harmless little Frog would bring them
to despair, and they would climb as high as their
ropes would permit, clinging to walls and posts in a
regular fit of fright. At the same time their curi-
osity was such that they had to take a closer look
at the objects of their alarm. Several times I brought
them poisonous Snakes in tin boxes. They knew
perfectly well how dangerous the
inmates of these boxes were, but
could not resist the temptation of
opening them, and then seemed
fairly to revel in their own trepi-
dation.

••Atile," a I took another mem-
Tamed Baboon ber of this family
in Germany, along with me to
Germany. It was remarkably clev-
er, but also exceedingly mischiev-
ous. Our Dog had tyrannized
over us all his life, and had be-
come so sulky in old age that he
lived in peace with nobody, and
when he had to be punished he
snapped even at me. But in Atile
— that was my Baboon's name —
he found more than a match.
Atile thought it great fun to pro-
voke the poor Dog on all occa-
sions. When he was taking his
nap in the yard, stretched at full
length on the grass, the mischiev-
ous Monkey would softly creep
up to him, get hold of his tail, and
arouse him from his slumbers by
a sudden pull at that esteemed
member. The Dog would jump
up in a rage and with a growl and
bark rush at the Monkey. She (it
was a female) would calmly await
him, beating the ground with her
hand. Greatly to his anger he never could get at
her, for when he was near enough for biting, she
would jump over him and was again pulling his tail.
She would drive him perfectly insane through these
repeated insults, but he always had to sneak away
in the end, his tail between his legs.
Atile' s Clever- Her cleverness was really remarkable.
ness and She stole in a masterly way ; opened
Affection. anc i shut doors and could untie intri-
cate knots, when she thought it worth her while.
Boxes she always opened and cleared of their con-
tents. We sometimes frightened her by putting a
little heap of powder before her on the floor, and
setting it on fire. She would give a shriek, when she
saw the flame leap up, and then jump as far back as

46

THE APES AND MOXKEYS.

her chain would permit. But she did not surfer us
to practice this joke many times. After awhile she
was shrewd enough to take the burning tinder and
extinguish it with her hands before it had reached
the powder, after which she made a meal of the
whole.

Her affection for me was boundless. I could ill-
treat her and still she would show no resentment.
It seemed that she considered me perfectly innocent
of all the evil that befell her. When I had to chas-
tise her, she never flew into a rage at me, but di-
rected her wrath against the other people present,
thinking, no doubt, that they were the cause of her
punishment. She preferred me to all her friends,
and at my approach would turn against those whom
she had just been caressing.

She felt flattered at kind words, while laughter
was revolting to her, especially when she thought
she herself had provoked it. She responded to
every call, and I could take her out on long walks
without a chain. She followed me like a Dog,
though she was fond of making little trips first to
one side and then the other, extending them as far
as she pleased, but never going very far from me.
The Hamadryas The Baboon which in virtue of his
or Sacred shape, of his great sense, and also,
Baboon. perhaps, of his unlovely character,
played such a prominent part with the ancient
Egyptians, is called the Hamadryas or Sacred Bab-
oon (Cynocephalus hamadryas). How he came by
the honor of bearing the name of a Greek nymph
is a mystery to me, for surely his bearing shows
nothing' that is womanly. The ancients certainly
did not bestow this name on him. Herodotus, Plu-
tarch and Pliny call him Cynocephalus, Strabonius
calls him Cebus, Juvenal gives him the name of
Cercopithecus, Agatharchides that of Sphinx. The
modern Abyssinians term him Hebe, the Arabians
style him Robah, and in Egypt he is known as
Khird. Among all these names there is not one
that would recall a nymph, unless it be "Sphinx."
The Hamadryas The reverence accorded to the Ha-
Keverenced in madryas by the ancient Egyptians
Ancient Egypt. nas been depicted by Dumichen.
In all Egyptian antiquities and remains, this Baboon
appears as chief of the Monkey tribe. Hieroglyphs
often represent Monkeys, but the adult male of the
Hamadryas is the only one that is shown sitting on
an altar, adored by men. In some pictures he is
shown as a judge of the good and bad actions of
mankind ; he is holding a pair of trembling scales
and attentively looking at them. The deity which
he represented occupies a very prominent place in
all the pictures. Probably the deification of the
Hamadryas had the same origin as that of the
Crocodile, namely — fear ; for even then there were
people who feared their god, rather than loved him.
It is remarkable that the Egyptians were not the
only ones to revere this Monkey. All the inhabit-
ants of the steppes of Central Africa, as well as a
great many Abyssinians, wear their hair combed and
parted like the Hamadryas, and if they did not take
the fashion from him, they did from statues of him.
The Hamadryas is no longer held in particular
esteem throughout those countries. The damage
he does is too great to allow of any friendship be-
tween him and Man. In P'gypt he is no longer
found in a wild state. I did not meet the Hama-
dryas wild on my first African tour, but later I fre-
quently saw him during my short stay in Abyssinia,
and can speak about him from personal experience.

Home and The Hamadryas inhabits the whole
Characteristics of coast of Abyssinia and of southern
the Hamadryas. Nubia. The greater the abundance
of plants in the mountains, the more he seems to
appreciate the locality. The vicinity of water is a
condition essential to the welfare of a troop of
these Baboons. Sometimes a few troops descend
from the higher mountains to the lower hills of
Samchara or the strip of desert on the coast, but
the great mass always stays in the high mountains.
Every troop has its own territory, one and one-half
to two miles in diameter. Small troops are more
rarely met with than large ones. Once only did
I see a troop of from fifteen to twenty ; at all other
times they were in flocks numbering at least one
hundred and fifty head, and among them were ten
to fifteen adult males (real monsters of large size
and possessing teeth superior to those of the Leop-
ard, both in point of strength and length I; double
this number were adult females. The remainder were
young and half-grown animals of both sexes. Old
males are distinguished by their huge size and a long,
cape-like mane. The hair of the mane of a middle-
aged male that I killed measured eleven inches.
The females have shorter hair and are of a darker
brown color. The young animals resemble the
mother. Every individual hair of the body is alter-
nately greenish brown and yellow in tint, a blend-
ing of colors resulting which is hard to describe,
but looks very much like dried grass. The sides of
the head and the hinder limbs are always lighter,
usually merging into ash-gray. The callosities are
flaming red and the face devoid of hair and of a
dirty flesh color. The older a male gets, the lighter
is his mane. In my opinion there are two species
of this Baboon ; the smaller kind, inhabiting Asia,
provided with a gray mane, and the larger, found
in Africa, whose mane remains a greenish blue gray,
even in old age. The length of the adult male is
about three feet, estimating the tufted tail to be
eight or ten inches.

In the early morning hours, or when it is raining,
one can find an entire troop in its sleeping places,
which, in fact, are only holes of a larger or smaller
size in inaccessible recesses of rocky walls. They
are huddled together, the younger and smaller ones
creeping close to their mothers and sometimes also
their fathers. In favorable weather the troop leaves
these rocks during the forenoon, and roams slowly
about pulling out plants, whose roots seem to form
their principal food, and rolling every stone from its
place, to get at the insects, Worms and Snails that
are hidden beneath, and that are esteemed special
dainties. As soon as breakfast is over, they all re-
turn to the crest of the mountain. The males then
sit on stones, grave and dignified, their backs turned
to the wind ; while the females look after the play-
ing and romping young ones. Late in the afternoon
the troop goes to the nearest river or lake to drink.
After this they look out for another meal, and then
retire to a suitable place for the night. If the lo-
cality is especially favorable, one can count on see-
ing the Baboons return to it every evening, if they
are not disturbed in any way. Fields of durra in
the vicinity of their abodes are counted as special
attractions by them, and have to be carefully guarded
if the owners expect a harvest ; else the impudent
robbers would go day after day, devastate a great
deal more than they could consume, and finally ruin
the entire field.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— BABOON.

47

Hamadryas When a troop of these Baboons are
Watching for sitting still, they all keep perfectly
Enemies. silent until something happens. The
approach of a Man or herd of cattle, when perceived
by one of them, is noted by a queer sound, which
may best be compared to the barking of certain
Dogs, and probably is uttered only with a view of
attracting the attention of the troop. At the dan-
gerously near approach of Man or of a beast of
prey, entirely different and varying sounds are made
by the members of the colony. The babel of voices
in an excited band of Hamadryas is most fitly com-
pared to the grunting and squeaking of a large
number of Pigs. There are also a few deep sounds,
reminding one of the roaring of a Leopard, or the
low grumble of an Ox. The Monkeysroar, growl,
bark, shriek, grunt and squeal in chorus. All the

see a Dog or a Leopard. Then the old males raise
their terrible roaring noise, beat the earth with one
fore-paw, show their teeth, and with flashing eyes
gaze down from the rock, ready to rush at the enemy.
Brehm's First The first troop I met was just rest-
Experience with ing from a morning's wanderings
Hamadryas. The Monkeys were sitting on the
crest of a mountain, the ascent to which was very
steep on both sides. I had seen the large forms
of the males at a great distance, but had thought
them to be pieces of rock, for these Monkeys, in
repose, present an impassive appearance. A re-
peated bark told me the truth. All the heads
turned to look at our party. Only the young ones
went on playing, and several females did not im-
mediately give up their occupation, which consisted
of carefully looking over the fur of one of the old
gentlemen. Probably
matters would not have
gone any farther, if we
, had not had two Dogs

-._ along, beautiful, slender
. greyhounds, accustomed
'.,.._• to hunt the Hyena and

..\, . -,-_ I the Wolf. They an-

swered the Monkey-cries
by a loud bark, and im-
mediately a commotion
ensued among the Bab-
oons. They seemed to
know of a better and
more secure abode, and
slowly filed along the
mountain-crest, till they
disappeared from view.
But at the next bending
of the valley we saw the
whole troop, all in a row,
hanging on to a seem-
ingly vertical wall of rock
in a manner which I have
been unable to solve to
this day. This scene
seemed too inviting to
be left undisturbed. The
pity that stirs the heart
of every one who hunts
small Monkeys because
of their human-like ap-
pearance did not trouble
us in the slightest, for
the Hamadryas look like

the same as the Mandrill, hut the vivid color- {,,,.;,-.,,,. K f f

Mandrill and its hair is greener, while underneath it is whiter and more silvery. IUHOUS DeaStS Ot prey.
k and the small beard is orange colored. It is a native of the coast of Unfortunately the rock

DRILL. The Drill has prominent

ing is lacking. It is smaller than the Mam

The whiskers which are heavy are brushed b;

Guinea and its habits are similar to those of the Mandrill which it so closely
tlvity in the United States as well as in Europe. (Cynocepkalus IcucofiAaeus.)

fighting males come to the edge of the rock and
attentively look down to acquaint themselves with
the danger ; the young ones seek the protection of
the older ones ; the little ones cling to their moth-
ers' breasts or jump on their backs, and then the
whole band gets in motion, and hurries along, run-
ning and hopping on all fours.

A native does not frighten the Hamadryas. He
goes past them and drinks out of the same river
with them, but a white Man arouses their suspicion,
though one cannot exactly say that they flee before
him. More, even, than other Monkeys these Bab-
oons have a confidence and hopefulness which never
despairs of finding a way of escape when danger is
most imminent. It is entirely different when they

It is sometimes seen in cap- was toQ high " f or Qur bu] .

lets to reach them, but
we determined to at least disturb them. The effect
of the first shot was indescribable. A deafening
roaring, howling, barking and shrieking immediately
followed ; then the entire line began to move, as
easily and securely as if the animals were on level
ground. We could not understand how they obtained
a foothold. But it would seem that a narrow edge
of stone is considered safe and comfortable travel-
ing ground by them. We fired about six shots in
all ; but we were unable to take good aim, because
our surprise at the situation had robbed us of our
equanimity.

Still our bullets were aimed well enough to in-
crease the excitement of the creatures to a demon-
stration of terror. It was extremely ludicrous to

48

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

see how, after every shot, the entire troop clung to
the rock as if they thought the report alone was
enough to precipitate them into the abyss. I believe
that none of them was hurt. Still it seemed that
fright had deprived them of their customary cool-
ness and presence of mind, and at the next bend of
the road we met the troop traversing the valley,
trying to gain the opposite heights. A number had
already succeeded in crossing, but the main portion
were yet behind. Our Dogs were first startled at
the spectacle, but then with a joyous bark rushed at
the enemy. The scene we now beheld was a rare
one. As soon as the Dogs made their attack all the
adult males hurried forward, formed a circle around
the Dogs, roared and showed their teeth, beat the
earth with their fore-paws, and regarded their ad-
versaries with such flashing, furious eyes, that the
horrified animals shrank back and tried to gain our
protection. We encouraged them to again proceed
against the enemy, but when we succeeded in reviv-

WANDEROO. This strange looking creature, which is very cunning and active, has soft and dull

eyes and a long, black muzzle, which peer out from a great ruff, and beard of gray or white color. The
body and tail are a deep black. The Wanderoo lives along the Malabar coast, and has been introduced
into Ceylon. It is easily domesticated, but does not long survive a residence in temperate climates. {Cyno-
cephalui silenus.)

ing their bravery, the aspect of things had changed,
for the greater part of the Baboons had gone. Only
a few of them were yet in the valley, and among
them a half-grown Hamadryas. With a shriek it
fled to the rock, and here our Dogs laid siege to it.
We flattered ourselves that we would be able to cap-
ture the animal, but it was not to be Proudly,
slowly and with much dignity, paying not the
slightest attention to us, one of the strongest males
made his appearance, and, casting looks at the
Dogs, the meaning of which these latter were at no
loss to understand, he ascended the rock, coaxed the
young one to him, and with it made his way back,
walking close to the Dogs, which were so dumb-
founded that they let him completely alone. The
courageous deed of the patriarch made such an im-
pression on us that we forbore to hinder his re-
treat, though we might easily have shot him.

Tenacity, Boldness On other hunts I made a closer

and Fierceness of acquaintance of the Hamadryas,
Hamadryas. anc j l earnec j f the wonderful te-
nacity with which they cling to life. If in shoot-

ing our bullets failed to take effect in the head or
in the heart, they were always lost to us, for how-
ever badly wounded they were still strong enough
to escape. Small shot had no effect at all ; they
would simply rub the wounded place with their
hands and proceed on their way.

Since I have seen the animals in the wild state, I
do not think it at all improbable that they would, in
case of danger, attack a Man, unprovided with fire-
arms, as the Arabs and Abyssinians, and several good
observers, notably Ruppell and bchimper tell us. No
experience of my own goes to prove this fact, but
we have seen that even from well-armed people the
Hamadryas beat a by no means hasty retreat, and
which is accomplished under a very formidable
showing of teeth and a loud roaring. Schimper told
me that the Hamadryas not only attacked but easily
killed Man, and that old males were known, with-
out any provocation, to have killed young women
gathering wood. Ruppell also says that this hideous
looking Monkey must be
counted among the most dan-
gerous enemies of mankind.
The Gelada, In the immediate
Giant of the neighborhood of
Baboon Family. t h e Hamadryas,
we find the Gelada of the Abys-
sinians, (Cy?wcephalus gelada),
the giant of the Baboon family,
though his discoverer, Ruppell,
denies his great size. Schimper,
who lived in Abyssinia for over
thirty years, and also Heuglin,
both agree in telling us that the
Gelada sometimes reached a
man's height. He is easily dis-
tinguished from the Hamadryas
at the first glance. The rich fur,
longest on the neck and back,
forms a cape and is of a black-
brown color, the hair in the face
and on the throat being of the
same hue ; while the mane and
the long tuft of the tail are
yellowish-brown. There are two
triangular places, devoid of hair,
on the neck and chin, their
points touching thus present
the form of an hour-glass;
they are framed in gray and white hair. Unlike the
Hamadryas the Gelada's callosities are very small,
completely separated and of grayish-black hue.

MANDRILLS AND DRILLS.

Not without cause the most monstrous of all
Baboons is separated from the others, for he differs
considerably from them. The body has a similar
structure, but the head is disproportionately large ;
the small eyes are placed close together, and are
surmounted by projecting ridges ; on both sides of
the nose is a large, prominent, furrowed, and as it
were swollen projection. The limbs are powerful,
the tail a short stub, standing upright ; the callosi-
ties cover the entire buttocks. The fur is peculiar,
and the chin is provided, at least in one species,
with a pointed, vividly colored beard. Both the
Baboons hereafter to be described, are natives of
western Africa, and have frequently been brought
over living to Europe and taken to America during
the last three hundred years.

THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS— MANDRILL AND DRILL.

49

The Mandrill, With the right that we call the Gue-
Ugliest of the rez a the most beautiful of Monkeys
Monkey Tribe. we may a j so call the Mandrill ( Cvno-
eephalus mormon) the ugliest. In mature age he is
a hideous beast in every respect, and his moral
nature completely harmonizes with his physical
characteristics. The body is very strong, bordering
on clumsiness, the head is horrid, the teeth are for-
midable, the fur is rough, the color of the hairless
spots vivid and repulsive. Every hair is black and
olive green, giving the fur on the upper part of the
body the appearance of a dark brown tinge, washed
over with green ; on the breast the hair is yellowish,
lower down whitish, on the sides light brown ; the
beard is of a lemon yellow ; the hands and ears are

They arc said to live in troops in the mountain for-
ests, partly on rocks, partly in trees, and to often
visit and devastate adjoining fields of grain. They
are also said to enter the villages in the absence of
the Men, and ill-treat the Women and Children.
The natives fear the Mandrill more than the Lion,
never enter into a fight with him, and shun the
woods where this Monkey lives, except when a large
and well-armed number of them engage in a regular
crusade against him.

Fierceness and A young Mandrill is a lovely

Ill-nature of the little creature ; in the common

Mandrill. Monkey cage he is the comedian,

always ready for merry pranks, always in good

humor, and in spite of his unlimited impudence by

RED HOWLERS. Like the other members o( this numerous family these Monkeys possess extraordinary voices, the great traveler

Waterton saying of them, " Nothing can sound more dreadful than their nocturnal noises. You would suppose that one-half the wild beasts
ot the forest were collecting for a work of carnage." This animal inhabits the tallest trees. The artist has faithfully portrayed these
interesting creatures in the very act of sending forth their discordant yells, in which they excel the noisiest of the Gibbons. The Red Howler
like its Black cousin, is rather sluggish for a Monkey. See page 52. (Mycctes scnicul-us.)

black, the nose and the immediate surroundings ver- no means repulsive. But all this changes very early,

mihon, the swellings on both its sides a bright blue, much earlier than with the other Baboons, and in a

while the furrows in them are black. The callosities very few years the Mandrill reveals all the repul-

are blue and red. The usual height attained by siveness of his hideous nature. An English author

■males is a little over three feet. says that the anger of other Monkeys compared to

The Drill, Similar to His cousin, the Drill (Cynoccplia- the rage of the Mandrills is but as a zephyr to a tor-

but Smaller than /ns latcophaeus), is a trifle smaller,
the Mandrill. his fur is brQwn abovCi whitish

nado carrying everything before it. 'His passions
know no bounds. He rushes at his enemy, like one

below, the beard dull white, the face black, the possessed, his eyes reflecting a demoniacal rage,

hands and feet are a copper brown. One thought has hold of his brain : to tear his oppo-

It is' astonishing that we do not know anything nent to pieces, and he heeds neither whip nor knife,

about the life in the wild state of these two Monk- His mode of attack strikes one not as courageous,

eys, specimens of which have so often been cap- but as insane. No animal is more dangerous to a

tured. Both species are natives of Upper Guinea, keeper than an angry Mandrill. Lions and Tigers

50

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

are as Lambs compared to him, for they have com-
mon sense and adapt themselves to circumstances.
The Hamadryas and other Baboons are but timid
beginners in wrath, as measured by this ugly brute.

Doings of Pechuel-Loesche writes about the Man-
Three Captive drills that he observed for years in

Mandrills. Chinchocho: "We kept three Mandrills
in our yard, tied with ropes to the poles supporting
their house ; they did not attempt to escape, pro-
vided they had sufficient exercise. They were true
Baboons — cunning, ill-mannered, full of mischief, and
well aware that they amused us by their pranks.
Yet the character of the three was different. Pavy,
a male, was amiable, affectionate and wheedling.
Jack, a weak female, was a perfect humorist, and
played with everybody but ladies, whom she hated.
She was not very affectionate. Isabella was a very
strong female, and she was presented to us because
her wickedness made her unbearable at the trading
post where she formerly lived. She furiously
attacked people of every size, color and sex. It
took us a long time, and required a great deal of
kind treatment to persuade her that at least we
Europeans were not her enemies. Her character
was utterly spoiled. She accepted everything that
pleased her, but was grateful for nothing.

" Pavy and Jack were like good watch-Dogs.
They used to sit on the roofs of their high houses,
scan the neighborhood, and apprise us of approach-
ing visitors or of any extraordinary occurrence. On
our walks we always tried to collect special dainties
for our animal pets, such as fruit, sweet plants,
leaves, Beetles or Grasshoppers. These two Man-
drills, therefore, always watched for us, and greeted
our return by crowing and executing the most daring
jumps. When we called out to them they tried to
surpass themselves. At the same time a Black-
Monkey would begin his peculiar sermon, and then
all the other animals would raise their voices, includ-
ing a Chimpanzee, whose vocal organs are so dis-

agreeable to the ear. Sometimes the din greeting us
was positively deafening.
Fondness of "It was new to me that Baboons se-
Mandrills lected inanimate objects for toys and
for Toys. took them to bed as children will take
their dolls. Isabella put great value on a little tin
can, and Pavy on a little piece of wood, that he
would play 'toss' and 'catch' with. Once it flew
beyond his reach and Jack caught it. Immediately
a fierce enmity sprang up between the two ; but
as the length of their ropes did not allow of a fight,
they had to content themselves with chiding each
other and making fearful faces. I returned the
piece of wood to Pavy but the animosity contin-
ued. Jack had been seized with a passion for my
insulated thermometer, and whenever she was let
loose, tried to steal it. She evidently liked the lus-
tre of the glass. She was so careful of it, however,
that she did not break it, even when she had suc-
ceeded in taking it along with her on a walk over
roofs and trees, and we had to coax her to give it
back."

The Wanderoo, Another Monkey that is sometimes
a Handsome counted among the Macaques is the
Monkey. beautiful Wanderoo or Nilbhandar
{Cynocephalus silenus). It has a slim body, a rich
beard, enveloping the whole face, and a tufted tail
of moderate size. The fur on the upper part of
the body is of a lustrous black color ; it is brown-
ish-gray on the under part of the body, and the
mane is white. The good-natured eyes are brown.
This Monkey does not exceed three feet in length.
An erroneous opinion as to the native country
of this Monkey has prevailed until lately, Ceylon
having been considered as its home. According
to the latest investigations the animal is a native
of Malabar, and is found in troops of from fifteen
to twenty, exclusively in the high forests, ranging
from the 14th degree of northern latitude to Cape
Comorin.

Hmerican or Btoab*1Ro8Cb flDonhe\>s.

SECOND FAMILY: Platvrrhini.

The difference between the products of the
tropics of the Old World and those of South Amer-
ica is, as a rule, marked and striking. Everything
in South America combines to produce the impres-
sion of fairyland ; the rich variety of nature charms
us and makes us forget the attractive features of the
other half of the globe.

General View This impression of contrast is felt,
of American to a certain degree, when compari-
Monkeys. son j s mac i e between the Monkeys
of the Old and New Worlds. The American or
Broad-nosed Monkeys (Platyrrhim) are peculiar
animals, but they are not beautiful ; at least, not the
majority of them. They are duller and more indo-
lent than the Old World Monkeys, and also much
more harmless and good-natured ; which means that
they are not really Monkeys. We are too much

accustomed to look for a merry, mischievous dispo-
sition in a Monkey, and to think of Monkey nature
as bold, impudent and good-for-nothing.

The structure of body, limbs and teeth in the
American Monkeys differs from that of their Eastern
cousins. Their body and limbs are as a rule slim.
The tail is never lacking, and in only a few rare in-
stances stunted ; generally it is used as a fifth hand,
as the end may be rolled up by a few strong muscles
and it may therefore be used for grasping and hold-
ing. The thumb in the hands cannot be opposed to
the fingers to the same degree as in the feet. In-
stead of thirty-two teeth, there are thirty-six, each
side being furnished with six molars. Cheek-
pouches and callosities are never found. The
partition between the nostrils is broad. No single
member of this family attains a large Monkey-size

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS.

51

and none of them has a projecting muzzle. Their
coloring is manifold, but never so bright and vivid
as that of some of the Old World Monkeys.

Where Monkeys Their native country is South Amer-
Live in ica, Central America and Mexico.

America. To the north they are bounded by
about the twenty-ninth degree of north latitude (as
far north as Chihuahua, in Mexico), to the west by
the Cordilleras, Sierra Madre and Andes Mount-
ains, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the
south by the twenty-eighth degree of south latitude
(line of Catamaica, in the Argentine Republic).

All the Broad-nosed Monkeys are essentially tree-
climbers, and the virgin forests are therefore mainly
their home. Marshy regions are preferred by them
to dry localities. They leave the trees only in case
of necessity, for they do
not even drink like other
animals ; they climb to the
water on boughs and
branches overhanging it
and drink without leaving
them. It is quite possi-
ble that some of these
Monkeys travel distances
of hundreds of miles,
without touching the
ground. The trees supply
them with everything they
need to eat, their food
being mainly vegetable,
though they also eat in-
sects, Spiders, eggs, young
birds and honey. Few of
them are guilty of devas-
tating plantations.

Most species are active
in the daytime, some come
out in the gloaming, and
some are awake only in the
night. They are lively and
active, with the exception
of several exceedingly lazy
species, representing, as it
were, the American coun-
terparts of the Orang-utans
of the Old World.

Great Value They are all
of the excellent
Monkey's Tail, climbers and
know how to make very
good use of their tails.
This tail is an indispensa-
ble all-in-all to some of
them, their clumsiness be-
ing such that they would

be helpless without its useful aid. In nearly every
posture, even in deepest slumber, the Monkey twines
his tail round something, even though it be only one
of his own limbs. The muscular power of the tail
exceeds that of the limbs, and the discriminating
sense of touch with which the tail-end is endowed,
enables them to put this remarkable gift of nature
to the most varied uses and often serves them as a
substitute for the greater quickness of mind and
body possessed by their trans-Atlantic cousins.
Yet the real tree-climbing Monkeys of the Old
World are decidedly their superiors in climbing and
jumping abilities. The walk of the American Monk-
eys is always clumsy and tottering and is performed
on all fours.

The maternal instinct in the females of these spe-
cies is as sublime as that of the Old World Monk-
eys. They have one and sometimes two young ones
at a birth, and love, pet and protect their children
with a solicitude and tenderness which cannot fail to
win for them our admiration.

American The American Monkeys do very little,
Monkeys Harm- if any, damage to Man. And the vast,

less to Man. productive forests that form their home
provide for them so generously that they stand in
no need of help from him. A few of the American
species sometimes make raids on plantations, but
the little they eat and spoil is remarkably small in
proportion to the robberies of the Old World Monk-
eys. They are hunted for their flesh and their fur.
Many a traveler has had to subsist on Monkey

BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS. Found in Guatemala and have prehensile tails but no cheek-pouches or

callosities, as the Old World Monkeys. The Black Howlers are one of ten species, which extend from Guatemala to.
Paraguay, and this species is found in the mountains as high as six thousand feet. Like all of the Howlers it has
an unearthly yell, which can be heard at a distance of two miles, the great sounds being increased by a peculiar for-
mation of the hyoid bone of the throat. They are the largest of the New World Monkeys, and the Indians are very
fond of their meat. {Mycetes nigcr.)

roasts for weeks at a time, and did not find them
bad fare. To the natives the Monkey is a very im-
portant animal, for its meat forms a great part of
their food. They use bows and arrows on their
Monkey hunts, usually steeping the arrow-heads in
very strong poison. When a Monkey has been shot
by them and feels that he is wounded he tries to
pull the arrow out, but as the cunning natives take
the precaution to cut the arrow-stem half-way
through, before using it, the head usually breaks off
in the wound.
How Indians The Indians also use bows and arrows
Capture and to hunt Monkeys that they wish to
Tame Monkeys. k eep cap tive. Schomburgk tells us
that the Arekunas, when they wish to tame an old,

52

THE APES ,1X1) MONKEYS.

sulky
poison

Monkey, steep the arrow in weak Urari
When he falls down unconscious from the

agerie in the United States. There are some very
fine specimens in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and in
Central Park, New York City. The Capuchins are
the species most frequently seen in the European
animal markets ; the Spider Monkeys are rarer, and
the Saimaris one hardly ever meets. Very few liv-
ing Howlers have been brought to Europe.

The Broad-nosed or American Monkeys are di-
vided into two groups : those whose tails are pre-
hensile, the Cebid;e, and those whose tails are not
prehensile, the Pithecidas.

THE HOWLERS.

Chief among the Cebidae is the Howler (Mycetes).
The head of this animal is high and of pyramidal
shape and the muzzle projects forward. The thumbs
are thin. The chin is adorned with a beard. A re-
markable peculiarity of the Howlers is their hyoid
bone, or the bone in the neck from which the mus-
cles of the tongue arise. Alexander von Humboldt
was the first naturalist to dissect the Howler, and he
says :
Where Howlers "The other American Monkeys,
get their whose voice is piping like a Spar-

Strong Voice, row's, have a plain, thin hyoid bone ;
but in this species the tongue rests on an extensive
bony drum. Their upper larynx has six pockets
which reflect the voice ; two of these pockets are
shaped like a pigeon's nest and resemble a bird's
larynx. The plaintive sound peculiar to the Howlers
is produced by the air forcibly streaming into the
bony drum. If one considers the size of this drum,
he is no longer astonished at the strength of the

MIRIKI SPIDER MONKEY. It is only in South America that

Monkeys are found whose tails are prehensile, or capable of grasping the
objects about which they coil. The Spider Monkeys are especially gifted in
this way. a particularly interesting family of these being the Miriki. They
live in Southeastern Brazil, have fur of a woolly texture, rising to a tuft on
the end and a beard surrounds the face. They have very long tails, and
of their ways of using them is well brought to view by the Monkey in
background of this picture. (Atcks hyp,

effect of the poison they suck
bury him up to the neck,
and make him swallow
some earth containing salt-
petre or some juice of the
sugar-cane. When the
Monkey which has been
sickened by this treatment
begins to regain conscious-
ness, they dig him out and
swathe him in bandages
In these bandages he is
kept for several days, and
the only beverage he re-
ceives is sugar-cane juice,
while all his food is sea-
soned with saltpeter and
plenty of red pepper. If
this treatment does not
tame him, he is smoked
for some time — "like a
ham." Soon his rage be-
gins to abate, his counte-
nance becomes placid and
he is given milder treat-
ment. The bandages are
taken away and after such
a cure the most aggressive
Monkey forgets that he
ever lived wild in a forest.

Few American Monkeys are taken to Europe
although they may be seen in any museum or men-

COAITA SPIDER MONKEY. The artist has caught two Coaitas in attitudes that tell more strongly

than words how the family came to get the name of Spiders ; for how nearly like large Spiders do they look as they
hang with extended limbs from the tree-branch. The Coaita, which is found in Surinam and Brazil, is large for
its group, although exceedingly slender. (Ateles paniscus. i

voices of these animals, which have earned for the
a perfect right to the name of Howlers.

ID

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— HOWLER.

53

Where the

Howler is

Found.

The tail of the Howler is very long ; its end is
! bare on the under side, abundantly supplied with
nerves and blood vessels of very strong muscular
power, and therefore perfectly adapted to prehen-
sile use.

The Howlers are widely spread over
all parts of South America. Thick,
damp, virgin forests are their preferred
haunts ; they are only found in the prairies where,
in close proximity to water, isolated groups of trees
have in course of time developed into small woods.
They shun dry parts of the country, but do not
.avoid the cooler regions if food and water are plen-
tiful.

The Aluate or Red Howler (Mycctcs seniadus),
has a fur of auburn color, merging into golden yel-
low on the back ; the hair is short and somewhat
stiff. The average length .,
of the male Red Howler
is about four feet two
inches, counting the tail
as from twenty-five to
thirty inches. The female
is smaller and darker.
This family of Monkeys
is found in nearly all the
eastern portion of South
America.

The Caraya or Black
Howler {Mycetes niger),
has much longer hair, of
a uniform black color,
reddish on the sides, and
the under part of the body
assuming a yellowish
tinge, in the female. Its
extreme length is four
feet, one-half of which
belongs to the tail. It
inhabits Paraguay.

Travelers' The Howler
Accounts of Monkey is an

Howlers. animal that,
since the earliest histor-
ical time, has been par-
tially known to travelers,
and many fictions have
been circulated concern-
ing its habits and charac-
teristics. Some of these
are to this day believed
by the unobserving whites
and the Indians resident
in the country inhabited
by this creature; but we
pay no attention to these
doubtful stories, and recount only what is proven.

Schomburgk says : " For some time after my
arrival I had, at sunset and sunrise, heard the fear-
ful howling of the Monkeys in the neighboring vir-
gin forest, but had never succeeded in seeing them
'on my walks. One morning I set out after breakfast,
provided with my gun, and a dismal howl just then
resounding made me eager to kill some of these noisy
disturbers. I hurried on through thick and thin,
and after prolonged efforts succeeded in approaching
a whole troop, unperceived. There they were, right
before me, in a high tree, and the concert they gave
might have led people to believe that all the animals
in the forest were engaged in deadly combat. Yet
I cannot deny that there was some kind of harmony

in the uproar, for sometimes the whole troop would
pause, and then one of the singers would begin, and
the dreadful howling would start afresh. The bony
drum on the hyoid bone, which gives their voices
such exceeding strength, could be seen moving up
and down. For a few moments the sounds would
resemble the grunting of a Pig ; the next instant
they would simulate the roar of the Jaguar rushing
upon his prey, and then again came sounds like the
deep and terrible snarl of the same animal, when,
besieged from all sides, it recognizes its dangerous
position. The dismal troop also had its ludicrous
features, and the most confirmed misanthrope would
have smiled if he had seen the grave and serious
faces of the long-bearded vocalists. I had been told
that every band had its leader, which differed from
all the deep basso voices, not only in his shrill tenor

CHAMECK SPIDER MONKEY. Belongs to th.

sponding to the Colobus of Africa, but the Chameck ha;
single joint, without a nail. It is found in great numbers ii
being a deep brown. (Atcles pcntadactylus.)

large family of Spider or Thumbless Monkeys, corre-
the thumb slightly projecting, consisting of but a
Brazil, and is nearly black in color, the face and ears

but also because of his slim figure. I can corrobo-
rate the first statement, but for a slim, graceful figure
I looked in vain. On an adjoining tree I saw two
silent Monkeys, which I took to be sentinels ; but
they certainly were bad ones, for I stood in the im-
mediate neighborhood unobserved."

This description shows us sufficiently that the
Howlers are highly peculiar animals. One can say
without exaggeration that their whole life is a chain
of peculiarities and richly repays observation ; on
the other hand it must be acknowledged that the
Indians are pardonable in regarding the Howlers as
melancholy and uninteresting, and as deserving of
contempt. It is not even difficult to account for the
calumnies that have been uttered against them when

54

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

one realizes that the poor animals, neither in the

wild state nor in captivity, show any graceful feature

or anything to enliven the monotony of their lives.

General During the day the highest trees in the

Traits of forests are the favorite haunts of the

Howlers. Howlers ; in the gloaming they retire

to the lower trees, whose foliage is made thicker by

creepers, and here they sleep. Slowly they climb

from branch to branch, selecting leaves and buds,

W- . ■

others ; and so loud were the cries that one was
nearly deafened by them. The noise could be heard
at a distance of two miles. The roaring of the
Tigers which so terrified Pichegru and his friends
on their flight from Cayenne to Surinam, probably
was nothing but a concert given by Howlers, for
the uproar they make may well frighten any one
who hears it for the first time and does not know
that it is created by these harmless Monkeys.
Why these animals should howl so I really do not
know. In Guiana it is believed that they howl
only at the rise of the tide ; but this is not correct,
as they will sometimes howl at any hour of the
da}-. The Howler is lazy and melancholy ; he
jumps only when pursued ; ordinarily he deliber-
ately climbs about, always holding fast to some
object with his tail. Captured young, he becomes
tame and plays with Cats and Dogs, but is usually
sad. If a person he has taken a fancy to leaves
him, his cries become a nuisance. Howlers emit
a peculiar, ill-smelling odor, by which one
traveling through the forests they inhabit
can easily detect their proximity. The
females never give birth to more than one
young one at a time. Their chief enemy
is the Eagle.

When Howlers are shot at
they make their escape as
quickly as possible. It is
an amusing sight when, in its fright, a half-
grown young one jumps on the back of an
old male in order to escape with greater
celerity, but is brought down by a sharp
dox on his ears, and thus taught that the
service he covets does not belong to the
duties of a father of a family.

In a great part of Paraguay the Howl-
ers are hunted by the Indians ; their fur is
popular and their meat is a favorite food
with the natives.

Howlers Howlers are seldom tamed,
in and their domestication is

Captivity, very difficult. Rengger saw
only two in captivity that were over a year
old. They were fed leaves and preferred
them to any other kind of food. They
seemed very dull animals, paid no more

How the
Howler Acts
When Hunted.

al, with its project-

GOLD-FACED MONKEY. This is a singular appearit

jng crest of hair.its long-haired tail and strikingly marked coloring. It has a wide range in attention to their keeper than to anvbody

south America and its home is deep in the forests. In the trees it is swift in its movements, _i__ j _ „ 1 j „ *. u_ . _i l. j _

constantly using its prehensile tail in traveling. (Aides barttettii.)

slowly they pluck them and slowly they eat. When
they are satisfied, they crouch down on a bough, and
sit there without moving, looking very much like
old Men asleep ; or they stretch themselves at full
length on a bough, let their limbs hang down rigidly
from both sides and only hold on to the tree with
their tails. What one does, the other slowly and
unconsciously does, also.

Kappler's Account Kappler, in speaking of the Red
of the Howlers in Guiana, says: "The}' live

Red Howler. \ n sm all troops, composed of about
ten individuals, always comprising one old male,
who occupies a higher seat in the trees and conducts
the concerts. Whenever I had the opportunity of
observing the Howlers closely, an old male was sit-
ting high up in the tree, holding himself on the tree
with his fore-paws and tail, while other males, fe-
males and young ones, were grouped lower down in
different positions. The old male would begin with
a "Rochu," repeated five or six times and running
into a roar, which would be taken up by all the

else, and could not be taught to do any-
thing. Wied relates of other tame Howl-
ers, that they became so attached to their owner
that they always cried when he left them but for a
moment. Yet their laziness, sadness and disagree-
able voice made them repulsive, even to him.

THE SPIDER MONKEYS.

An exceedingly slim body and long, thin, sprawl-
ing limbs distinguish the Spider Monkeys (Atclcs).
The naturalist who first called them by this title found
a most appropriate name, and one which naturally
comes to every one who sees them. The head of
the Spider Monkey is small, the face beardless and
the thumb on the fore-paw lacking or rudimentary.

They are natives of South America, ranging to

the twenty-fifth degree of southern latitude ( as far

south as Ascencion). They live only on the higher

branches of the tallest trees.

Spider Monkeys The lives of the different species of

in Their Spider Monkeys seem to be very

Natiue Forests, similar, and exceedingly monoto-
nous. Tschudi, agreeing with many other observers,

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— SPIDER.

says : " They live in troops of ten or twelve ; some-
times they are found in couples, and not infrequently
singly. The presence of troops of these Monkeys
is easily detected by the noise they make in bending
branches when they are climbing. When one of
them is wounded he gives a loud yell and tries to
escape. When mothers are shot the very young
ones do not leave them, but remain with them even
after they are quite dead and stiff, persistently cling-
ing to and petting the lifeless bodies. Spider Monk-
eys are easily tamed, are good-natured and affec-
tionate, but do not bear captivity well. They are
subject to skin diseases and diarrhea, and when sick
are extremely miserable." The different species are
very similar to each other.
Various Kinds There are two species which
of Spider are found quite frequently
Monkeys. ; n Guiana; the Coaita {Ateles
pamscus), and the Marimonda or Aru
{Ateles belzebutk). The first named is one
of the largest of his tribe ; his length is
four feet, two inches, the tail taking more
than half of this length ; and his shoulder
height is about seventeen inches. The fur
is harsh, longest on the sides, and forms
a crest on the forehead, and is of a deep
black. Only the face shows a reddish
tinge. Bright brown eyes give the good-
natured face a sympathetic look.

The only representative of the Spider
Monkeys in Quito, Panama and Peru is
the Chameck {Ateles pentadaetylus). His
fur is long and deep black in color and
his thumb rudimental.

The Miriki {Ateles hypoxanthus) , best
described by Max, prince of Wied, inhab-
its Brazil. He is about four feet, four
inches long, with a strong body, a small
head, long limbs and thick, nearly woolly
fur. As a rule the fur is of a dull yellow
color, the inner sides of the limbs being
lighter. The face, devoid of fur, is brown
in youth and dark gray in old age. The
thumb on the fore-paw consists of a short
stub, devoid of nail.

The best-looking of all Spider Monkeys
probably is the Gold-faced Monkey, which
was discovered in Eastern Peru by Bart-
lett, Jr., and called Ateles Bartlettii in his
honor. The long, soft, thick fur is deep
black on the upper and outer parts of the
body; the hands and the parts of the face
that are not covered with hair are brown-
black. The forehead shows a band of
golden yellow, the whiskers are whitish
and the lower part of the body and the
inner side of the limbs are brownish yel-
low. The size of this magnificent creat-
ure is about the same as that of the other
Monkeys of this tribe.

Life of the The life of the Spider

Spider Monkeys Monkevs has been de-
Described. scribed' by Humboldt,
Prince Max von Wied and Schomburgk.
In Guiana they are found only in the depth of the for-
ests and never at a greater elevation than 1,600 feet ;
and they shun cc4d forests on the heights. As a
rule they are found in troops of six, more rarely in
couples or singly, and still more seldom in greater
numbers. Each of these troops quietly goes on its
way without heeding other harmless creatures. In

comparison with the miserable hobbling of the
Howlers their movements may be called quick.
The considerable length of the limbs is conducive
to agility in climbing and jumping. Their arms are
so long and, therefore, admit of such rapid progres-
sion, that the hunter must move quickly if he wants
to keep up with them. They are quite agile when in
the tree-tops. They climb well and at times take
small leaps, but in every movement they throw their
long limbs about in the queerest sort of manner.
The tail is usually sent out first, to feel for a place of
support, before the Monkey decides to leave the
branch upon which he is sitting. Sometimes one
finds whole troops hanging to branches by their tails

HUMBOLDT'S LAGOTHRIX MONKEY. Was discovered by Humboldt up the

river Orinoco. It has fur like a hare, hence its name of Lagothrix, and its face is remark-
ably like that of a Negro. It has no howling apparatus, but has a long, prehensile tail. The
Lagothrix inhabits the dense forests, feeding on fruits and buds, chiefly, and lives in
troops. {Lagothrix kumbqldtii.)

only and forming the most striking groups. Not
infrequently the whole family lazily lies on boughs,
basking in the sun, with their hands on their backs
and their eyes turned upwards. On the ground they
hobble along so very heavily that it makes one feel
quite nervous to look at them. The long tail, which
they move despairingly to and fro in the endeavor

56

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

to balance themselves, increases the ungainliness of
their movements. European observers have never
seen Spider Monkeys on the ground, and Prince
Wied says that when in good health they never
come to the ground, except when they cannot get to
the water on low branches. They are hunted very
much, for the Portuguese utilize their fur and the
Indians prefer their meat to that of any other game.
These animals are seldom seen in captivity. One
cannot help liking them, for they show neither mis-
chievousness nor malice, and their anger, though
quickly aroused, is soon spent. They are amusing
on account of their queer attitudes and contortions.
They are very susceptible to kind treatment and
acknowledge it by caresses.

THE CAPUCHINS.

The Capuchins {Ccbits) differ from the American
Monkeys described in the preceding pages in hav-
ing a tail which is completely covered with hair,
and is not capable of grasping anything, or, strictly
speaking, is not prehensile, although it may be curled
around a branch.

While the Monkey tribes we have just considered
are rarely met with in the zoological gardens in
Europe, a Capuchin is found in nearly every one of
them. The arms of these creatures are of moderate
size and the hands are always provided with five fin-
gers. A more or less developed beard adorns the
face and the fur is short and thick.

Capuchins the The Capuchins are sometimes
Liveliest of called the Guenons of America.
American Monkeys. They much resemble those merry
creatures, though more in their behavior than their
physical characteristics. They are real Monkeys,
that is, they are lively, docile, mischievous, curious
and capricious animals. This is why they are so
much more frequently kept as pets, and tamed ones
so often taken to Europe. They also bear the
name of Weeper Monkeys, and are indebted for it
to their gentle, whining voice. Yet this voice is
only heard when they are in good humor. The
slightest excitement makes them utter abominable
shrieks. They live exclusively in trees and are
completely at home there. They inhabit all the
larger forest regions of the southern portions of
South America in rather numerous troops, often
mingling with kindred tribes.

In captivity the Capuchins show all the qualities
of the Guenons, besides several peculiar to them-
selves only. Notwithstanding their uncleanliness,
extraordinary even among Monkeys, they are great
favorites with the Indians and are frequently tamed
by them. Like the Baboons, they are fond of nar-
cotics and spirits. Schomburgk says that when one
blows tobacco-smoke into a Capuchin's face, he
rapturously closes his eyes and rubs his whole body
with satisfaction. Tea, coffee, whisky and other
stimulating drinks produce a similar effect on him.
The Cai, The best known of all the Capuchins
Its Home probably is the Cai or Sai (Cebus
and Habits, capucinus). Cai, in the language of
the natives, means " dweller of the woods." The
Cai belongs to the largest kinds of Capuchins and
attains a length of twenty inches. In earliest youth
he is distinguished by a wrinkled, flesh-colored fore-
head, devoid of hair. His coloring is a dark or light
brown ; the hairy temples, the whiskers, throat and
breast, and the upper limbs are light brown. He is
a native of Southern Brazil, and is widely spread
from Bahia to Colombia. He prefers forests with-

out underbrush, and spends the greater part of his
life on trees, coming to the ground only to drink or
to visit maize-fields. He has no permanent home.
In the day-time he roams from tree to tree, at night
he sleeps on an embranchment. Usually he is found
in families of from five to ten, the females outnum-
bering the males. A solitary old male is sometimes
met with. It is very difficult to study this animal in
its wild state, as it is very shy. Rengger says that
he was only able to observe them a few times by
chance. Once his attention was aroused by a few
agreeable, flute-like sounds. He looked up and saw,
approaching him, an old male, followed by twelve or
thirteen other Monkeys of both sexes. Three of the
females were carrying young ones, either on their
backs or under their arms. One of the Monkeys
suddenly caught sight of an orange tree, bearing ripe
fruit, and quickly uttered a few peculiar sounds. In
a few moments the entire troop was gathered around
the tree, plucking and eating so rapidly that the tree
was soon bare of fruit. Then the stronger Monkeys
tried to rob the weaker ones of their share of the
booty, vigorously pulling their hair, the assailants
making wry faces and showing their teeth in a spite-
ful way during the contention. Several of the party
busily searched a dead part of the tree, breaking off
the bark and eating the insects hidden beneath it.
When they had had enough to eat they laid down on
a horizontal branch, in the position assumed by the
Howlers, as described on a preceding page, and
rested. The young ones played around, and showed
themselves quite agile. They swung back and forth
by their tails and climbed up on them as on ropes.

The young Cai is often caught and tamed. When
older it cannot get used to captivity, but becomes
mopish, refuses food, and usually dies in a few weeks.
On the other hand, while quite young it will soon
forget its freedom, become attached to people, and
like many other Monkeys will partake of their food
and drink. Of the senses of this animal, that of
feeling is most acute; the others are dull. It is
shortsighted and cannot see at all by night. It does
not hear well, and for this reason can be easily sur-
prised. The sense of smell is still more defective,
and often deludes it into attempting to cat what
its taste tells it is not fit for food.

Expressive The cry of the Cai changes according

Cries of the to its emotions. Most frequently it ut-
Cai - tcrs a flute-like sound, which seems to

denote weariness. If it desires anything it groans ;
wonder and embarrassment are expressed by a half-
whistling note ; when angry it cries in a deep, rough
voice: " hee ! hee!" When in fear or in pain it
shrieks ; when pleased it giggles.

It not infrequently happens that Capuchins give
birth to young ones in captivity, and then their care
of them seems still more tender than when in the
wild state. The mother plays with her child all day-
allows nobody to touch it, shows it only to people
of whom she is fond, and courageously defends it
from everybody else.

The Cai is very sensitive to cold and damp and
will never go into the water of its own accord. In
captivity it is subject to many diseases, especially
colds in the head and coughs, and it often suffers
from consumption. According to Rengger, it attains
the age of about fifteen years in the wild state.

The Cai The intelligence of the Cai is worthy of

easily notice. From the very first few days

Domesticated. f j ts captivity it learns to know its

master and keeper, looks to him for food, warmth,

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— CAPUCHIN.

57

protection and help and places implicit trust in him.
It is pleased when the keeper plays with it, forgives
him for teasing it, and when it has not seen him
for a while, shows great pleasure at his return.
It gets to be so devoted to its keeper that it en-
tirely forgets its past freedom and becomes almost
wholly a domestic animal. It not only becomes
attached to people, but also to the domestic animals
with, which it is brought up. It is no uncommon
thing in Paraguay to rear the Cai in companionship
with a Dog, which it utilizes as a Horse. When
they are separated, it screams ; at the reappearance
of the Dog it overwhelms it with caresses. Its love
is so great that it is even capable of self-sacrifice,
for if its Dog friend becomes engaged in a fight the
Cai helps it with great zeal.

The Cai is entirely different when it is ill-treated.
When it thinks itself strong enough, it opposes force

even tries to make others give in to it, either by
caresses or by threats. This retards its learning
very much, for it acquires only so much as it deems
profitable to itself, such as opening boxes, searching
its master's pockets, etc.

The Apella The Apella or Brown Capuchin ( Ccbits
or Brown apella) is a native of Guiana. Its col-
Capuchin. oring varies so much that it is hard to
describe. The fur is glossy and some hairs stand
straight up over the forehead and on both sides of
the head, so as to form a crest. The face and
throat are lighter than the body, while the back, tail
and legs merge into black. The size of this Monkey
is about the same as that of the Cai.

Schomburgk describes the life of the Apella in the
wild state at greater length than other naturalists.

" Closely concealed behind a tree," he relates,
" we awaited the troop of Monkeys. A vanguard

CAI WEEPER 'CAPUCHIN' MONKEYS. The artist presents a family of Cai Capuchins-father, mother and child— as seen

in the open woods of Brazil and Colombia. The sorrowful expression of their faces is clearly shown. "The Weepers " live altogether in the
trees, leaving them only for the purpose of obtaining water or to raid grain fields. They feed upon fruits, vegetables and insects. They are
very timid but are frequently captured and are often seen in zoological gardens and museums of the United States. {Ccbus capitcinus.)

to force, and tries to bite those who offer it insult.
If it fears its opponent, it resorts to dissimulation,
and takes revenge as soon as the intended victim is
off its guard.

The Cai is very fond of good things to eat, and
soon becomes an adept at stealing. When caught
in the act of theft it cries out with fear, before it is
even touched ; but if not detected, it looks very in-
nocent and unconcerned. Small articles are hidden
in the mouth, when it is disturbed, and are after-
wards eaten at leisure. Its covetousness is very
great. What it once gets, it does not give up, except
to its master, when it happens to like him very much.
Besides these qualities, it possesses a high degree of
curiosity and destructiveness.

The Cai is very independent and subjects itself to
a higher will than its own with great reluctance. It

came first, then followed the main body, and a
quarter of an hour later the rearguard came into
view. I regret to say that I precipitated this latter
into disorderly flight by bursting into a laugh at
their peculiar antics. The weaker ones complained
and whistled, and cast angry glances at the stronger,
which bit and cuffed them when they were in their
way. The young ones seemed perfectly glued to
the backs of their mothers, and made the most pre-
cociously wise little faces imaginable, while the elder
ones searched every leaf and every little crevice,
on their way, for insects, with the utmost gravity.
From four to five hundred Monkeys might have hur-
ried on through the foliage above us (they travel
from tree to tree and do not seem to know any other
mode of progression), and they made such ludicrous
faces that I could not restrain myself and laughed

58

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

heartily. The Monkeys in the trees immediately
over us stopped for a moment as if struck by light-
ning ; then they gave a shriek, which was re-echoed
from all sides, and redoubling their speed the troop
disappeared from view with a few mighty jumps."
The Apella as The Apella is often shipped to
Organ-Grinder's Europe and the United States, and
Assistant. ; s a familiar figure in zoological

gardens. Organ-grinders make use of this Monkey,
as well as of the Guenon, to move people's hearts
and purses. While some once popular tune is being
ground out of the none too melodious instrument the
little beggar, loosed from his leading-cord, clambers
up door-steps, or climbs with wonderful agility to
the window-sills of adjacent houses to peer through
the panes. Some child is sure to see him, and then
a gleeful time ensues both for the child and the

A GROUP OF CAPUCHINS. The artitt here presents four of the eighteen species of Capuchin Monk-
eys, which differ chiefly in their coloring. These Monkeys are eagerly hunted in many parts of South America
for their flesh. (i. White-Bearded Capuchin— Cebus leucogenys. 2. Apella. or Brown Capuchin— Cebus
apella. 3. White-Faced Capuchin— Cebus liypoleneus. 4. Green Capuchin— Cebus olivaeeus.)

Monkey, and upon the latter candy and pastry are
lavished in profuse supply. Oh, if he only had
cheek-pouches ! Besides toothsome dainties for
himself the Monkey receives many small coins for
his master, to whom he presently returns with them.
Having levied their customary tribute the pair,
Monkey and Man, move on their way rejoicing, to
repeat the same performance a few doors away.
Monkeys with The second family of the Broad-
Non-Prehensile nosed Monkeys, the Pithecidce, or
Tails. tj lc non-prehensile tailed group, is

composed in greatest part of small or medium-
sized Monkeys whose tails are covered with hair to
the tip and are incapable of grasping or holding
anything.

The Pitlucia have a short, stout frame, and the
clumsiness of their appearance is increased by their
long, loose hair, and their bushy tail, the hair cover-
ing of which is usually longest at the tip. The hair
on their head shows a decided parting, and the chin
and cheeks are covered with a full beard.

There are but few families in this group of Monk-
eys, and they are natives of the northern part of
South America. They inhabit high, dry forests
that are free from underbrush, and keep aloof from
other Monkeys. Tschudi tells us that "their activ-
ity begins after sunset and lasts till dawn ; during
the day they sleep, and are hard to hunt, as they do
not betray themselves by any noise. They are
easily tamed, but stay morose and mopish in cap-
tivity, and are very lazy when awake in the day-
time." Schomburgk says that "wherever the foliage
on the banks of the river was
thick, troops of Monkeys
gathered on the branches,
and the Pithecia seemed the
most numerous. Their long
hair, beautifully parted, their
magnificent beards and
whiskers, and their bushy
tails, gave the clever-looking
animals a prepossessing but
extremely ludicrous aspect.
Description The most com-
0/ the mon group of
Cuxio. this tribe inhab-
its the extensive forests on
the upper Maranon and Ori-
noco rivers. The Indians call
it Cuxio {Pit/iecia satanas),
and it is twenty inches long,
the tail being of equal length.
The head is perfectly round
and covered with a kind of a
cap, consisting of not very
long, thick hair, radiating
from a common center, and
parted in front. Kappler
says that " no dandy could
be more careful of his hair
and beard than this beautiful
animal." The upper part of
his body is thickly covered
with hair, while in the lower
part it is more scanty. The
general color of the adult
Monkeys is black, speckled
with rust-colored hairs ; the
young are grayish-brown.
He lives in small families,
consisting of from four to six
members, and seldom bears captivity well.

The White A second and well-known member of
Headed Saki this group, the White-headed Saki
of Guiana. {Pitlucia leucocephala) , shows so many
varieties, according to age and sex, that it is known
under several different names. It lives in Guiana, in
troops of from six to ten, prefers shrubs to high
trees, and impresses one as a rather lazy creature.
The food of this animal consists chiefly of berries,
fruit and honey. The female brings forth but one
young one at a birth, and carries it around on her
back until it has become strong and independent of
restraint. Kappler corroborates these statements,
and adds that this Monkey is easily tamed, but is
listless and timid in captivity.

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— CALLITHRIX.

59

The Black- The life of the Black-headed Saki

Headed Saki, [Brachyurus melanocepkalus) is very lit-

or Cacajao. i\ e known, though the many names by

which it is called would indicate that it is frequently

CUXIO MONKEY. This remarkable looking animal exhibits a very

hairy tail and an immense beard. It is extremely careful of the latter and
so fearful of wetting it that it dips water up in its hand when it drinks. The
Cuxio is chiefly nocturnal in habits and is found in Brazil. When angry it
grinds its teeth in a savage manner. (Pithecia satanas.}

encountered by the natives. Besides the preceding
names, this Monkey is also called Cacajao, Chucuto,
Chucuzo, Caruari, Mono-feo or Ugly
Monkey, and Mono-Rabon or Short-
Tail. The last name has been lately
universally adopted; for the Cacajao,
with a few other species having short,
bushy tails, have been separated from
the Pithecia, under the common fam-
ily name of Short-tailed Monkeys
( Brachyums ) .

This Saki measures from twenty
to twenty-seven inches in length, in-
cluding the tail. Its thick, shining
fur is longer on the shoulders and
sides, and scantier on the under part
of the body. The short, thin tail has
a tuft on its tip. The fingers are
exceedingly long and strong. Its
color is grayish-yellow on the back
and a rusty hue lower down. The
hair of the head and fore-arms is
sliming black. In captivity it is
greedy and obtuse, but not fierce.
It trembles with fear at sight of a
Crocodile or a Snake. This Monkey
is a native of the northwest of Bra-
zil, but does not seem to be very
numerous. But a single living speci-
men has ever been brought to Europe
although a number of live Short-tailed Saki Monk
evs have been taken to the United States.

THE CALLITHRIX.

Another genus of American Monkeys, called Cal-
lithrix, is distinguished by a slim body, on slim
limbs, a long, thin tail, a round head with a beard-
less face and a short muzzle ; bright eyes and large
ears ; and the hands and feet each have five toes or
fingers.

The Callithrix inhabit the quiet forests of South
America in small troops, and their presence is easily
determined on account of their loud voices, which
they are fond of using. In point of strength and
loudness of voice they come next to the Howlers,
and they betray themselves to the hunter at a great
distance. The tenderness and agreeable flavor of
their flesh cause them to be hunted vigorously by
the natives. Their disposition is exceedingly gen-
tle, and in captivity they become tame and affec-
tionate to an extraordinary degree.

The Widow One of the most attractive members of
Monkey and this group is the Widow Monkey ( Cal-
its Beauties. Hthrix lug-ens). Its length is about thir-
ty-five inches, more than half of this belonging to
the tail. According to Alexander von Humboldt,
this little animal has fine, lustrous, black hair, a blu-
ish white face, and small and well-formed ears. The
neck shows a white collar, about one inch in width ;
the feet are black ; the hands white on the back and
black on the palms. The missionaries have com-
pared the white parts to the veil, collar and gloves
worn by widows in South America, and this has
given the name to the animal.

THE CHRYSOTHRIX.

We may consider the Saimaris (Chrysothrix) as the
connecting link between the Monkeys with and
those without prehensile tails. They have slender
bodies, with long limbs, large heads, high foreheads,
short faces, very large eyes standing close together,
plain, large ears, and fur consisting of peculiar
ringlets. Like the Callithrix, the tail is round and

THE HAIRY SAKI. Has hair of a speckled gray color \

the head and half hiding the sad little face. This long hair extends a
end of the tail. It is a nocturnal animal, timid and retiring, and doe
tured. (Pithecia hirsuta.)

is very long, hanging over
■er the body and out to the
t live long after being cap-

slender, and they have many peculiarities that are
common to the non-prehensile tailed group.

60

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

The Lively The best known member of this
Squirrel Monkey group is the Squirrel-Monkey,
of Guiana. sometimes called the Golden-haired
Monkey (Chrysothrix sciurea), distinguished as much
by a graceful body and agreeable color as by a
merry, cheerful disposition. He may be counted
one of the best looking of all the American Monk-
eys. The tail is very long ; the body yellow above
and whitish below. Sometimes the creature is gray
with golden yellow limbs, or the head may be coal
black. The length, tail included, averages about
thirty-two inches.

This attractive little creature is a native of Gui-
ana, and prefers the banks of rivers, which he haunts
in large numbers. He does not inhabit high trees,
but is found in the shrubs on the edges of the forest

WHITE-HEADED SAKI MONKEY. A peculiarity of the "Saki" is that it strongly resembles Man in

the face, as the artist has clearly shown. Its white head and yellowish-brown body give it a striking appearance. The
short and bushy tail is not prehensile. The creature is dull, quiet and 'rather stupid, and is easily made content in
captivity. Its life is spent in the trees and it feeds principally upon fruits. {Pithecia leucocefhala.)

like the Capuchins and sometimes may be seen in
company with a troop of those animals. The
Squirrel Monkey is very active throughout the en-
tire day, but at night he retires to the crowns of
palms, where he finds a secure asylum for rest and
sleep. He is very timid, never stirs at night, and
flees at the slightest alarm by day. When fright-
ened from any cause the troop moves in long rows,
under the guidance of an old Monkey, which usually
succeeds in leading them out of danger.

How Squirrel Kappler, during his twenty-six years'

Monkeys Act stay in Guiana, always contrived to

in Captivity. k eep three of these Monkeys in cap-
tivity, supplying each vacancy by death with a new

purchase, and is thus able to speak with intimate
knowledge concerning their habits and traits. Ac-
cording to him they are called Acalimas and Cabu-
anamas by the natives. He says : " The little
Monkeys are very cheerful and always active, ex-
cept that they sometimes take a nap during the
day. They are very easily affected by changes
of weather and dislike the cold. I always selected
those that were quite young for my collection, and
soon taught them to like bread, milk and ripe ba-
nanas. In the beginning I let them run at large in
the room. They would sometimes suck their thumbs
for hours, like babies. The dainty, white little
face, black mouth, large bright eyes and engaging
manners always produced a favorable impression on
everybody. They are not so mischievous as other
Monkeys; they easily
show anger but soon for-
get it. Except under
provocation they never
bite, and when kindly
treated are the merriest
little creatures in the
world. Sometimes they
steal a ride upon the
backs of the Pigs which
roam in the savannas.
Every evening at five
o'clock they were let
loose in the yard and
wildly romped and
played around until dusk,
when they would come in
of their own accord to be
locked up in their cage.
They were fond of in-
sects, but did not know
how to distinguish be-
tween those that were
poisonous and those that
were harmless. Igno-
rance on this point caused
three of mine to lose
their lives. They are not
docile, and are intellect-
ually far below the Capu-
chin. When they are
comfortable, they purr
like Kittens ; when an-
gry, their cries remind
one of a Magpie. Most
of them were brought to
me from the sea-shore,
where they jump around
on the Awarra palms,
which are quite full of
thorns, sharp as needles
and three inches long. The Indians shoot the moth-
ers while bearing their little ones upon their backs,
or they shake the young from the trees, where their
dams have left them for a time that is intended to be
brief. Rarely is one able to procure a male ; nearly
all that were brought to me were females."

THE OWL MONKEYS.

Azara was the first naturalist who introduced to
the world the Owl Monkey (Nyctipitkecus), which
is a most remarkable animal. A little later, Hum-
boldt described it ; after him Rengger, Schomburgk
and, finally, Bates gave interesting accounts of its
habits and traits. To a certain extent the Owl

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— OWL.

61

Monkey is the connecting link between the Monk-
eys proper and the Half-Monkeys or Lemurs, being

nocturnal in its habits like the latter and resembling
them in many respects. The head and the expres-
sion of the face enable one to distinguish between
them and all the preceding Monkeys at a glance.

SHORT-TAILED MONKEY. This strange looking Monkey has

its home in the forests of the Upper Amazon, which are inundated
through the greater part of the year, and from these trees it never de-
scends to the ground. It does not show much activity in swinging or
jumping, but runs very nimbly up and down the branches. It is of great
interest to naturalists because of its having thirty-six teeth, instead of
thirty-two, the number possessed by most of the Monkeys, as well as by
Man. {Brachyurus calvus.)

The small, round head has large, owl-like eyes ;
the muzzle projects forward but little and is broad
and large ; the nostrils open in a downward direc-
tion ; the ears are small. The hair of the creature is
soft and fluffy, and the bushy tail exceeds the body
in length. The nails of the fingers and toes are com-
pressed from side to side and curved, suggesting
somewhat the idea of claws.
About the The Mirikina (Nvctipit/tcats trivetgatus) is

Mirikina only fifteen inches long, but his tail

Monkey, measures twenty inches. This animal is
thickly clothed with gray or brown fur, while the tip
of the tail is black. The forehead is decorated with
three black, parallel stripes and a wide, yellowish
stripe runs from the neck to the root of the tail.

The Mirikina ranges over the eastern portion of
the warmer parts of South America. Rengger asserts
'that in Paraguay he is found only on the right side
of the river, as far as the twenty-fifth degree of
southern latitude. " He spends his life in trees,
commencing his hunt for food at night, and retiring
early in the morning to a hole in a tree-trunk, where
he sleeps through the day."

The servants of this naturalist while gathering
wood once found a couple of these little Monkeys
asleep. The frightened animals tried to escape, but
were so dazzled with the sunlight that they could

not climb or jump well. They were easily caught,
though they made good use of their sharp teeth.
Their bed consisted of leaves, covered with moss,
and we may, therefore, conclude that they retire to
the same place every morning. Rengger says that
they are always found in couples, while Hates asserts
that they are also met with in greater numbers.

The Mirikina A Mirikina caught young is easily
in a tamed, while an old one always re-

Captiue State. tams ; ts ncrce and wild nature.
They easily bear captivity when well taken care of.
Negligence and uncleanness kill them. They should
be kept in a spacious cage, or in a room, but not
chained up, as they entangle themselves easily in
ropes. When captive, they remain all day long in
the darkest corner of their place of abode and sleep,
sitting with their legs drawn up, the body bent for-
ward, and the face hidden in their crossed arms.
When one arouses them and does not keep them
awake by petting, they go right back to sleep. On
bright days they can distinguish no object, and their
pupils are very small. When they are brought out
of darkness into sudden light, their gestures and

LOVELY-HAIRED MONKEY. This really beautiful creature is

scarcely larger than a Squirrel, and a native of Guiana. The tail is long
and bushy, but not prehensile. It is somewhat nocturnal in its habits and
feeds upon insects. The head is quite humanlike and the animal is very
affectionate in disposition. In captivity it soon comes to know its friends
and to distinguish th.em from strangers. It has a pleasing habit of turn-
ing its head to one side when spoken to, as though listening attentively to
what is said. ( Callithnx personata.)

plaintive sounds indicate that it is painful to them,
but as soon as evening draws near, they awake, the
pupil dilates gradually and finally the iris is hardly
perceptible. Their eyes flash like a Cat's or an
Owl's and they begin to walk around their cage and
look for food. Their movements seem easy, though

62

THE APES AXD MOXKEYS.

not graceful, for the hind limbs are the longest.
They climb and jump to perfection. On their noc-
turnal wanderings they easily succeed in capturing
sleeping birds. Insects are also welcome and caught
very dexterously. From time to time they utter a
hollow, loud sound, which has been likened by

little

SQUIRREL MONKEYS. Here are two of these merry and lively

creatures perched in a palm tree, the fruit <>t which one of them holds in
his hands. They are exceedingly timid, fleeing at the slightest alarm, and in
this picture they are depicted as preparing to take flight from real or fancied
danger. {Chrysothrix sciitrea.)

travelers to the distant call of a Jaguar. They ex-
press anger by a repeated " grr, grr, grr, grr."

Zfoc flDarmoscts.

THIRD FAMILY: Arctopitheci.

Several naturalists see in the Marmosets only a
variety of the preceding genus and class the two
together : but we think that their distinguishing
features are marked enough for us to treat them as
two distinct groups.

The Marmosets have small, narrow claws on all
fingers and toes, except the thumb-toes, whose claw
is broad and nail-like. They have a round head,
a short, flat face, small eyes, large ears, sometimes
adorned with tufts, a slim body and short limbs ;
claw-like hands, whose thumbs cannot be opposed
to the other fingers, although this can be done in
the feet ; a bushy tail and silky fur. The hands
have really become paws in this tribe, and only the
feet are similar to those of other Monkeys.
Haunts and The Marmosets have a very wide
Habits of range, being found in Mexico, Central
Marmosets. America and South America to the
southern limits of Brazil. They occur in greater
variety anil numbers in Brazil, Guiana and Peru,
Mexico affording but two kinds. How high they
ascend the mountains has not been determined ;

Schomburgk saw them at an elevation of 1,600 feet,
but it is believed they inhabit much greater altitudes
in the Andes range.

All Marmosets are arboreal or tree-living, in the
true sense of the word. They inhabit not only the
damp, stately forests of the coast and the valleys,
but also the stunted, bushlike woods in the inner
parts of the continent. In their traits and habits
they resemble Squirrels as much as they do Monk-
eys. They never sit erect as Monkeys frequently
do but roam from tree to tree on the thick boughs,
using their claws exactly like Squirrels. They have
never been seen to go erect, and in walking they
plac.e the sole of the foot flat upon the ground.
Still, in eating, they will often raise their bodies,
like the Squirrel, when bearing food to their mouths.

Special Traits In other respects they also resemble
of the the Squirrels very much ; possessing

Marmosets. the same restlessness and the same
shyness and timidity. The little head of the Mar-
moset never rests, even for a moment, and the glance
of the dark eyes wanders hurriedly from one object
to another and seemingly with little understanding,
the animal evidently thinking of something else all
the time. I do not wish it understood that I thus
credit the Marmosets with "Teat ideas ; on the con-

SILKY TAMARIN- -The Silky Tamarins are noteworthy for the
beauty of their fur. Their hair is soft, long and of a chestnut color,
and forms into two tufts over the ears ; while the tad is long and bushy.
Thev inhabit Brazil, and are about the size of a common Squirrel.
(Hapalt Rosalia.)

trary, I believe them to be the dullest of all Monk-
eys, creatures with decidedly limited intellect, whose
thinking capabilities are probably not any greater
than those of the Squirrel. Timid, distrustful, re-
served, petty and forgetful, the Marmoset seems
to act unconsciously and to be carried away by mo-

THE AMERICAN MONKEYS— MARMOSET.

63

mentary feelings. He has all the qualities of a cow-
ard : the plaintive voice, the evident incapacity or
unwillingness to give in to necessity, the complain-
ing resignation, the morbid fancy that the actions of
all other creatures
in some way relate
to him, the constant
attitudes of either
ostentatiously
showing off or
shrinking from ob-
servation, the incon-
stancy in his expres-
sions, movements
and actions.

Fruit, seeds, leaves
and buds form the
principal part of the
food of the Marmo-
sets, but they also
h u n t insects, Spi-
ders, etc., with the
greatest zeal, and
eat them with evi-
dent relish. Indeed,
one might say that
they are animal
feeders more than
any other Monkeys,
preferring this to
vegetable food.

The Three We rec-

Groupsof ognize

Marmosets, three
distinct groups as
belonging to the
family Hapale : the
Lion-like Monkey
{Hapale leonina),
having face and ears
devoid of hair, a
tufted tail, and a
mane on the head,
neck and shoulders;
the Ta mar ins, to
which belongs the
Silver Monkey
( Hapale A rgentata ) ,
having a longer tail,
but no mane, and
the Silky Monkey
{Hapale pygmcea)
having tufts on its
ears.

The most common
member of the last
named group is the
Saguin Ouistiti or
Common Marmoset
(Hapale jacchus). It
is about ten inches
fn length and is
clothed with soft,
long hair. The col-
oring is black, white
and russet, each
hair being black at
its root, and then

alternately russet, black and white. The tail is black,
showing about twenty white ringlets and a white tip.
A whitish spot on the forehead, and a pure white

tuft over each ear stand out in bold relief against
the brown face.

In captivity they subsist on fruit, vegetables, in-
sects, Snails and meat, and soon get familiar with

NIGHT MONKEYS. The picture represents Night Monkeys of South America, one of which has just seized a lit-
tle bird and it regards with disfavor the too near approach of its companion and evidently declines to share the toothsome
morsel in its possession with the intruder. The entire family of Night Monkeys are noted for their small, round heads,
large eyes and long tails. Those indicated in the picture are sometimes called " Three-striped Owl Monkeys," on account
of the three divergent black stripes on their forehead and face. They feed upon small birds, insects and fruits, are strictly
nocturnal and have very powerful voices. (Nyctipitlucus Mvirgatus.)

those who take constant care of them. They show
themselves distrustful and irritable towards stran-
gers and are capricious like naughty children

64

THE APES AND MONKEYS.

When angered they utter a few whistling sounds.
Everything unfamiliar excites them strongly. They
are so timid that the sight of a flying Wasp throws
them into great excitement. When adult animals are

ones three times in two years and succeeded in rear-
ing them, notwithstanding the small amount of care
they received.

Pallas' Description We are indebted for their history
of the Common to the naturalist Pallas, who says :
Marmoset. «< The Ouistiti, like all the other

little, long-tailed American Monkeys, is much less
Monkey than those belonging to families whose
members attain larger size. It is quick and agile,
but when in a state of contentment it may sit in the
sun for hours without moving. It can climb with
dexterity, but does so with a peculiar phlegmatic
pomposity. Sometimes it hangs from a bough by
its fore-paws, and stretches itself, like a sleepy
human being. Ouistitis like to remain in the warm
sunshine searching each other's fur for vermin,
Monkey-fashion, purring and cooing the while.
With a similar cooing sound they retire on the
stroke of six and are not seen nor heard again till
six or seven the next morning. They are active and
rather noisy in the day-time. Besides these cooing
intonations they sometimes utter the combination of
sharp whistling sounds represented by their name,
"Ouistiti," quite distinctly, especially when food is
in sight.

Many Types Besides the Ouistiti, naturalists have
of the found over thirty distinct species of

Marmosets. Marmosets, differing greatly in size,
color and general appearance, but all having the
physical characteristics of the genus Hapale. Among
them is the Hapale petdcilata which is about the same
size and nearly as common as the Ouistiti.

The Pinche {Hapale cediptcs), belonging to the
Tamarins, bears captivity still less than the Common
Marmosets. These small, pretty animals are remark-
able for their voices, which might be mistaken for a
bird's, when the Monkey utters its long, flute-like
notes.

The Golden Marmoset {Hapale chrysoleucus) is also
a small animal, taking its name from its bright yel-
low fur. The other families of the genus Hapale
are all small creatures with the same general char-
acteristics as those we have described, differing
somewhat in the color and distribution of their furs

COMMON MARMOSETS. These gentle little creatures belong to

the same family shown in the preceding illustration, and are found in the
tropical forests of Brazil. Their movements are so swift that it is diffi-
cult for the human eye to follow them as they travel through the branches of
their native trees. Their size is about that of the common gray Squirrel.

made captive, they scream at the approach of every
one, and it is a long time before they allow any one
to touch them. Having been once tamed they soon
become good friends with people
and with other domestic animals, j-

especially Cats, with which they
like to play and to sleep, the lat-
ter probably because of the
warmth afforded. They are for-
ever protecting themselves against
the cold, carrying all the cotton
and rags they can get hold of to a
corner of their cage, and covering
themselves with it. A pretty sight
is afforded when the little animal,
lying on its bed, is approached by
the keeper, bearing some sweet
morsel, for which it extends its
dainty head forward.

It has frequently happened that
Ouistitis have been born in cap-
tivity, in Europe, as well as in the
United States, and once, even in
St. Petersburg though under very
unfavorable conditions. The ani-
mals were kept in unheated rooms,
even on cool days in Spring and Autumn, and were and only designated by their scientific names, which
given no liberty at all, still they gave birth to young rest only on slight variations.

PINCHE MORMOSET. Distinguished for its large white tuft, which falls gracefully over and

behind the ears. The throat, chest, abdomen and arms are also white, the rest of the body being a gray-
ish brown. The voice of the Pinche is very soft and sweet, varying with the different moods of the
animal, ft is a most delicate creature and does not live long in captivity. Its home is in the tropical
regions of South America. (Hapale adifms).

Zhc DaltWIfoonkess or Xemuroibs.

SECOND ORDER: Prosimii.

H E majority of naturalists
have classified the Lem-
uroids with the Monkeys ;
but we see in them an en-
tirely distinct order and ac-
cordingly here class them
separately. In reality they
bear but little resemblance
to Monkeys. Their ana-
tomical structure is entirely
different, and their teeth do
not correspond with the
teeth of the Monkeys in any
particular. The name of Ouadrumana (four-handed),
is a great deal more appropriately used in connection
with Lemuroids than with the Monkeys, as the dif-
ference between the hand and foot in the former is
very slight. One may take these animals to be the
connecting link between Monkeys and the Marsu-
pialia (pouched animals), imagining them to be suc-
cessors of a genus of unknown animals of the same
family as the Opossum ; but they are not Monkeys.
Distinctive A generic picture of the Lemuroids
Features of is not easily drawn. They differ
Lemuroids. widely in size and shape, teeth and
skeleton. Some are as big as a
large Cat, others as small as a
Mouse. Most species have slim
bodies ; some are extremely thin. ^
The muzzle of some reminds one of
a Dog or Fox, while that of others «W
may be Owl-like. The hind limbs
are usually longer, and often con-
siderably longer than the fore-
limbs. In some groups the ankle-
bones are relatively short ; but in
some they are rather long. The
tail may be longer than the body
or may scarcely be visible ; it may
be bushy or partly devoid of hair.
Large eyes adapted for use at night, well-developed
-ears and a soft, thick, usually woolly fur, character-
ize the Lemuroids externally as nocturnal animals.
The skull is round in the back ; the muzzle is narrow
and short, and the orbits are large and close to-
gether, and have a projecting rim, high in the upper
part, which does not surround the whole of the orbit
but merges into the temple sideways.

The Homes The Lemuroids live in Africa, espe-
of the cially in Madagascar and the adjoining
Lemuroids. islands; but they are also found, al-
though in much smaller numbers, in India and the
South Asiatic islands. They all lead arboreal lives,
some of them hardly ever coming to the ground.
Some are remarkably quick and agile, while others
are slow and deliberate and glide about as noiselessly
as ghosts. Some are active and feed in the day-time,
but the majority awake at sunset, and the dawn of
day finds them already sound asleep. Fruit, buds

and young leaves form the food of some kinds,
while others subsist on insects, small vertebrata and
vegetable matter. In captivity they soon become
accustomed to all kinds of food.

£bc Xcmurs.

FIRST FAMILY: Lemurimj.

The Romans applied the name Lemur to the souls
of the dead, the good among whom protected the
house and family from evil, while the wicked ones
wandered about as evil spirits and worried poor
mortals. Science also has its Lemurs, but these are
by no means ghosts although they stealthily roam
about at night, being creatures of flesh and blood
and of a more or less prepossessing appearance.
They are the center of the class of animals we pro-
pose to deal with, the family of Half-Monkeys,
which comprises a number of groups of widely dif-
fering characteristics.

Habits The Lemurs possess all the peculiarities of
of the the Lemuroids, the two other groups of
Lemurs. Half-Monkeys differing from them mainly
in their teeth, structure of hands and feet, and fur.

1^

*-'li.lCCJAHM»T

THE VARI, OR RUFFED LEMUR. This member of the Lemur

family is especially peculiar because of the striking contrast shown in the
black and white of its long fur, which is faithfully reproduced in the picture.
The graceful limbs, the long, furry tail and pointed muzzle general to the
Maki family of Lemurs of which the Vari is a member, are also well shown.
(Lemur varius.)

The Lemurs (Lemuridce) are natives of Madagas-
car and the adjacent islands, of the whole continent
of Africa, and a few species are scattered over India
and the islands of Southern Asia. They all inhabit
forests, preferring the impenetrable virgin woods,

(65)

66

THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS.

rich in fruits and insects. They do not exactly shun
Man, neither do they seek him. Nocturnal in their
habits to a greater or less degree, they seek the
darkest parts of a forest, crouch or roll themselves
together and sleep a great deal. Their attitudes in
sleep are very peculiar. Either they sit holding
themselves with their hands, the head buried in the
arms, and the tail rolled about the head and shoul-
ders ; or else two or more will huddle close together.
Sometimes two Lemurs will roll themselves together
in a ball-like mass, with their tails curled around
each other. If one disturbs such a ball of fur, two

SHORT-TAILED INDRIS LEMUR. The characteristics of this animal as it appears in its

native Madagascan forest, are admirably depicted in this picture. The contrasts of light and dark in
its fur, the stumpy tail from which it derives its name, the methods of grasping and climbing aided by
the remarkable thumb, as well as the keen vision, are all brought out. The Squirrel-like attitude of the
animal in sitting posture, as shown by the figure in the background, is another strong characteristic
of this type of the Lemur family. {Lichanotus brevicaudatus.)

heads suddenly make their appearance and stare at
the intruder with large, displeased eyes.

The sleep of the Lemurs is very light. The hum-
ming of a Fly or the noise of a creeping Beetle is
sufficient often to rouse many of them, when they
prick up their ears and the large eyes look dreamily
around ; but only for a moment. They are ex-
tremely sensitive to light, more so than any other
animals of the family of mammals. They seem to
be as dead creatures in the day-time. In their wild
state Lemurs awake only at dusk ; but this is only
partially true of those in captivity.

When in their forest homes they rouse themselves
after sunset, clean their fur, exercise their usually
rather loud and disagreeable voices, and then set
out. The activity they display varies much in dif-
ferent species. The majority exert themselves in
the first place to justify their spectral name, and
raise a disturbance that strikes terror to the heart of
a new-comer, who must attribute the indescribable
noise to the " powers of darkness," though it slightly
reminds one of the roar of dangerous beasts of prey r
such as the Lion.

Some species, on the other hand, are entirely dif-
ferent in their actions and temper-
ament. Stealthily and noiselessly
they creep from branch to branch;
their large, round eyes gleam in
the darkness like fiery balls, and
their movements are so deliberate
and noiseless that not the slight-
est sound betrays them, even to an
interested listener.

The Stealthy Alas! for the sleep-
Habits of ing bird that has
Some Lemurs, attracted the no-
tice of those fiery eyes. No In-
dian on the war-path moves with
stealthier tread ; no bloodthirsty
savage approaches with deadlier
purpose than does the Loris,
stealthiest of Lemurs, when creep-
ing to his sleeping prey. Without
noise, nearly without visible move-
ment, paw after paw is lifted till he
has reached his victim. Then the
hand is raised with equal silence
till it nearly touches the bird, when
with one movement, too quick for
the eye to follow it, he has seized
the poor thing, which is strangled
before it regains consciousness.
Nothing can equal the avidity
with which the harmless looking
Loris devours his prey after the
murder is accomplished. Like the
sleeping bird, the young ones, or
the eggs, are lost if once the Loris
discovers them.

All species belonging to this
group move slowly and assure
themselves of a safe hold upon a
succeeding branch before relin-
quishing the one that supports
them. A uniform and rather high
temperature is a necessity to them;
cold makes them peevish and
brings on illness.

Their intellectual faculties are
slight ; but a few species present a
noteworthy exception to this rule.
They are all shy and timid, though they defend
themselves courageously when attacked. When
they become accustomed to people they are good-
natured and gentle, but rarely lose their timidity.
A few species bear the loss of their freedom very
resignedly ; they may even be trained to render
certain services to Man, such as hunting other ani-
mals. The tailless species usually retain their quiet,
melancholy temper, dislike of being disturbed, and
they scarcely ever learn to discriminate between
their keeper and other people, or show any gratitude
for any kindness extended to them.

THE LEMURS LYDRIS.

67

THE INDRIS.

The largest and most highly developed of all
Lemurs are the Indris (Liclianotiis) or, as they are
called in Madagascar, Babacoto. There are two
kinds, the short-tailed Lemur (Lichanotus brevicau-
datus) being the better known. They attain a length
of about thirty-five inches,
inclusive of the tail, which
measures but one inch. The
medium-sized head shows a
pointed muzzle, small eyes
and small ears nearly hidden
in the fur. The body and
limbs are clothed in a thick,
woolly fur; the forehead,
throat, chest, tail, ankles and
sides being white and the
remainder of the body black
and brown.

Sonnerat, who made the
Babacoto known to the
world, says that he is, like
his relatives — the Monkeys —
a very good climber, that he
sits erect, like a Squirrel,
when eating, and carries his
food, consisting chiefly of

Dog, used for hunting purposes by the natives of
the southern part of Madagascar.

"In certain^partsof Madagascar," says Pollen, "the
Babacoto is trained for bird-hunts. He is said to be
as serviceable as the best of Dogs ; for, though he is
a vegetable feeder, he by no means despises small

THE CAT-LIKE LEMUR. In spite of the fox-like muzzle this

picture shows ample justification for a name that compares this creature to
a Cat. The tail in alternate rings of black and white is the most prom-
inent feature, not only because of its peculiar marking but also by reason
of its length and bushy fur. The position shown in the picture displays
to advantage the symmetrical and well formed limbs that give the animal
the agility it displays in its nightly wanderings. {Lemur catta.)

fruits, to his mouth with his hands. His voice is
of a melancholy, wailing cadence, resembling that
of a crying child. He is gentle and good-natured,
and numbers of his family are trained, and, like the

MONGOOSE LEMUR. Has a remarkable, bushy tail that is longer

than its body, and is reddish gray in color. It lives chiefly upon fruits and
seeks food in the darkness of the night. The head is long and the forehead
flat. It makes a very fine pet, doing well in captivity. {Lemur mongoz.)

birds, and catches them with the greatest dexterity,
their brains being esteemed a choice dainty by him."
No Babacoto has been brought to Europe alive,
which is very astonishing. Being more or less of a
domestic animal in Madagascar, neither his capture
nor his keeping can be attended with difficulties.

THE MAKIS.

The name of Maki belongs to the most numerous
family of the Lemurs, and this designation repre-
sents the peculiar cry they give forth. The Makis
have a decidedly fox-like muzzle, with moderately
large eyes and ears, well formed limbs of nearly
equal length, the hands and feet showing a few
scattered hairs on their backs ; a tail longer than the
body, and a soft fur of fine, and sometimes woolly,
texture.

This group shows many varieties, but modern re-
search has revealed the fact that many so-called
varieties are not distinct species, the difference in
appearance being based on sex, age, etc. The best-
known of the Makis is the Vari, or Ruffed Lemur
{Lemur varius), distinguished by a black and white
fur, the spots of the two colors being differently dis-
tributed in every specimen. The Vari is one of the
largest of the Makis, equaling in size a large Cat.

The Catta (Lemur catta) is distinguished by his
graceful figure and his long tail, showing alternately
black and white ringlets. His principal color is
gray, the face, ears and under part of the body
being whitish. Other kinds that we often see in
zoological gardens, are the Mongoose ( Lemur mon-
goz) and the Macaco or Black Maki (Lemur macaco).
In the last named species the male is nearly pure
black ; while the female is of a lighter or darker

68

THE HALF-MOXKEYS OR LEMUROWS.

rusty red, and for a long time was considered a dis-
tinct species.

Pollen's Pollen was the first to give us a clear

Account of the and instructive picture of the Makis
Makis. in t heir wild state. They all inhabit

the forests of Madagascar, sleeping by day and
seeking their food at night in a lively and noisy
manner. They live in troops numbering from six
to twelve, and wander from one part of the forest to
another in search of dates. As soon as the sun sets
one may hear their loud wails. They are extremely
agile and take considerable leaps with great ease.
When pursued by Dogs, they mount to the top of a
tree, fix their eyes on the enemy, wag their tails and
grunt. But as soon as they perceive the hunter,
they make for the depths of the wood.

MACACO, OR BLACK LEMUR. —Although called the Black Lem
Macaco that is accurately described by this name, the female being of a ligh
seen, therefore, that the figure in the foreground is the male and the other the
depicts the dog-like muzzle and long, hairy tail that are prominent in this fam

Their intellectual capacities are not any higher
than those of other Lemurs. Still they are usually
gentle and prepossessing.
Makis in the Several specimens have been shipped
Captive to Europe and America and have with-
State. stood the strain of captivity for long
periods of time. One Vari, for instance, lived nine-
teen years in Paris. Usually they become tame and
familiar in a short time. They either employ their
hands in bearing food to their mouths, or they take
it up with their mouths without the aid of the hands.
When contented they purr, and in this manner often
sing themselves to sleep.

Buffon had a male Maki in his possession, which
delighted him as much by its graceful agility as it
annoyed him by its uncleanliness and mischievous
disposition. It was extremely sensitive to cold and
damp and in winter always kept near the fire, some-

times standing upright in order to secure greater
warmth from the flame.

The Maki which lived in Paris was also very partial
to the fire. The poor, chilly southerner held not
only its hands but also its face so near to the blaze
that more than once its mustache was scorched. It
was cleanly in its habits and took very good care
not to soil its glossy fur. Its liveliness was only
equalled by its curiosity. Everything was investi-
gated by it, and in consequence it was forever spoil-
ing, dropping or spilling something'. The creature
was kind to all who petted it and would sometimes
jump into the lap of a stranger.

THE LORIS.

While all the Makis show a lively, active disposi-
tion, the Loris (Stenops)
are distinguished by the
opposite qualities. One
might call them the
Sloths of their class.
They are small, graceful
animals, devoid of tail,
having a large, round
head and slender limbs,
the hinder ones being a
little longer than the
fore-legs. The muzzle is
pointed, but short ; the
eyes are very large and
placed close together.
The index finger is very
much shortened, the
third finger very long
and the last finger shows
a long and sharp claw.

There are but few va-
rieties of Loris, and they
are natives of India. The
habits and traits of this
animal in a wild state are
nearly totally unknown.

A very dainty little
animal is the Slender
Loris ( SUiio/>s gracilis ) ,
which is barely as large
as a Squirrel, being but
ten inches long. It has
large eyes, a pointed
muzzle, a long fur, which
is like plush to the touch,
and is of a reddish
brown above and gray or
dull yellow below. Around the hazel eyes the fur
takes a darker hue, contrasting with the light muzzle.
This pretty little creature, named Tevangu and
Una Happolava by the natives, inhabits the south
of India and Ceylon. It sleeps all day in hollow
tree trunks and makes its appearance in the evening.
It has never been observed in its wild state.

Habits of a To my great surprise and joy I found
Captive a living Slender Loris in the precincts
Slender Loris. { a wandering zoological garden. The
delicate creature had come to Europe with three
others about four years before, and had borne not
only the voyage to Europe but the captivity of the
colder climate. I purchased the animal at a high
price, in order to have a picture of the species from
nature and to study it, and gave it the best of care.
In the day-time the Slender Loris lies or rather
hangs from a perch in its cage and sleeps, without

ur, it is only the male specimen of the
t hue or russet color. It will be easily
female of this species. The picture also
lily. (Lemur Macaco.)

THE LEMURS— LORIS.

69

being in the least disturbed by its surroundings. At
sunset it awakes, stretches itself and noiselessly
walks to and fro in its cage. It is very agile, but
always makes sure before moving that the next
branch is capable of sustaining its weight ; some-
times stretching its limbs beyond seeming possi-

THE GRAY OR GENTLE LEMUR. This animal is a native of

Madagascar, and has an amiable disposition. The tail and body are nearly
of equal length, each being about fifteen inches. The prevailing color is
gray, and the prominent eyes are soft and pleasing in expression. Its habits
are nocturnal, and in captivity it is prone to seek the dark portion of its
cage by day, but it is a most grateful little creature and one of the most pop-
ular pets of the entire family. {Hapalcmur griseus.)

bilities. Sometimes it moves its head to and fro
with wonderful rapidity. The eyes literally gleam
like living coals in the dusk, and, being very close
together and only separated by a pale streak, they
rnake a peculiar impression.

When very angry, the Slender Loris vents its feel-
ings in a deep snore, but it is by no means easy to
disturb its equanimity. It likes to be petted, some-
times closing its eyes with evident pleasure when it
is being caressed.

The principal food of this animal is bread soaked
in milk. Fruit, meat and eggs it disdains to touch.
This Loris of mine never has been tempted by liv-
ing birds, but is very fond of insects and worms ;
yet it is so lazy and awkward that it does not catch

them itself, and it requires the keeper to hold them
while it eats.

The Slow The Slow Loris, Sharmindi Billi, or
Loris or "Bashful Billy [Stenops tardigradus) , is
Bashful Billy, better known than its slender cousin,
perhaps because it occupies a wider area of country.
It is a native of India, ranging as far west as the
lower Brahmapootra. The animal has never been
found in the Himalayas, but inhabits Assam and all
the country to the south and southeast of it, as well
as Sumatra, Java and Borneo. It is larger than the
Slender Loris and shows a greater variety of color-
ing. The usual tint is a light or dark silver-gray,
sometimes with a reddish tinge ; a chestnut stripe
runs the whole length of the spine, frequently ending

FORK-CROWNED LEMUR. This animal is very abundant in

the forests on the west side of Madagascar, and is found in less numbers on
the eastern side of the island. Its home is in hollow trees and it finds pleas-
ure in being near to Bees, whose honey it does not hesitate to steal. It utters
a sharp piercing cry, very much like that of the Guinea-fowl. {Chirogaleus
furcifer.)

at the ears ; in some cases it is prolonged by two
ribbons to the eyes, in others four ribbons extend
to the eyes and ears. The eyes are always sur-
rounded by brown rings. The bald parts of the nose
and soles are flesh colored. The length of the body

70

THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS.

is about fifteen inches ; that of the tail, barely one
inch.

The Slow Loris is difficult to study in its wild
state, but we know that it lives with its family,
sleeps during the day in hollow trees, and goes on
its search for food at dusk. The animal has rarely
been seen in its wild state by Europeans.

In captivity the Loris are gentle, patient and mel-
ancholy. All day long they sit crouching down and
leaning their heads against their crossed arms. One
of them was once tied to a rope and it would repeat-
edly lift the fetter with a sad little gesture of seem-
ing complaint ; but it never tried to break its bonds.
At first it snapped several times at its keeper, but a
few light punishments sufficed to teach it self-re-
straint. When petted it would take the hand which
caressed it, press it to its breast and look up into
the sympathetic face with half-closed eyes. At
dusk it would rouse itself ; first looking around with
eyes yet full of sleep, rub them, and then begin to
wander about the cage. Ropes had been tied all
ahout and it would climb upon them. It was fond
of fruits and milk but had a special liking only for
birds and insects. When such game was proffered,
it would cautiously approach, as if on tiptoe, and at
about a foot's distance would stand up, softly stretch
its arm and then, with one movement, quick as
lightning, make a dash for its prey and strangle it.

The Slow Loris I have seen and observed but two
and its living Slow Loris ; the first, only bv

Peculiar Traits, day, j n tne Zoological Garden a't
Amsterdam. It was not quite so kindly a creature
as I had expected. Either it was annoyed by our
disturbing it, or else it was irritable by nature. In
any event it was highly indignant at our intrusion.
It spit like a Cat, and explained its meaning still

i

wreaking this revenge, it slowly retired sulking to
its corner. Its retreat was performed in a manner

SLENDER LOKIS LEMUR. The stealthy character of this night-
prowling animal speaks in its features and the large gleaming eyes bode
danger to the sleeping bird it may choose for its prey. The long, slender
limbs account for the awkwardness of the animal when in a sitting posture,
asshown iiy the figure in the front of the picture, while the deliberation as
lth of the animal are well shown by the other in the background.
rat: His.)

ng to me, though I was familiar with Har-

cellent drawing made thirty years ago. Fix-

arge eyes upon us, it went back, step by step,

vards on a nearly vertical pole. This means

occasionally climbs upwards, with the face

downwards. In my knowledge, no

other animal does that. When it ar-

: T^£?J^\ rived at a point where two branches

£\fx\ diverged from the main pole it

ps^vO stopped, and made the sketching

^f\\ artist's task an easy one.

THE SLENDER LORIS. The artist here shows the position of the Slender Loris at rest

when awake, and also when asleep. It is curious to observe how in the first case it brings the hands
and feet nearly together and presses the body against the upper legs ; while in the other, the waking
position is partly assumed, but the face is pressed down behind the left arm. while the body is nearly
circular. [Stenops gracilis.)

further by trying to bite the keeper's hand,
offence it had been guilty of before. Failinr

an

LARGE-EARED MAKIS.

A well-known species of the
Half-Monkey tribe is the Large-
eared Maki or Galago, which older
travelers have frequently described.
Their sense of hearing is most
acute, as might be concluded from
their large, membranous ears.
The body of the Galago is slim,
but does not look so, for the coat
of fur is thick. The proportionally
large head shows abnormally devel-
oped ears that arc destitute of hair.
The large eyes are placed close to-
gether; the limbs are of moderate
length ; the hands and feet are well
formed ; the index finger and sec-
ond toe, and in some the adjoining finger and toe, are
furnished with a claw ; the others have flat nails.

THE LEMURS— LARGE-EARED MARIS.

71

All the Galagos, which are inhabitants of Africa
and some of its islands, must be looked upon as
carnivorous, unlike the other Makis, for they eat
fruit but incidentally. To describe them, I will
draw on my own and Kersten's experience : " The
Galagos are nocturnal animals, in the full sense of
the word : beings for whom the moon takes the place
of the sun, and for whom day passes unnoticed ;
for then these animals lie curled up and sleeping in
some hiding-place, their eyes shut to the hated sun-
light and their ears furled up to shut out all noise.
If they are rudely awakened, their eyes first assume
a dreamy, far off look, then the creatures gradually
regain consciousness and show their displeasure at
having been disturbed. After sunset they are alto-
gether different. As soon as the forest is enveloped
in darkness, the Galago wakes up, roused perhaps
by the coolness of the air ; the tail which has been
curled around his head is
rolled back, the eyes are
opened and his ears, which
have been so folded as to
completely cover the orifice
leading into the inner qar,
are unfurled. He licks and
cleans his fur, leaves his
hole and begins his ghost-
ly work, which, when its
results are reviewed in the
day-time, is seen to con-
sist of nothing but murder
and robbery, marked not
only by insatiable thirst
for blood but also by a de-
gree of cruelty rarely to be
found in animals. With
all the characteristics of a
beast of prey, Lynx-eyed,
sharp of hearing like a Bat,
as acute in his sense of
smell as a Fox, and quite
as cunning though not so
clever as that animal,
agile like a Monkey, in-
creasing the infallible pre-
cision of his attack by his
boldness, the Galago is a
formidable foe for all very
little animals, therein dif-
fering from all his rela-
tives."

These words narrate
nearly everything that is known about the life of
the Galagos in the wild state, and it will not be
easy to learn more, as they are extremely difficult
to observe in the night.

Accounts of Among the few known species of

the Common the Large-eared Makis, the largest
Galago. f w hom equals a Rabbit in size, the

smallest barely exceeding the average Mouse, we
will first consider the Common Galago ( Otolicnus
galago), a graceful animal, about the size of a Squir-
rel. His upper parts are gray, the under parts yel-
lowish-white ; the ears are flesh-colored and the eyes
brown.

This species of Galago is a native of a large part
of Africa. Adanson discovered him in Senegambia
and later travelers observed him in South Africa
and the Soudan. In this latter country I found him
myself, but always to the west of the White Nile.
The natives know him well under the name of Tendj.

Their belief is that he was originally a Monkey, but
became degraded through his sleepiness. We al-
ways found him in mimosa forests, usually in couples.
The animals we saw were sleeping on branches near
the trunk, and always awoke at the sound of our foot-
steps. When we came too near, they dexterously
climbed up the tree, never fleeing, but always sitting
down and watching us with a certain degree of con-
fidence as to their safety. They knew admirably,
how to avoid the many sharp thorns of the mimosas,
and they could leap considerable distances. We
were told that at night they were very agile, and
that then their eyes blazed " like living fire," to use
the expression of the natives. It is said that the
Common Galagos can be easily caught in traps ; and
during the day-time good climbers need only use
their hands to make the capture. The hunter only
has to shake the bough upon which the animal is

SLOW LORIS LEMUR. This peculiar animal, which is also known as " Bashful Billy," is chubby and

ponderous, as the picture shows, its large and heavy limbs making its movements so sluggish as to fully justify its
name of " Slow." The brown rings that always surround its large eyes are well brought out in the picture, and the
figure in the background shows the stumpy tail, scarcely an inch long. (Stenofs tardigradus)

sitting to make the frightened creature cling to it in
fear of falling, and then it can be easily seized.
I believe myself that this mode of capturing Gal-
agos is a good one, for I have often caught young
Squirrels in this way.

The Comba, The Large-eared Maki, living in
His Traits and Zanzibar and called Comba by the
Uses. natives (Otolicnus agisynibanus) , ex-

ceeds the Galago in size, his length being about
twelve inches, exclusive of the tail, which measures
ten inches. The prevailing color is yellowish or
brownish gray ; the large, nearly bald ears are gray.
Kersten tells us that the Comba is caught in a very
simple manner in Zanzibar. He is not hunted but
falls a victim to his "sweet tooth." Notwithstand-
ing his avidity for blood, it appears that he does not
despise sweet things ; on the contrary, he is as fond
of them as only Monkeys and a few rodents can
be. "When palm wine is being manufactured," so

72

THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS.

the above-mentioned traveler tells us, " the Comba
not infrequently invites himself to partake of the
feast. He drinks and experiences the truth of the
saying, that an excess of spirits fogs the spirits. For
the wonderful liquid streaming from the palm's
crown is not onlv sweet, but also intoxicating, and

Roach, or at a larva, and while one hand held the
one he was chewing to his mouth, the other was
hunting new game. In this way he kept on search-
ing, working and eating till he completed his task."

POTTO LEMUR. — This is a small annual, its body being only six
inches long, and as the picture shows, has a short, stumpy tail and very
small ears. Like other nocturnal animals its eyes are very prominent.
It inhabits the West Coast of Africa and lives on fruits. [Perodictipus
potto.)

gets more so the longer it remains exposed to the
air. The thirsty guest loses consciousness, tumbles
down from the tree upon which his hold is usually
so secure, and lies on the ground, sleeping off the
effects of his debauch. The Negro who comes the
next morning to collect the palm wine that has
flown out, finds the still unconscious dreamer, and
either puts him in some improvised cage, or secures
him with a rope fastened around the loins. The
next day he brings him to town and offers him to
some European, who regards the animal as a great
prize. In the course of time he abundantly repays
the trouble he gives while being tamed. In a room
which harbors a Comba, there is no comfortable
living for a Mouse. The room or ship he inhabits is
also sure to get rid of the troublesome Cockroaches.
We recollect with pleasure an experience we had on
a tedious journey. Our ship was infested with Cock-
roaches, and this made the occasional unpacking of
our trunks a necessity. As soon as the trunk was
opened, the odor of these insects would attract our
tame Comba. Though the time of day did not suit
him for exploits of this kind, he carefully examined
the contents of the trunk, and soon proved to us that
he knew very well what was expected of him. He
had ample scope for the display of his peculiar tal-
ents in looking after the disturbed army of Cock-
roaches. With surprising dexterity and lightning-
like rapidity he made dashes at either a full-grown

£be Garsicr.

SECOND FAMILY: Tarsim;.

Another little animal, the Tarsier, has, with just
cause, been made the representative of a distinct
species. It has a large, round head, set close on the
shoulders, a frog-like face, short fore-limbs and long
hinder paws, and a tail surpassing the body in
length. Its teeth resemble those of the Insectivora
or Insect-eating animals. The name Tarsier ( Tar-
sidce) is derived from the animal's very long tarsus,
or ankle-bones. By various naturalists it has been
classed with the Mice, with the Marsupialia, or
pouch-bearing animals, and with the Lemurs. Only
one, or, at most, two families belonging to this
group have yet been discovered, and these general
characteristics apply to both.

The Spectre Tarsier ( Tarsiits spectrum ) attains a
length of about seventeen inches, including the tail
which is about ten inches long. The fur is brownish

ANGWANTIBO LEMUR. This is a small, symmetrical
animal resembling the Potto in some respects but having smaller
hands and feet and only a rudimentary tail, and its ears are pro-
portionately larger than those of the Potto. It is found in Cala-
bar, on the West Coast of Africa, and is very rare. (Arctoccbus
calabarensis.)

gray, the ears are bald and the eyes are proportion-
ately the largest of any mammal. Its finger-tips are
provided with pads. The Spectre Tarsier lives in
the Malay Archipelago and is by no means common.

THE AYE- AVE.

73

The natives regard him as an enchanted animal and
stand in great awe of him.

Jagor tells us about his captive Tarsiers as follows:
" I had the opportunity of purchasing two Spectre
Tarsiers. I was assured in Luzon, that these
strange, pretty little animals inhabited only Samar.

LITTLE GALAGO LEMUR. This little creature is a native

of Madagascar. Its well-formed head and ears, long tail and sym-
metrical limbs, of which the hinder ones are the longest, are brought
out in the picture. It accumulates fat around its tail and in different
parts of its body upon which it subsists during the dry season, when
it coils itself up in a hole in a tree and practically hibernates. {Mi-
crocebus myoxinus.)

My first pet had to go hungry for some time, as he
scorned vegetable food, and I could not procure
Grasshoppers at once. He looked very funny when
I used to feed him. He would then stand on his
two long, thin legs and his tail, and turn his round
head, furnished with two huge yellow eyes, first one
way, then another, looking for all the world like a
lantern on a tripod. By degrees he would succeed
in focusing his eyes on the proffered object ; then
would stretch out his arms like a child, quickly seize
his prey and deliberately devour it.

In the daytime he was sleepy, dull and cross when
disturbed ; at dusk he awakened and his pupils di-
lated. At night he moved about noiselessly and
rapidly, and generally sideways. He was easily
tamed but died soon after I got him. A second pet
of the same group also lived but a short time.

THIRD FAMILY: Leptodactyla.

About a hundred years ago the traveler Sonnerat
received two animals from the western coast of
Madagascar, animals of whose existence nobody
had as yet been aware. Even on the opposite coast
they were entirely unknown ; at least the natives
assured Sonnerat that they had never seen such crea-
tures. They exhibited great astonishment and their
exclamation, "Aye, Aye!" was the name the natu-
ralist chose for his newly-discovered animals.

The Aye-Aye brought to Europe by Sonnerat re-
mained for a long time the only known specimen,
and his description, dated 1782, was the only source
of information about the rare animal. Naturalists
had begun to think the species had died out, when
De Castelle proved the contrary in 1844. This trav-
eler had the opportunity of procuring a living young
Aye-Aye, which he did, and he destined it for the
Parisian Jardin des Plantes. Unfortunately the ani-
mal died before reaching Europe, but its skin and
skeleton came into the possession of the Parisian
Museum, and it was proved that it belonged to the
same family as Sonnerat's Aye-Aye. The two speci-
mens were the only ones known till 1862. Then the
Zoological Society of London received the glad
news that two " Barefingered Animals" {Leptodac-
tyla) — that was the name science had given them in
the meantime — had been caught in Madagascar and
were on their way to Regent's Park. One of them
reached the Zoological Gardens alive, the other in
alcohol. Later a few more specimens followed, three
of which were purchased by the Berlin Museum.

LARGE-EARED GALAGO LEMHR. This picture ac-
curately shows the characteristic features of this animal. The
great, hairless ears, the] trge eye-, the claw on the index finger,
the well-formed limbs that give Mm ins great agility, as well as
the remarkably long tail, are all brought out with fidelity. K'/V-
iicnus galag )

Then it was that naturalists were enabled to prop-
erly classify the Aye-Aye and give it a fixed posi-
tion in their systems.
The Aye-Aye a Since the researches of Owen and
Distinct Group of Peters the Aye-Aye (C/itromys mad-
the Half-Monkeys. dgascariensis\ has 'been regarded as
forming a distinct group by itself among the Hall-
Monkeys.

74

THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMCROWS.

I had the opportunity of observing the Aye-Aye
in London, though unfortunately but for a single
evening. Yet I saw that Sonnerat's description
requires not only additional details but correction.
I will, therefore, give here an account of my own
experiences and of what the keepers told me.

The animal really resembles no one mammal to
a noticeable extent. It reminds one a little of the
Galagos, but a naturalist would hardly think of
classifying it with them. The thick, broad head,
with its large ears, making it appear still wider ;

a], cla

ith the Lc
eculiar knn

AYE-AYE. This i

from all others of that orck . .

many of its oddities— the long, sprawling fingers, all except the thumb having pointed claws
(the third finger being especially long l, the loose straggling outer fur that covers a woolly
undercoat, the large, naked ears, the long bushy tail, and even the rat-like teeth, are vividly
portrayed. {Chiromys madagascariensis.)

the small, fixed, stirring, glowing eyes, with a pupil
smaller than that of any nocturnal Monkey ; the
mouth, which shows a certain likeness to a Parrot's
beak, the considerable size of the body and the long
tail, which, like the body, is clothed scantily with
long, stiff, bristle-like hair, and, lastly, the remark-

able hands with their withered middle finger — all
these peculiarities give the animal so strange an
appearance that one vainly cudgels one's brains in
the effort to classify it with creatures resembling it.
Night is Day A cursory glance at the Aye- Aye is
to the sufficient to tell the naturalist that he is
Aye-Aye. dealing with a nocturnal animal. The
Aye- Aye is more afraid of light than any mammal
of which I know anything. A Half-Monkey can be
awakened at least ; he gropes around, looks wonder-
ingly at the world in daylight, takes some interest
in a Beetle humming near by, even licks
MNHRr ' \ and strokes his fur ; but when the Aye-
\%X-i , Aye has been awakened in the daytime

with a great deal of trouble, he seems
*'ST • V '" ' )C p*'i"icctly absent in spirit. Me-
^w. '?. chanically he drags himself back into
Ml^jf^l his dark corner, curls himself up, and
covers his face with his thick tail, which
1 he rolls around his head like a ring.
Every movement, every action of this
animal shows a laziness that is un-
equaled. Only in full darkness, long
after sunset, does he creep out, evi-
dently still laboring under the fear that
a glimmer of light might shine on him.
The light of a candle, which passes un-
noticed by all other nocturnal animals,
makes him beat a hasty retreat.

Personal If Sonnerat is correct in
Observations of his description, he must
the Aye-Aye. have had to deal with
an exceptionally sweet-tempered Aye-
Aye. The one I saw was anything but
good-natured ; on the contrary, he was
an irritable, unsympathetic fellow.
When he was approached, he spit like
a Cat ; when one held out one's hand
he made a dash for it, uttering the same
spiteful sound.

The only food the Aye-Aye in Lon-
don gets is new milk, with the boiled
and grated yelk of an egg stirred in.
A little dishful is sufficient for his daily
sustenance. He uses both his hands in
eating ; and with them he throws the
liquid into his mouth. So far he has
refused to eat meat.

These few facts I noted down in 1863,
and will now give the observations of
Pollen, dated 1868, as they afford a few
particulars about the Aye-Aye in his
wild state. He says : "This animal, so
interesting to science, has a predilec-
tion for the bamboo forests in the in-
ner parts of the large island. It feeds
on the marrow of the bamboo and sugar-
cane, but also on Beetles and their
larvae. To get at the food, it gnaws an
aperture in the stem of the plant, inserts
its slender middle finger and scoops out
the marrow or the insects it may con-
tain. Its sleepiness by day equals its
activity by night. From sundawn it
sleeps, hiding its head between its legs, and curl-
ing its tail around it. At night it climbs and jumps,
investigating all crevices and openings in old trees
in its search for food, and retires before daybreak.
Its cry is a loud grunt, and is frequently heard dur-
ing the night.

Zhc MmQ*1foan&eb Bnimale.

THIRD ORDER: Chiroptera.

EFORE the setting of the sun
on any beautiful summer day,
some members of this re-
markable order of animals
begin their weird activity.
Out of crevices and dark
hollows creeps the strange,
gloomy army of Bats, which
has been hidden during the
day as if it had reasons of its
own for shunning the light,
and sets out on its nightly
travels. As the darkness be-
comes more dense the num-
ber of these enigmatical beings increases until at
midnight all have emerged and are flying hither and
thither through the air.
Bats Inhabit The more closely we approach the tor-
Warm rid zone, the greater is the number of
Climates. Bats, and the richer their variety. The
South is the native country of the majority of Wing-
handed Animals. Even in Italy, Greece and Spain
the number of Bats is surprising. There, as even-
ing draws nigh, they come out of their nooks and
corners not by hundreds,
but by thousands. Out of
every house, every old
stone wall, every rocky
hollow they flutter, as if a
great army was preparing
for a parade, and the en-
tire horizon is literally
filled with them. The
swarms of Bats one sees
in a hot country are aston-
ishing. It is extremely
interesting to spend an
evening outside the gates
of a city in the Orient
where the Bats literally
darken the sky. One soon
ceases to count them, for
in every direction multi-
tudes are flutteringthrough
the air. Everywhere there
is a living and rnoving
mass flying through the
trees of gardens and

troves, fluttering over the
elds, some low, others at a considerable height.
Through the streets of the town, through houses and
rooms flits the moving train. Hundreds are con-
stantly appearing and disappearing and one is
always surrounded by a hovering swarm.
Principal Characteris- The Wing-handed Animals are
tics of the Wing- mainly distinguished bv their bod-
Handed Animals, ily shape. Almost uniformly they
have a " stocky " trunk, a short neck and a thick, ob-
long head, with a wide mouth. In general structure

they correspond nearest with the Monkeys, and, like
the latter, have two mammae, but are totally differ-
ent in every other respect. Their hands have to
serve them as wings and are therefore enormously
enlarged, while the trunk is of small size. Thus
they give the impression of great size, while in
reality they are among the smallest of mammals.
The interior structure likewise shows characteristic
peculiarities. The skeleton is light, but strong, the
bones never contain air cavities, like those of birds.
The formation of their hands is most peculiar, the
arm, the fore-arm and the fingers being greatly elon-
gated, especially the last three fingers, which exceed
the arm in length. This arrangement renders them
fit for the attachment of the flying membrane, but
incapable of other service. The thumb, which stands
outside the membrane, resembles the fingers of other
mammals ; it is short, has two joints, and is furnished
with a strong claw, which is supposed to do duty
for the whole hand in climbing and when the ani-
mal suspends itself. The thigh-bones are much
shorter and weaker than the bones of the arm, the
bones of the hinder limb in general being much in-
ferior to those of the fore-limb. Their formation is

BARBASTELLE, OR PUG-DOG BAT. When the evening comes, the Pug-Dog Bats flutter out in busy

search forsmall Butterflies, upon which errand those in the picture are bent, their sharp eyes looking eagerly about
for these insects. They live in various parts of Europe and are numerous in the country of the Alps, where they
hover about the edges of forests. {Synotus barbastelius.)

regular ; the foot is divided into five toes, and these
have claws. A striking peculiarity pertains to the
foot : a bone projecting from the heel and called
the "spur." This bone is found only in Bats, and
is used to stretch the membrane between the leg
and the tail. The breast muscles are exceedingly
strong, and possess one muscle that is lacking in
other mammals, this being inserted into the back
of the head on one side and into the hand on the
other, serving to stretch the wings. The teeth re-

76

THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

semble those of the insect-eating animals, having all
the various kinds in closed rows ; but the number
and shape vary greatly.

Some Pronounced The most pronounced of all the
Peculiarities peculiarities is the skin, changing as
of Bats. jt does the whole shape of the body

as well as the expression of the face, sometimes
giving the latter a really monstrous appearance. The
wide open mouth contributes to the repulsiveness ;
but the excrescences of the skin on the ears and nose
really give the face its uncanny appearance and com-
plete its extreme ugliness.

" No other group of animals," says Blasius, "shows
such a development of the skin. I refer not only
to the flying membranes but also to the ear and nose.
The ears attain in all these families a striking growth.
Their length in some kinds is nearly equal to that
of the body ; in width some show an extension of
both ears into one. In some kinds the parts adjoin-
ing the nostrils and the crest of the nose show the
most abnormal growth, and the results are faces such
as we should be able to find nowhere else in the
world. The strange development of the skin in the
wings, ear and nose differs from that of all other
animals and seems to regulate the movements and
mode of living of the Bats, even in details."

Features A feature of the wings, which has but
of a lately been discovered, is a highly
Bat's Wings, elastic, or, rather, contractile layer of
skin. The outer layer is constantly kept pliable by
anointings with an oily liquid, secreted by glands
in the animal's face. The structure of the hair in
Bats is also remarkable, as each thread presents a
screw-like appearance under the microscope. The
purpose of this arrangement seems to be the better
retention of heat.

The Senses of the The senses of Wing-handed Ani-
Wing-handed mals are excellent, but developed
Animals. very differently according to groups.
Some organs of sense show strange enlargements
and appendages. The sense of taste is probably
the least acute ; yet it cannot be called dull, judging
from the structure of the tongue, the softness of the
lips and the rich supply of nerves in both. Besides,
this sense has been experimented on and proved to
be acute. If one, for instance, puts a drop of water
in the open mouth of a sleeping Bat, it will immedi-
ately swallow it ; but if brand}-, ink or some other ill-
tasting liquid be given, it will cast out the draught.
The eye is no less developed. In proportion to the
size of the body, it is small, but the pupil is capable
of considerable dilation. Some kinds have espe-
cially small eyes ; and Koch calls attention to the
fact that they are sometimes so hidden behind the
hair of the face that they cannot be used for the
purpose of seeing. These small-eyed animals are
such as one sometimes sees flying about in the day-
time, while the real, nocturnal Bats have larger eyes,
lying quite free and unobstructed. Vet the eye
may be destroyed without damaging its owner to
any great extent. The sense of sight is supple-
mented greatly by the sense of hearing, of smell
and of touch. Bats have frequently been blind-
folded by sticking a piece of court-plaster over their
eyes ; yet they flew about the room just as usual,
avoiding in a dexterous manner obstacles placed in
their path, such as strings stretched across the room,
etc. The sense of touch ma}' have its scat in the
wings ; at least, this is the conclusion that lias been
reached after long and frequent observations. The
senses of smell and hearing are very well developed.

The nose is perfect in all genuine Bats ; for not only
can the nostrils be dilated, narrowed or entirely
closed by special muscles, but the animals also pos-
sess large, leaf-like appendages, whose only use can
be that of increasing the sense of smell. The ear,
perfected in a similar manner, consists of a large
shell, often extending to the corner of the mouth,
provided with leaf-like expansions and extremely
mobile. There is besides, a large flap, which may
vary in shape, and which, if a noise be too loud, may
be closed and thus spare its owner the pain of list-
ening ; while in very slight noises it serves to catch
and increase the volume of the sound waves. It is
doubtless true that the Bat may hear insects fly
within a limited area, and that it is guided, to some
extent, by the ear in its flight. If one cuts the leaf-
like appendages off, or the lobes or ear-flaps, the
Bat gets confused and knocks against obstacles.

The The intellect of the Bats is by no

Intelligence means as low as is commonly supposed,
of Bats. an d t ne creature gives the lie to the
stupid expression of its face. The brain is large and
has some convolutions, which alone indicates that its
intelligence cannot be small. All Bats are distin-
guished by a rather high degree of memory and
some by the presence of reasoning powers.

Kolenati tells us that a Bat, hunting in an avenue
of linden trees, spared a female Butterfly, because
she attracted a great many males of her kind, thus
proving a lure for the game. If one tries to angle
for Bats by using Butterflies on hooks, his labor is
lost. The\- will approach and look at the hovering
insect, but soon discover the fine tackle, and leave
the temptation untouched, even if food is very
scarce and they are hungry. It has been demon-
strated frequently that Bats may be tamed and be-
come strongly attached to their masters. A number
of naturalists have trained their pets to take food
from their hands or search for it in a glass. My
brother tamed a Long-eared Bat to such a degree
that it followed him all over the house, and when
he offered it a Fly, it instantly hastened to sit in
his hand and take the morsel. The larger Bats are
really possessed of amiable, social qualities ; they
become very tame and in many ways prove them-
selves very sensible.

About Blasius says : " The capacity for, and the
the way special manner of, flying depends on the
Bats Fly. s ] ia p e Q f the wings. Whoever has studied
Bats in nature, must have observed how the rapidity
and agility of certain species correspond to the
shapes of their wings. Those that have these mem-
bers longest and slenderest fly highest and bold-
est ; they can make the most varied and often sud-
den turnings, and are so confident that they will
brave storms and winds. As a rule the wing in fly-
ing describes but a small, acute angle, it being only
at sudden turns that it takes a wider scope, while
the flight is manifold and rapid with small wing-
movements and apparently little exertion.

"The Vespertilio and Rhinolophus are the poorest
flyers of all the Bats. Comparing them with others,
it will be found that their wings are the broadest and
shortest ; they describe a large, and in most cases,
obtuse angle. Their flight is fluttering, slow and un-
certain. Generally the}- fly low and in a straight
direction, without quick turns or side-movements.
Some seem to fairly skim the ground or water, fly-
ing but a few inches above it.

" It is not difficult to guess the genus from the
height and manner of flight and the size of ' the

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BATS.

77

animal; and one cannot err in determining the readi-
ness and manner of flight after looking at the con-
struction of the wings."

In general the flight of Wing-handed Animals is
by short stages rather than by sustained motion. It

the body. The strong breast muscles, the light
lower part of the body, the elongation of arms and
hands which sometimes reach three times the length
of the body," and, lastly, the flying membrane itself,
are all conducive to this mode of locomotion. Soar-

•om repose possibly by the ai

like a great cloak is the membrane di
hang from the long, twisted vine. Froi
five feet as they fly. Their home is in J
where they are very destructive to orcl
vour only at night. (Pteropus edulis.)

-tcli from nature presents the
eir sleeping-place in the forest,
ist while he studies them. How
awn closely about them as they
l tip to tip the wings are nearly
va, Sumatra, Benda and Timor,
irds. the fruit of which they de-

is produced by a constant movement of the arms.
While the bird can soar, the Bat can only flutter.
Its fluttering is greatly promoted by the structure of

ing is impossible, for none of the bones of the Bat
are filled with air, the body does not contain the
large air cavities of the bird, and, which is the chief
reason, the Bat does not possess the strong feathers
that are used to give impulse and guide the course.
Its flight is a constant beating of the air and never
a long shooting or gliding about without motion of
the wings. In order to be able to stretch their mem-
brane and readily and quickly take to flight, all Bats
while in repose hook the claws of their hind paws
into some lofty place, and suspend themselves from
it, heads downward.

It must be said that their hands are not only used
in flying, but also in running on the level ground.
Their walk is not really so bad as one might be led
to suppose ; still, it is nothing but a wretched hob-
bling along. A few species make an exception to
this rule and run nearly as fast as a Rat.
Peculiar Habits AH Bats sleep by day and fly about
and Character- at night. The majority make their
istics of Bats, appearance at dusk and retire to
their hiding places long before dawn ; some species
come out between three and five o'clock in the after-
noon and flicker merrily about in spite of the
brightest sunshine.

78

THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

Every kind has its own hunting-grounds in for-
ests, orchards, avenues and streets, over stagnant or
slowly-flowing water surfaces, etc. It is rare that
Bats fly over open fields, for the simple reason that
there is no game for them. In the fertile South they
also haunt maize and rice fields, for these always
harbor a great many insects, which are their lawful
prey. Their hunting ground will not usually cover
an area greater than a thousand feet ; although some
larger spec'ies might perhaps go one mile, and the
prominent tropical species may fly over much greater
distances, as they have been known to travel from
one island to another several miles apart.

The Bats are gregarious, but only under certain
conditions. There are species that are hostile to,
and occasionally make a meal of each other. Blood-
sucking Vampires will attack Long-eared Bats for
the purpose of sucking their blood, and the latter
will avenge the wrong by eating their assailants.

THE KALONG BAT. This picture shows the great Kalong stalking out upon the branch of a tree in

quest of fruit of which it is so fond, the position being that always assumed by the Sloth. The great " spurs " of the

creature are clearly shown as well as its gentle eye and small ear. The Kalong is gregarious and always moves in cellars, warm roofs prefer-

great swarms. {Pteropus edulis.)

Heuglin observed that African Bats followed
herds of Cattle in their search for food. He says :
"In the Bogos country there are a great many Cattle,
and the herds will sometimes, in their search for
good pasturage and water, remain from home for
months. When we arrived at Keeren, all the horned
beasts had gone into the valleys of Barka and myr-
iads of Flies accompanied them. There were then
but few Bats around Keeren, but at the close of the
rainy season all the herds belonging to our Bogos
were brought in and in their wake appeared incred-
ible numbers of insectivorous Bats. When the last
herd departed the Bats also disappeared. One
night in the beginning of October we camped out
on a plain, three miles from Keeren, near the fenced-
in places destined for Cattle. The animals then be-
ing in the mountains, we saw but one or two Bats,
but on the following day when the herds had re-
turned, the number of Bats toward evening had sur-
prisingly increased."

It seems probable to me that all the Bats under-
take larger wanderings than is commonly supposed.
Warm Temperature A warm temperature is an
Essential to a essential condition to Bats, not

Bats Existence. on \ y because heat gives life to
insects, but because the Bats themselves dislike cold
weather. The number of Bats in warm climates is
due as much to the richer insect life there as to the
fact that the warmer at-
mosphere is conducive to-
their greater development.
Most species stay in their
hiding-places when the
weather is cold, rainy or
windy ; others do go out
on cold evenings, but for
a short time only. We
must also consider the cir-
cumstance that on cold
tgi; evenings their flying about
is to no purpose, as the
insects likewise keep in
HH hiding ; and, besides, wind
makes flying very difficult
to all but the Narrow-
winged Bats.

On the approach of win-
ter all Bats which do not
migrate fall into a more
or less sound sleep. They
select for their hiding-
place nooks or corners
that are protected from the
outside cold, as caverns,

The food of Bats consists of fruit, insects, small
vertebrata, and blood sucked from larger animals.
The Bats of Europe feed only on insects, especially
Night-butterflies, Beetles, Flies and Mosquitoes.
Their greed is exceptional, the larger ones devour-
ing with ease a dozen Beetles, and the smallest
ones eating several dozen Flies without having their
hunger satisfied. The more active they are, the
more food they require, and for this reason are ex-
ceedingly useful animals, meriting the favor of Man
for ridding the world of so many pests. Of course
such is not the case with Blood-sucking Bats, which
may do a great deal of harm, nor with Fruit-eating
Bats, which sometimes destroy orchards and vine-
yards.

ably places near chimneys,
etc. Here one can find them in clusters, sometimes
numbering hundreds, suspended by their hind legs
and closely huddled together, in some cases differ-
ent species being represented, but only such as are
related to each other. It is very rare, indeed, that
one finds two species together, which, in their active
life, wage open war against each other. The heat of
their blood sinks with the outer temperature, some-
times as low as four, or even one degree Reaumur,
while the usual temperature is twenty-four degrees
Reaumur. If the outer air gets so cold that the ani-
mals can no longer withstand it, they awake from
their lethargy and begin to move about. Frequently
they freeze to death, especially in captivity, when
exposed to a very low temperature. While the cold

FLYING DOGS, OR FRUIT-EATING HATS.

79

weather lasts they remain in their pendant attitude,
but on the warmer winter days some species awake
and fly about even in snow and thawing weather.

All Bats carry their young ones around with them
when they fly, even when the little ones can use
their wings fairly well and are able to temporarily

PIPISTRELLE BAT. Out in the night in the light of the stars

the little Pipistrelle busily hies, looking for such tinv insects as Gnats.
Midges and other two-winged Flies, which form its food. This animal is
found all over the British islands, temperate Europe and central Asia, and
is of great usefulness in ridding those countries of the numerous little insect
pests. (. Vesperugo pipistrellits.)

leave their mother's breast. I have myself found
young Bats hanging alone on trees in the virgin
African forests. The young ones reach their full
growth in from five to six weeks.
Strange Appear- The strange appearance and noctur-
ance and Noctur- nal habits of the Bats have, since the

nal Habits. oldest times, given ample food for
superstition, and the harmless animals still have to
contend with the prejudice and antipathy of a large
majority of people. We will not repeat the innu-
merable stories that have been told, many of which
are still believed ; but we wish to emphasize the
claims of the Bats to consideration and good treat-
ment. In our temperate climes they are all very
useful, for they devour with great greed immense
swarms of harmful insects. The few frugivorous
Bats do not concern us in the least, neither do the
blood-sucking Vampires, which latter, by the way,
are not nearly so dangerous as they were once sup-
posed to be. We may consider the whole class as a
highly useful link in the chain of beings.

But Few The number of prehistoric Bats that
Prehistoric has come to our knowledge is exceed-
Bats. ingly small. Hair from these animals

has been found in amber, and their petrified bones
in stone quarries. There are about three hundred
different species now living. The infinitely great
differences in shape, in spite of superficial resem-
blance, render classification difficult, even for natu-
ralists.

Jfl^ino Boos, or jfruit^jeatitiQ Bats.

FIRST DIVISION: Pteropina.

The first grand division of the Bat family is
formed by the Flying Uogs or Fruit-eating Bats,
which may be again subdivided into two distinct
groups, the first being the Flying Dogs proper
{Pteropus), and the second group including the
Night- Uogs ( Cynonycterii ).

All members of this family of Bats are found in
the warmer countries of the Old World, especially
in southern Asia, central and south Africa and
Australia. Their large size is foundation for the
many foolish tales which make of them living mon-
sters. These harmless, good-natured animals have
actually borne the reputation of being formidable
Vampires, and people thought they saw in them
those hideous creations of the imagination which
attach themselves to sleeping human beings and
suck their heart's blood.

Fruit-eaters have, in the main, a Bat-like shape,
but their size is much larger than that of other
members, and their head is that of a good-look-
ing, sympathetic Dog or Fox ; this having earned
for them the name of Flying Dogs or Flying Foxes.
The membrane, and consequently also the formation
of the arms and legs, is similar to that of the other
Bats ; only that besides the thumb the index finger
has a claw-shaped nail. The nose has no appen-
dage, and the ears never show a flap. They are
easily distinguished by their peculiarities from the
remainder of the Bats.

DAUBENTON'S BAT. A tinv creature, but two inches long. It

haunts church towers and other buildings in central Europe, and is
always to be found near rivers and other bodies of water, where it easiest
finds food at the gloaming and far into the night. As the artist repre-
sents it, it is an odd-looking and unhandsome animal, but useful because
it destroys hurtful insects. ( / 'espertili daubentonii.)

Flying Dogs prefer dark woods for their haunts,
and by day tenant the trees in large numbers, hang-
ing in innumerable rows, wrapped up in their wings

SO

THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

as in a cloak. One may find hundreds of them in
hollow trees. They sometimes fly about during the
day in gloomy virgin forests, although activity prop-
erly begins for them at dusk. Their keen vision
and excellent scent direct them to trees possessing
particularly juicy and ripe fruit ; they come to it
singly at first, but presently the swarm collects in
large numbers and soon divests a tree of all its fruit.
They often make raids upon vineyards, where they
do great damage. They eat only the sweet, ripe fruit,
leaving what is less developed for the other fruit-
eating" animals. Sometimes they undertake migra-
tions^ flying from one island to another. They suck
the fruit dry, rather than eat it ; for they spit out the
dry pulp. When they make a raid on an orchard
they eat all through the night, making a noise that

LONG-EARED BAT.

found in middle Europe and parts of Asia, in their favorite haunt,
brought out in the flying and the crouching examples. These ears are
of sleeping is shown in the third animal, whose ears project far belo
(Plecotus auritus.)

may be heard at a considerable distance. The re-
port of a gun does not disturb them, further than
sometimes to cause them to flutter to an adjoining
tree, where they resume their interrupted meal.

They scream a great deal, even when movelessly
suspended from the trees. Their voice has a peculiar
creaky or shrieking sound and sometimes they hiss
like geese.

The female gives birth to one or two young ones
at a time, at intervals of a year. The infants attach
themselves to their mother's breast, and she carries

them about with her, bestowing upon them her ten-
derest care.

In captivity these Bats may be tamed and will then
show a certain attachment for their keepers.

Because of their fruit-eating habits they do more
harm than good ; yet, in a country that is rich in
fruit their devastations ought not to weigh heavily
against them. Haacke finds that their flesh is deli-
cate, and tastes like that of Rabbits and Chickens.
Their fur is also sometimes u ;ed by the natives.
The Kalong, The largest of the Fruit-eaters is the
Largest of Kalong {Pteropus edulis), his body
Flying Dog Bats, being over fifteen inches long, while
his spread of wings may be four feet, eight inches.
His color is brown-black, the under parts assuming a
russet tinge, much lighter than the upper portion.

The Kalong is a na-
tive of the Indian is-
lands, especially Java,
Sumatra, Banda and
Timor ; living either in
large forests or in the
groves of fruit trees
which surround all the
Javanese villages. Oc-
casionally these Bats
cover the branches in
such numbers as to con-
ceal the bark. In the
evening they arouse
from their sleep and
flutter away, each flying
a little distance from
the other.

Rosenberg writes
from Sumatra : " The
Kalong is one of the
commonest of animals,
as well on the coast as
in the depths of the is-
land. These Bats live
gregariously and fly in
numerous flocks at sun-
set in search of food.
During my stay at Lu-
mut, a flock flew reg-
ularly by the little fort
every evening, return-
ing to its sleeping place
before sunrise. I once
fired a shot at a female
flying rather low; a
young one attached to
her breast fell down,
but before it could
reach the ground the
mother, which followed
it with lightning-like
rapidity, had caught it
in her teeth, rose again
in the air and hurried away with her little one."

The food of these Bats consists of all varieties of
fruits, especially figs and mangoes, and they often do
considerable mischief in the Javanese orchards. Yet
they by no means confine themselves to vegetable
food, for they also hunt insects and small vertebrata.
Shortt has, to his great surprise, seen them eating
fish. " During my stay in Conlieveram," says he,
" my attention was attracted by a little pond that
owed its existence to a recent shower of rain. It
swarmed with little fishes, playing in the water and

which are the common English Bat. although
l great barn, and the mighty ears are strongly
nearly as long as the entire body. The manner
v the body although the head is well drawn up.

THE SMOOTH-NOSED BATS.

11

pumping on the surface. The presence of fish in
ponds that completely dry out and fill again during
a shower, was not new to me; but my curiosity was
aroused by a number of large creatures, flutter-
ing rather clumsily over the water, until they suc-
ceeded in catching a fish, when they retired to a
neighboring tree and devoured it. A closer investi-
gation proved them to be Kalongs."

The Kalongs are hunted not so much because of
the mischief they do, as for their flesh. In captivity
they are easily tamed and kept. In the wild state
they are very fastidious, eating only the juiciest of
fruits, but when captive they are remarkably unex-
acting, eating any fruit that is offered to them and
are also fond of meat.

Unfortunately they do not live long in captivity,
in spite of the best of care. They can be given
any privilege but the freedom of flying about. In

Old Flying Dogs of this genus attain a length of
seven inches, their expanse of wing being thirty to
thirty-five inches.

Zbe Smootb^mosefc Bats.

SECOND DIVISION : Gymnorhina.

This division of the Bat family comprises the
Smooth-nosed Bats. The nose is smooth without
any excrescence of the skin ; but the inner part of
the ear shows one small leaf-like appendage. In
some species the ears are united by their inner mar-
gins over the crown of the head, in others this union
is wanting. The nostrils in some open above the
tip of the muzzle ; in others below it. The family
extends all over the globe, with the exception of the
Arctic zone. The number of different species be-

NOCTULE BAT. This sketch accurately portrays the Noctules in the foreground at rest, while one in the distance is flying high in

search of food. Although nocturnal animals they start out upon their hunts long before the setting of the sun. Bold and fearless they soar high
and are so active in their flight that the Falcon cannot capture them. How like a Frog is the crouching Bat in the foreground of the picture.
( Vcsperitgo nod Hid.)

consequence, sooner or later, abscesses form on their
wings and finally cause their death.

Egyptian To the group Cynonycteris belongs

Flying-Dog the Egyptian Flying Dog ( Cynonycteris
Bat. cegyptiacus). It is spread all over

Egypt and Nubia and is a regular frequenter of
sycamore plantations. Some text-books say that it
spends its days in the vaults of the pyramids. This
is decidedly false, as it sleeps on trees like all its
relatives.

The specimens I procured died in a short time.
Other naturalists have been able to keep these Bats
longer, and to train them to be very tame and famil-
iar. Zelebor had a couple in Schoenbrunn, which he
had taught to come to him instantly when he offered
them a date, and which would submit to be stroked
and petted by strangers.

longing to this group is exceedingly large. The
majority keep together in great swarms, especially
during hibernation. One often finds hundreds and
even thousands in one building. Many species live
in perfect peace with each other and there are prob-
ably but very few of solitary habits. They are all
sensitive to cold and retire early in autumn into
their winter retreats, and do not make a reappear-
ance until late in spring. Few fly about before
dusk ; the majority come out at the gloaming and
remain only during the first hours of the night ;
at midnight they rest till the early hours of the
morning, when they again resume their activity.
Their flight is distinguished by strange zigzags,
which make it impossible for birds of prey to catch
them. Their attitude during sleep is the usual one ;
they run on the ground clumsily, but they climb

82

THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

with agility and quickness. They eat insects, only,

and for the most part such as are very harmful to

Man. They make a loud, whistling, chirping sound.

The The Long-eared Bat ( Plecotus auritus )

Long-Eared cannot be mistaken for any other, be-
Bat - cause of its long, large ears. It is

one of the largest European Bats, measuring about
four inches in length, its tail occupying about one
and one-half inches, and the expanse of its wings
being ten inches. The ears are more than two
inches long, traversed by many furrows, and they
curve backwards. The inner margin of each is
furnished with a tongue-like flap, and the entire
-ear is very mobile. The fur is brownish-gray, and
the face is bordered with white hair. Young animals
are darker than old ones.

The Long-cared Bat is distributed all over Eu-
rope, south from the sixtieth degree of latitude ;

its thumb. At the slightest noise it pricked up its
ears, like a horse. In repose the ears were always
folded back. It often turned its head, licked itself
with its tongue and sniffed. Like all Bats it suf-
fered much from parasites, and often scratched its
head with its nails.

The Mouse-colored The Mouse-colored or Common Bat
or ( VesperHlio murinus ) inhabits all of

Common Bat. central Europe, beginning with
England, Denmark and middle Russia, southern
Europe, northern Africa and the greatest part of
Asia, up to the Himalaya Mountains. This is one of
the largest of European Bats. It measures nearly
five inches, two being occupied by the tail, and the
expanse of its wings is fifteen inches. Its upper
part is light gray-brown, the lower a dingy white ;
young animals being lighter gray.

From March until October one is sure to see the
Common Bat in localities favor-
able to its existence, and it is
easily recognized by its flight,
which, is clumsy and fluttering,
but devoid of zigzag movements.
It also lives in mountains and
spends the day under the roofs of
old buildings, or more rarely in
caverns, hanging in clusters. The
quarrelsome disposition and vi-
cious biting of these Bats drive
away all smaller varieties, except
the Blood-suckers. Koch's obser-
vations of captive Common Bats
lead him to think that the weaker
kinds have good reasons for avoid-
ing them, as they sometimes kill
the smaller ones with a bite and
then eat portions of them.
The Noctule The Noctule ( Vespe-
or mgo noctula ) is an

Great Bat. ear i y flying Bat, and
is popularly known in England as
the "Great Bat." It is a common
animal in Europe and is about
four and one-half inches long, with
an expanse of wing of fifteen
inches. Its color is a reddish-

like noses, great ears and long. Rat-like tails. They are African Bats and are found along the waters of
the Nile, being fond of low places, and diligent hunters for food. (Rlifnopoma microphyllum.)

EGYPTIAN RHINOPOME. What queer-looking creatures are here depicted, "with their Hog- brown, the ears and wings being

brownish-black. The wings are
long and narrow and its flight is
very rapid, resembling that of a Swallow.

The Noctule is the strongest of the European Bats.
It comes out earliest and flies highest. Not infre-
quently it is seen a few hours before sunset, dex-
terously eluding the pursuits of birds of prey. By
its sudden turnings it escapes nearly all attacks,
and not even the quick Falcon, which captures Swal-
lows on the wing, can harm it.
The Barbastelle A strange looking creature is the
or Barbastelle (Sy?iotus barbastellus) ,

Pug-Dog Bat. ca lled in Germany the Pug- Dog Bat.
The ears, united over the crown of the head, give to
the face a remarkable expression. The wings are
long and slender ; the spur-bone at the heel shows
a projecting, rounded fold of skin. The tail is a
little longer than the body. This creature measures
four and a half inches in length, with an expanse of
wing of ten inches. Its upper side is a dark brown,
nearly black ; beneath it is a little lighter, being
grayish-brown.

Blasius savs that this Bat is common in England,
France, Italy, Germany, Sweden and the Crimea.

and it has also been found in northern Africa,
western Asia and the East Indies. It is very
common, but lives singly, not in troops. It always
keeps in the neighborhood of human dwellings,
sleeping in summer as often in hollow trees as
behind window-shutters, and in winter it visits cel-
lars and basements as frequently as mines and quar-
ries. In the city it likes squares grown with trees
and shrubs, and, therefore, makes its appearance
nearly always in rooms overlooking gardens.

Long-eared Bats bear captivity better than most
of their relatives, and may live for months or even
years, with very careful treatment. For this reason
they are usually selected for the purpose of a study
of the family in general. They may become more or
less tame. Faber had one in his possession which he
studied for several weeks. It was a very active little
animal, especially at dusk, and often flew atout in
the day-time, but remained quiet towards midnight.
It could fly about in the rooms with the greatest
ease, avoiding obstacles by whirring around them.
It could climb upon the walls very well by the aid of

LEAF-NOSED OR BLOODSUCKING BATS.

83

He has also seen it in Hungary and middle Russia
and in the Alps as high as the cottages of the shep-
herds extend.

In summer the Barbastelle comes out as soon as
the first shadows of evening fall, in fair weather as
well as in rain or storm ; it prefers forest-edges and
orchards to the houses of villages and confines its
hunting chiefly to small Butterflies. Its flight is
high and rapid, and full of zigzag movements.

Xcaf^lRosco or Blooo^Sucfcing Bats.

THIRD DIVISION: Istiophora.

All sub-orders of this tribe are distinguished by
leaf-like complications of the nose, which may as-
sume the most varied shapes.

but only under certain conditions ; and this ex-
plains the conflicting stories that 'are told concern-
ing them. We must also take into consideration the
fact that it is very difficult to study their habits. It
might be well to recount here a few instances of
these blood-sucking traits, without ascribing the
nocturnal deeds to any one species in particular, as
is the practice of most travelers. These stories are
very conflicting, and there is one species of Leaf-
nosed Bats that I cannot connect positively with
any one of these several accounts.

The Spaniard Azara, who calls this Bat " Morde-
dor," which in English means simply "The Biter,"
tells us among other things the following: "Some-
times they bite the combs of sleeping Chickens to
suck their blood, and, as a rule the Chickens after-
wards die, especially if the wound becomes inflamed,

'X>\

VAMPIRE BAT. Here is presented a strikingly faithful picture of the Vampire with its enormous wings, great ears, lofty nose appendage

and frightful grin. The Frog-like shape of the body is also clearly shown, as it is fluttering forth at evening time from its sleeping-place in the great
forest. Monster as it seems to be, the .Vampire would not harm anything larger than a night insect. It is not a blood-sucker, like so many of its
cousins, but is satisfied with the fruits and bugs it finds in its home in northern Brazil and Gu'

Blood-sucking Bats are distributed over all conti-
nents, but are confined to the torrid and temperate
zones. Some are found hidden in the depths of great
woods, in hollow trees, or among the large leaves of
palm-trees or similar plants ; the majority conceal
themselves in rocky caverns, ruins and dark vaults
or in the roofs of houses.

Their principal food consists of Butterflies, Bee-
tles, Mosquitoes, etc.; and the majority, probably,
also have blood-sucking propensities, attacking for
this purpose sleeping birds and mammals, including
Man. Though a great many facts have come to
light pertaining to the blood-sucking habit, this pecul-
iar trait is still steeped in mystery. The probabil-
ities are that all Leaf-nosed Bats are blood-suckers,

\

(Pkyllostoma spectrum.)

a thing that nearly always happens. They bite
Horses, Donkeys, Mules and Cows in the sides,
shoulders or neck, for to these parts they can eas-
ily attach themselves. I have been bitten in the
toes four times, when sleeping in the open air. The
wounds which I received in this way, without any
pain, were round or oblong, and about one line in
diameter, while their depth was so slight that they
barely pierced the skin. They became visible
through their raised margins. The blood that flowed
from each bite would in my estimation amount to
an ounce and a half. In Horses and other animals
it might be three ounces, and I believe that their
wounds would have to be deeper because of their
thick skins."

84

THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

Rengger adds to these words of Azara the follow-
ing : " A hundred times have I examined the wounds
of Horses, Mules and Oxen without being able to
determine how they were caused. The incision is
funnel-shaped, and has a diameter of a quarter of
an inch, sometimes a little more ; the depth is, ac-
cording to the part of the body, from one to two
lines. It never reaches through the skin to the mus-
cles. There is no impression of the teeth, as is the
case in wounds caused by a bite from any other ani-
mal ; but the margins present a soft swelling. I
cannot therefore think that the Leaf-nosed Bats
cause these wounds by a bite, which, by the way,
would awaken any animal. I think it probable that
they first deprive the skin of its sensibility by suck-
ing as is done in the application of a cupping glass,
and when it is swollen, they make a small aperture
with their teeth. That it is impossible for a Bat to
suck and to move its wings at the same time is dem-
onstrated by the structure of the latter. I, at least,
always saw them seated upon the Horses, and this

The following night several of them found their way
into my hammock ; I seized a few that were crawl-
ing around on me and threw them against the wall.
At daybreak I found a wound in my hip, undoubt-
edly caused by the Bats. That was a little too
much for me, and I concluded to exterminate them.
I myself shot many of them that were hanging on
the planks of the roof and then had the negroes
mount ladders into the garret and kill a few hundred
old ones, together with the little Bats."

Hensel and Kappler have had similar experiences,
and it is safe to conclude that many Leaf-nosed
Bats are blood-suckers, that human beings are
rarely bitten by them, and that the mischief they
do varies with time and locality.

The The largest of the South American

Vampire Vampires proper is the Vampire Bat

Bat. {Phyllostoma spectrum). Its length is

seven inches, its expanse of wing, according to

Bates, is twenty-eight inches. The head is long and

thick, the muzzle elongated ; the large ears stand out

GREATER HORSESHOE BAT. Wh.it .1 hideous face i
sunset on the lookout for food. If naturalists tell the truth this Old W
animals should he on their guard. During the summer months it pursu
phus Umt m -equina in . )

necessitated the folding of their wings. The wound
in itself is not dangerous, but as four, five, six or
more Bats suck the same animal in one night, and
often repeat the performance for several consecutive
nights, the animals are much weakened by the loss
of blood, especially as two or three ounces flow out
after each visit."

Other travelers besides Azara have been bitten by
the Bats , among whom was Bates, who lived eleven
years in Brazil. "The first night," he writes, "I slept
soundly and perceived nothing extraordinary. The
second night I was awakened at midnight by the
noise of Bats flying back and forth in my room.
They had extinguished my lamp, and when I relit
it, I saw that the room was full of them. The air
seemed black with the swarm flying around in it. I
had recourse to a stick, and in a few minutes they
disappeared. When everything was quiet, they re-
appeared and again extinguished my light. I paid
no further attention to them, and went to sleep.

■Id Bat is a hi
insects up th,

irtist presents it, sallying forth towards

I sleeping Chamois, Squirrels and othei

a height greater than a mile. (A'/iuw/o-

from the sides and top of the head ; the leaf on
the nose is small in proportion to the size of the
animal ; the soft, delicate fur is of a chestnut hue on
the back and yellowish brown beneath, and the
wings are brown.

The Vampire Bat inhabits northern Brazil and
Guiana, being found in the forests as well as in build-
ings. Bates says : "Nothing in animal physiognomy
can be more hideous than the countenance of this
creature when viewed from the front. The large,
leathery ears, the erect spear-shaped appendage on
the tip of the nose, the grinning features and the
glistening black eye, all combine to make up a fig-
ure that reminds one of some mocking imp of fable.
No wonder that imaginative people have ascribed
diabolical qualities to so ugly an animal. The Vam-
pire, however, is the most harmless of all Bats, and
its inoffensive character is well known to residents
on the banks of the Amazon." According to older
as well as modern observers, this much abused crea-

LEAF-NOSED OR BLOOD-SUCKIXG BATS— HORSESHOE.

85

ture is, although a Leaf-nosed Bat, by no means a
blood-sucker. It zealously hunts nocturnal insects
and does not disdain fruit. Waterton says : "In the
broad moonlight I could see the Vampire fly to the
trees and eat the ripe fruit. On its return from the
forest it frequently brought a round fruit the size of
a nutmeg into our yard, and when the Sawarri-nut
tree bloomed it searched for nuts growing there.
On moonlight nights I often saw Vampires flying
around the tops of these trees, and from time to
time a bud would fall into the water. This did not
happen without cause, for all the buds that I exam-
ined were fresh and sound. So I concluded that
they had been plucked by the Vampires, either for
the young fruit or for insects that were concealed in
them."

THE HORSESHOE BATS.

The representatives of this group in Europe are
called Horseshoe Bats. The appendage of the nose
covers the whole face from
the forehead to the tip of
the nose, and is the most
remarkable feature in
these animals. The wings
are broad and relatively
short, and the flight in
consequence is far from
perfect. The fur of nearly
all the Horseshoe Bats is
light.

The Lesser There are four

Horseshoe known Euro-
Bats. p e a n species
in this group, the most
common of them being
the Lesser Horseshoe Bat
I Rliinolopluis kippocrepis).
It is one of the smallest
of the Bats, for its entire
length is only from two to
four inches, with an ex-
panse of wing of nine
inches. The fur is gray-
ish-white above and a lit-
tle lighter below. This
little Bat extends farther
north than any of its kin-
dred, inhabiting nearly all
of middle Europe, and is
also frequently seen in the
southern portions of that
continent. It is found in
the mountains, in localities
above the forest belt, and
is the most gregarious of all Horseshoe Bats.

Though it is less sensitive to changes of tempera-
ture and climate than are the generality of Bats, still
the Lesser Horseshoe Bat does not fly about in
rough or wet weather unless compelled to do so. It
always selects sheltered places for its habitation and
sometimes, for this purpose, descends caverns and
pits to a considerable depth. Its hibernation is of a
rather long duration, but seems to differ in length
according to circumstances. These Bats are among
the first to retreat to their winter quarters, as well
as among the last to leave their hiding-places. Some
go to sleep later and rouse themselves earlier in the
season than others, but this difference in the begin-
ning and end of their hibernation does not seem to
be due to the influence of age, but rather on account

of sex, as Koch found that the males generally as-
sumed a torpid state early in autumn, and that
females continued their sleep until late in the spring.
In the same way some will temporarily awaken at
times during their hibernation while others do not.

During the summer the Lesser Horseshoe Bats
delight in subterranean vaults, old and little fre-
quented cellars, rocky caverns, old mines, and unin-
habited houses. They are as gregarious then as in
winter, but never assemble in such large groups as
other Bats do; and they hang, not in clusters, but
side by side, and far enough apart so that no one of
the group touches another. When at rest this Bat
always suspends itself by its hind legs and envel-
opes itself either partially or entirely in its flying
membrane. During hibernation it wraps itself up
so closely as to resemble a mushroom more than a
Bat. In summer it is easily awakened so that one
cannot well catch it without a net even in broad day-
light, as the approach of Man causes it to quickly

GREATER HORSESHOE 1
Bat are strikingly presented in this
branch. Partially aroused it would :

AT. The grotesque and unsightly nose, sharp teeth and huge ears ot this

picture as the creature hangs in its peculiar sleeping posture from a tree-
*em to scent danger and be preparing for escape by flight. {Rhinolophus fer-

arouse and fly away. When not asleep, it moves its
head to and fro with extreme rapidity, licks and
cleans itself and searches for the innumerable
parasites which infest its fur. In short, it belongs
to the liveliest, prettiest and most attractive of Eu-
ropean Bats, although it is clumsy and slow in
flight, and, as a rule, does not rise high above the
ground. Unfortunately it does not bear captivity.
Like most members of its family, this Bat is easily
excited, and when disturbed, or even when only-
touched, is liable to a violent hemorrhage of the
nose, which often causes death.

The principal food of the Horseshoe Bats consists
of insects that have no hard parts to their bodies,
such as Flies, small Night-Butterflies, etc. They are
likewise genuine blood-suckers, as Kolenati's observa-

80

THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS.

tions show. This explorer one winter found forty-
five sleeping Bats in a cavern. They were, for the
most part, Long-eared Bats and Lesser Horseshoe
Bats all of which he captured and placed in a spa-
cious room, where they were left to settle down at
their own pleasure. A few days later the naturalist
wished to introduce his collection to a friend, and
found to his great surprise that six of the Horseshoe
Bats had been devoured, nothing being left of them
but the claws and the tips of their wings ; while one
had its head mutilated in a shocking manner. Nu-
merous blood spots, bloody muzzles and swollen
stomachs seemed to point out the Long-eared Bats
as the murderers, and when one of them was killed
and its stomach examined, every doubt on this score
was set at rest. The wings of the Long-eared Bats

WELWITSCH'S BAT. This Bat. first discovered by the late Dr. Wehi tech, is note

and variegated coloring of its wings which near the body are brown dotted with black, and
brown with curved lines of yellow dots, while bands of dark orange dotted with black follow the
and three of the ringers. It inhabits the vicinity of Angola. (Scotophilia ■wttivitschii.)

showed fresh wounds near the body, whose margins
had a swollen appearance ; and these Bats were sus-
pended from the ceiling in clusters, while the Horse-
shoe Bats had retired singly to the darkest nooks and
corners. The conclusion from these facts is very
simple. The two species were not on friendly terms
and had given each other battle during the night.
While the Long-eared Bats were enjoying their first
sweet slumber, the Horseshoe Bats had come and
sucked their blood ; the wounded Bats during the
regular interval of their nightly slumbers had
avenged themselves and devoured the culprits for
their evil deeds.

An inhabitant of Grusia told the same naturalist
that his pigeons often received small wounds with

raised edges during the night, a thing he was at a
loss to explain ; Kolenati believes them to have
been caused by the Horseshoe Bat. Hence we
conclude that Europe also possesses genuine Vam-
pires, though they are rather harmless on the whole,
and do not inspire us with dread and horror.
The Greater The Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolo-
Hoiseshoe pints ferrum-eq uinum ) is still more com-
Sat - mon. Its length is two inches, exclusive

of the tail, which measures nearly an inch and a half.
The wings have an expanse of thirteen inches. This
Bat inhabits the greater part of central and all of
southern Europe, and has been found in the Leb-
anon Mountains in Asia. In the mountains it is
seen in summer at an elevation of 6,000 feet or even
higher. Kolenati believes that it also is a blood-
sucker. One sees it at
night fluttering about in
deep valleys, trying to at-
tach itself to Roe-bucks
and Chamois with this
purpose in view. It also
roams about among sleep-
ing Squirrels, and though
it has never been proven
guilty of sucking blood,
its actions are certainly
highly suspicious.

Other There are a few
Groups other interesting
of Bats, groups among
the Bats. The Megader-
ma contain one species
which is said not only to
suck blood, but also tc
feed upon small Frogs.
These Bats are distin-
guished by a triple ap-
pendage on the nose, by
large ears united by their
inner margins over the
forehead, and by a long
ear-flap.
The Lyre Bat (Megader-
Ttia lyra), which maybe considered one of the best
typical examples of this genus, owes its name to its
nasal appendage, which somewhat resembles a lyre.
Another group are the Rhinopoma. Their nasal
ornament is simple, consisting of one erect, lancet-
shaped leaf. The ears are also united over the fore-
head and of moderate size, while the tail is very
long for a Bat.

To this group belongs the Egyptian Rhinopome
(Rhinopoma mtcropkyllum). It is a very small ani-
mal, whose most remarkable feature is its long, thin
tail. It consists of eleven vertebrae and reaches far
beyond the flying membrane. The creature is found
in Egypt in great numbers, especially in deserted
monuments and in artificial and natural caverns.

of the forearm

Zhc Beasts ot pvcy.

FOURTH ORDER: Carnivora.

'O CLASS of mammalia pre-
sents a greater variety of
forms than the Carnivora,
nearly all sizes being repre-
sented, from the smallest to
medium ; while in external
appearance there is infinite
variety. How many inter-
mediate connections are to
be found between the pow-
erful Lion and the tiny Wea-
sel, the graceful Cat, clumsy
Hyena, slender, dainty Civet
with its fine, sleek skin, the
strong, rough Dog, lumbering Bear and agile Marten
— all these are members of one great family. One
can but be astonished that they are united in one
group, living as they do, some on the ground, some
in the water and some on trees !

General All Beasts of Prey show in their phys-
Traits of ical endowments and mental capacities
Carmuora. considerable uniformity, notwithstand-
ing their superficial difference. Their modes of life,
their habits, their food, all more or
less similar, indicate that not only
the structure of their limbs, their
teeth and digestive organs, but also
that their minds and mental capac-
ity must, in some degree, be of the
same cast. Caricatures and repul-
sive peculiarities are entirely absent
in this class.

Their limbs are in harmonious re-
lation with each other and the body,
uniformly have four or five toes,
and are provided with strong claws,
which may be sharp or blunt, re-
tractile in their sheaths, or without
this covering. All the organs of
sense show a high degree of devel-
opment. The teeth are strong,
sharp, often pointed, the upper ones
fitting into or between those of the
lower row, and all deeply fixed in
powerful jaws which are set in
motion by huge muscles.

The stomach is always simple in
structure; the intestines are of short
or medium length. Some species show peculiar
glands, secreting a liquid of a pungent odor, which
serves either as a defence against stronger animals,
or to attract weaker ones ; and which may be oily
and used to keep the skin pliable.

A close examination of the Carnivora will show
us the following general peculiarities of structure :
the skeleton is strong, in spite of its light, graceful
appearance ; the skull is elongated, its solid ridges
and crests and the strongly curved zygomatic arches
affording ample room for the attachment of power-

ful muscles. The orbits are large, and the nasal
bones and cartilages are long, so that the organs of
sense have room for perfect development. The proc-
esses of the vertebras are long, and those of the
lumbar region are often united ; but the number of
vertebra; forming the tail is subject to great varia-
tion. The structure of the limbs may also vary ac-
cording to the mode of life, but always shows a
combination of strength and mobility.

Many Carnivora have the nose lengthened into a
trunk and furnished with special cartilages and small
bones ; with these the. trunk serves for digging up
earth. The limbs of some are short and thick and
these species are adapted for a subterranean life. In
others the limbs may be long, giving the capacity
for quick running, or they may be connected by
webs and enable the animal to live in the water.
The claws may be retractile, in which case they are
protected in walking, and may serve as excellent
weapons ; or else they are blunt and immovable, in
which event they serve only to protect the foot and
to dig up the ground. The canine teeth are as for-
midable as the grinding teeth, and may, therefore,

THE KOYAL TIGER. This picture shows with the strictest fidelity the structure and mark-
ings of this great feline. The curved outline of the head with its stripings and shadings, the muscular
limbs and the powerful padded paws, the ringed and tapering tail, and the soft and stealthy movement
of the Tiger wandering through the jungle are all revealed by a study of this illustration. {Pelts tigris.)

be used with equal effect in fighting and for the hold-
ing and tearing of prey. Large muscles and tendons
give strength and endurance, and are so arranged as
to permit of wide-sweeping, easy movements.
Development of In addition to all this their senses are
Senses in acute to a high degree. In exceptional
Carmuora. cases one sense may be weak, but the
others are then sure to make up for the deficiency
by special keenness. It cannot be said that any
one sense is a distinguishing feature of all alike ; for
some show a wonderful development of the sense of

(87)

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

smell, others of the sense of hearing, others again of
the sight ; and in some the sense of touch plays an
important part. As a rule two of the senses are very
acute, being usually those of smell and hearing ;
more rarely hearing and sight.

The mental faculties are in harmony with the
physical structure. We find animals of wonderful
sagacity among the Carnivora and, therefore, it is
but natural that they should be adepts in all the arts
of cunning and dissimulation, for their destructive
and thievish natures call for this. Consciousness of
their strength also gives them a courage and bold-
ness such as other animals never attain. But these
very qualities have others behind them, which do
not show these animals in such favorable light. The
Carnivora are accustomed to conquest, and their
imperiousness often degenerates into cruelty and an
unquenchable thirst for blood.

How Carnivora Differing mental and physical qualities
Live and in an animal indicate a certain mode of
Hunt. uf e ; n a given locality. But Carnivora
live and govern everywhere : on the level ground, in
the tree-tops, in the water, in the mountains and on
the plains. In this order of* animals are included
some of perfectly diurnal and others of nocturnal
habits ; some looking for food at dusk, some in the
sunshine, and others in the dark of night.

Many live gregariously, others live singly ; some
attack their prey openly, but the majority stealthily
creep up and surprise it, no matter how strong they
may be, nor how weak their victim. All carnivo-
rous animals habitually secrete themselves in order
not to frighten away their destined prey, and few
are in haste to flee at the first signs of danger. The
more they like daylight, the livelier, the more socia-
ble and more cheerful they are ; the more nocturnal
their habits, the more they show themselves dis-
trustful, shy and sulky.

All Beasts of Prey are flesh-eaters ; and very few
of them eat fruit, grain or other vegetable food.
They are sometimes divided into flesh-eaters and
omnivorous animals, but these divisions do not bear
close scrutiny, for those classed as omnivorous pre-
fer a juicy piece of meat to anything else, just as do

the largest and most ferocious of the flesh-eaters.
All members of this order are downright murderers,
whether they kill large or small animals, and even
those that are fond of vegetable food quickly rise to
the occasion when murder is in view and animal
food is at stake. There is naturally as much differ-
ence in the methods pursued by carnivorous mam-
mals in their selection of food, or rather prey, as
there is in their bodily structure, the character of
their native country or their modes of life. Few
animals are secure from their attacks. The largest
and strongest Carnivora give mammals the prefer-
ence, although not disdaining other animals. Even
the Lion does not feed exclusively on mammals,
and the other Felidae are still less fastidious. The
Dogs, which originally were genuine flesh-eaters, ex-
tend their hunting still farther ; and among the
Civets and Weasels there are some which confine
themselves to fish and similar food. The Bears are
the real omnivorous animals, devouring vegetable
food with as much enjoyment as flesh.

Sexes and Some of the Carnivora are supposed to
Young of maintain perfect marital relations ; but
Carnwora. none of them unite for life. Among
some Felidae and Weasels, both sexes live in close
companionship, and may mutually assist in feeding
and protecting their young ones; with the majority,
however, the father considers his children his lawful
prey and has to be driven away by the mother when
he discovers their lair. Under such circumstances
the rearing of the young devolves solely upon the
mother. The number of young at a birth varies
greatly, but is rarely as low as one. They are nearly
all born blind and very helpless, but develop rapidly.
The mother carefully instructs them in their craft,
and accompanies them in their forays until they are
able to shift for themselves. In a few species the
mothers carry their young upon their backs or in
their arms in times of danger; the remainder take
them away in their mouths.

Man wages open war upon nearly all Carnivora.
He has tried to tame and domesticate very few of
them, though one genus, the Dog, has come into
friendlier relations with him than any other animal.

XTbe Cat jfamfl?.

FIRST FAMILY: Felidae.

If asked to whom the place of honor among the
Beasts of Prey belongs, no Man would be long in
doubt as to the family he should name. The Lion
was crowned king of the beasts at a remote period
of time, and so we first turn to his tribe, which is
that of the Cats, or Felidae.

The Cats are the must perfect and typical mem-
bers of the family of Carnivora. No other group
presents the same symmetry of limb and body and
the same regularity of structure. Every part of the
body is lithe and graceful and this is why these ani-
mals are so pleasing to our aesthetic sense. We may
safely regard our domestic Cat as representative of
the entire family.

Physical We may assume the structure of the
Features of body to be known; the strong, yet
the Cat Family, graceful body, the round head set
on a stout neck, the limbs of moderate length, the
long tail, and the soft fur corresponding in color to
the surrounding objects, are features with which
everybody is familiar. The weapons with which the
Felidae are endowed are perfect. The teeth are
formidable, the canines being large, strong, very lit-
tle curved and so perfectly adapted to life-destroy-
ing action that the small incisors are hardly notice-
able beside them. The tongue is thick and muscu-
lar, and is supplied with fine, horny thorns, whose
points lie towards the throat. The teeth are not the

THE CAT FAMILY.

89

•only weapons possessed by the feline animals, their
-claws being no less terrible instruments for seizing
their prey and speedily terminating its existence.
Their broad, rounded paws are proportionately
short ; for the last toe-joint is curved upwards. In
repose and in ordinary walking two tendons keep
the member in its upright position ; but when the
animal is angry and needs its claws, a strong flexor
muscle inserted below draws it down, stretches the
paw and makes it an effective weapon. This struct-
ure of the feet enables the Cats to walk without
leaving any traces of the claws, and the softness of
their step is due to pads upon their soles. The Cats
are both strong and agile and their every movement
displays vigor and lithesome grace. Nearly all
members of this family partake of the same physical
and moral traits, although some special group may
seem to have a particular advantage over the others.

force of their spring. They are also capable of car-
rying considerable burdens, and easily convey to a
convenient hiding place animals they have killed,
although their N prey may be as large as themselves.
Acute Senses Of their senses those of hearing and
of the sight are the most acute. The ear

Cat Family. undoubtedly is their guide on their
hunting expeditions. They hear and determine the
nature of noises at great distances ; the softest foot-
fall or the slightest noise from crumbling sand is not
lost upon them, and they are thus able to locate
prey that they cannot see. The sight is less keen,
though it cannot be termed weak. Probably they
are unable to see distant objects, but at short range
their eyes are excellent. The pupil is round in the
larger species and dilates circularly when the animal
is in a state of excitement ; smaller species show an
elliptical pupil, capable of great dilation. In the

THE ROYAL TIGER. Here is presented a faithful portrayal of the scourge of Asia in his native jungle. The flaming yellow hue that

forms the ground color in his coat is left to the imagination, but the dark stripings are accurately depicted. He sees his prey and is rapidly
approaching it, for the uplifted tail in these animals is a signal of attack, and the whole expression ot the face in the picture is one of voracious
expectancy. Soon those sharp canine teeth and the yet sheathed claws will claim a life. The fierce nature and muscular structure of the Tiger
are well brought out. {Felis tigris.)

All Cats walk well, but slowly, cautiously and noise-
lessly; they run quickly and can jump distances
that exceed many times the length of their respect-
ive bodies. There are only a few of the larger
species that are unable to climb ; the majority being
greatly skilled in this accomplishment. Although
as a rule averse to water, they swim well, when
necessity compels ; at least, none of them can easily
be drowned. Each member of this family knows
how to curl up its handsome body and reduce its
compass, and all are experts in the use of their paws.
The large species can strike down animals larger
than themselves with one stroke of the paw and the

daytime it shrinks to a narrow slit under the influ-
ence of the bright light ; in darkness or when the
animal is excited, it assumes a nearly circular shape.
The sense coming nearest to that of sight in keen-
ness is probably that of touch, which manifests
itself in sensibility to pain and other outward condi-
tions as well as in a discriminating faculty of feel-
ing. The most sensitive organs are the whiskers,
the eyebrows, and, in the Lynx, probably also the
ear-tufts. A Cat with its whiskers cut off is in a
very uncomfortable plight ; the poor thing is at a
complete loss to know how to act and shows utter
indecision and restlessness until the hairs have grown

90

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

out again. The paws also seem endowed with an
exquisite sense of touch. The entire family of Cats
is very sensitive ; being susceptible to all external
impressions ; showing decided dissatisfaction under
disagreeable influences and a high degree of con-
tentment under agreeable ones. When one strokes
their fur they exhibit a great deal of pleasure ;
while if the fur is wet or subjected to similar repul-
sive impressions, they display great discomfort.
Their smell and taste are about equal in degree,
though perhaps taste may be somewhat the more
acute of these two senses. Most Cats appreciate
dainty morsels, in spite of their rough tongue. The
remarkable predilection of certain species for strong-
smelling plants, like valerian, admits only of the
conclusion that the sense of smell is very deficient,
as all animals with a well-developed organ of smell
would shrink from them with disgust ; while Cats
jump around these plants and act as though they
were intoxicated.

Mental En- As to intellect Cats are inferior to
document of the Dogs, but not to such an extent

Cat Tribe. as ; s commonly supposed. We
must not forget that when instituting a comparison
we always have in mind two species that can
scarcely be regarded as fair standards: on the one
hand the domestic Dog, systematically bred for
thousands of years, and on the other the neglected
and often ill-treated domestic Cat. The majority of
the Felidse show a higher development of the lower
instincts than of those that are noble and elevating ;
yet even our Pussy demonstrates that the Cat family
is capable of education and mental elevation. The
domestic Cat often furnishes instances of genuine
affection and great sagacity. Man usually takes no
pains to investigate its faculties, but yields to estab-
lished prejudice and seems incapable of independent
examination. The character of most species is a
blending of quiet deliberation, persevering cunning,
blood-thirstiness and foolhardiness. In their asso-
ciation with Man they soon lose many of the char-
acteristics of the wild state. They then acknowl-
edge human supremacy, are grateful to their owner,
and like to be petted and caressed. In a word,
they become perfectly tame, although their deep-
rooted, natural faculties may break out at any mo-
ment. This is the principal reason why the Cats are
called false and malicious ; for not even the human
being who habitually torments and ill-treats animals
accords them the right of revolting now and then
against the yoke of slavery.

The Cats are well distributed throughout the New
and the Old World, except in Australia, where only
the domestic Cat is found, many of which have
there degenerated into the wild state. They inhabit
plains and mountains, arid localities and marshy dis-
tricts, forests and fields.

Food and The food of the feline family con-
Hunting Methods sists of all kinds of vertebrates, pref-

of Felines. erably mammals. Some show a pre-
dilection for birds, a few others are fond of Turtles,
and some even go fishing. All species pursue the
same methods when attacking their destined prey.
With stealthy footfall they creep over their hunting
ground, listening and looking in all directions. The
slightest noise makes them alert and incites them to
investigate its origin. They cautiously glide along
in a crouching position, always advancing against
the wind. When they think themselves near
enough, they take one or two leaps, fell their prey
by a blow in the neck with one of their fearful paws,

seize it with their teeth and bite it a few times.
Then they open their mouth slightly but without
letting go of the victim ; they watch whether any
sign of life remains, and then again close the teeth
upon it. Many of them utter a roar or a growl at
this time, which expresses greed and anger as much
as satisfaction, and the tip of the tail wags to and
fro. The majority have the cruel habit of torment-
ing their prey, seemingly giving it a little liberty,
sometimes even letting it run a short distance, but
only to pounce upon it at an opportune moment,
and then repeat the operation over and over, until
the animal dies of its wounds. The largest members
of the Cat family shun animals which offer great re-
sistance, and attack them only after experience has
taught them that they will be victorious in the fight.
The Lion, Tiger and Jaguar, at first acquaintance,
fear Man and avoid him in a most cowardly manner.
It is only when they have seen how easily he is con-
quered that some of them get to be his most formid-
able enemies. Though nearly all Felidffi are good
runners, yet most of them give up their intended
prey if they do not succeed in the first attempt. It
is only in secluded places that they will eat their
prey on the field of capture. Usually they bear
away the killed or mortally wounded animal to a
quiet hiding-place, where they devour it at their
leisure.
The Cat Kind As a rule the female gives birth to
and Its several cubs at a litter, but seldom to
Young. one \y e ma y say that the number
varies between one and six ; although some species
are declared to have more than the latter number.
The father, as a rule, is indifferent or hostile to the
offspring, the responsibility and care resting upon
the mother. A feline mother with her young ones is
a very pleasing spectacle. Motherly tenderness and
solicitude are expressed in every gesture and in
every sound, the voice being gentle and soft to a
surprising degree. Her watchfulness is so unremit-
ting that one cannot doubt the absorbing love she
has for them. It is very gratifying to observe how
carefully she trains them from earliest youth in
habits of extreme cleanliness. She cleans, licks and
smooths their fur unceasingly, and will tolerate no
dirt near the lair. At the approach of a foe she de-
fends her offspring with utter disregard for her own
life, and at such times the mothers in all the larger
species are most formidable enemies. In many
species the dam must protect her little ones from
their father, who, if not prevented, will enter the lair
and devour them while in their stage of blindness.
This, probably, is the origin of the feline habit of
mothers hiding their little ones. When the latter
have grown somewhat older, the aspect changes, and
they have nothing more to fear from the father.
Then begins the merry childhood of the little ani-
mals, for they are full of fun and play. Their nature
is revealed in the first movements and emotions,
their play being nothing but a preparation for the
serious hunts of their adult life. Everything that
moves attracts their notice ; no noise escapes them ;
the slightest rustle makes the little listeners prick up
their ears. The earliest delight of these young ones
is their mother's tail. They first watch it in its
movements, and soon the whole mischievous com-
pany tries to catch it. The mother is not in the least
disconcerted, but continues to express her moods by
the wagging of that member. In a few weeks the
little ones are able to indulge in the liveliest romps
and the mother joins them, no matter whether she be

92

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

a stately Lioness or one of our domestic Pussies.
Sometimes the whole family forms a single ball, and
each is intent upon seizing the tail of the other. As
they grow, the games become more serious. The lit-
tle ones learn that their tail is but a part of them-
selves and long to try their strength on something
else. Then the mother brings them small animals,
sometimes alert live ones, then those that are half-
expiring. These she turns loose, and the little fel-
lows practice upon them, in this way learning how to
pursue and handle their prey. Finally the mother
takes them along on her hunts, when they learn all
the tricks — the stealthy approach, the mastery of
their emotions, and the sudden attacks. When they
become completely independent of parental care
they leave their mother, or their parents, as the case
may be, and for some time lead a solitary, roaming
life.

The harmful species are hunted zealously, and
there are men who find the keenest enjoyment in
the very danger of this sport.

Subdivisions The classification of the Felidse is very
of the difficult ; yet we think it proper to di-

Cat Species. vl d e tne m into the Cats proper ( Ft lis I ;
the Lynxes (Lynx); the Cheetah {Cynailurus) and
the Foussa ( Cryptoprocta) of Madagascar. A typical
specimen of the first group is our domestic Cat and
its most highly developed members are the Lion
and Tiger. The Lynxes have a shorter tail and
longer limbs than the Cats proper and have hair tufts
on their long ears. The Cheetah has longer limbs
and the claws are not retractile. The last family,
the Foussa or Cryptoprocta, has a dentition differ-
ing from the other groups, hairless soles and other
peculiarities which place it among the distant rela-
tives of the Civets or Viverridre, and stamp it as a
being similar to the first original Cat, from whom
the others have descended.

THE CATS PROPER.

We will first consider the Cats proper (Fills), sepa-
rating the Old World species from those of Amer-
ica. The striped Cats will be treated in one class ;
the spotted ones and those which are of a uniform
color in another.

THE TIGER.

In the group of the striped Cats the Tiger stands
out most prominent, for he is, after the Lion, the
most perfect member of the whole family. He is
a genuine Cat, devoid of mane, but furnished with
large whisker-like tufts, and shows most distinct
Stripes on his fur. He is the most dreaded of all
the feline species, a foe against whom Man, even, is
almost powerless. No other beast of prey combines
such majestic beauty with so cruel a character ; no
other better demonstrates the truth of the fable, in
which the Mouse admires the Cat for its prettiness
and amiability. If fierceness were taken as a stand-
ard, he would be counted as first among all mam-
mals, for he has withstood the lord of creation as
no other animal has d ne. Instead of retreating as
the line of agriculture and civilization advances, he
finds himself attracted by human settlements, and
has in some instances forced Man to retreat. He
does not fight shy of populous localities like the
Lion, who scents danger in them, but boldly opposes
Man, not openly, to be sure, but as a stealthy, cun-
ning foe. His cruelty and Man-eating propensities
have been greatly exaggerated ; or, at least, depicted
in very glaring colors.

The The Royal Tiger (Fells tigris), also

Magnificent called Bagh, Sher and Nahar bv the
Royal Tiger. Hindoos, and Hariman by the Malays,
is a magnificent specimen of the Felida;, with a won-
derfully beautiful color. He is taller and more
slenderly built than the Lion. The entire length of
a full-grown male, counting from the nose to the tip
of the tail, is between nine and ten feet. The female
is about one foot, or one foot, four inches shorter.
The length of the tail varies from two and one-
half to nearly four feet. The height, at the shoulder,
is from three to three and one-half feet. The weight
of two female Tigers has been found to be two hun-
dred and sixteen and three hundred and seventeen
pounds, respectively, while two males weighed three
hundred and twenty-six and three hundred and for-
ty-four pounds. The body is longer than that of
the Lion, while the head has a rounder shape ; the
tail is tuftless, and the hair short and smooth. The
female is smaller and her whiskers are inferior to
those of the male. All Tigers inhabiting northern
regions are clothed during the cold season in thicker
and longer hair than those which are natives of the
tropical valleys of India. The fur shows a harmo-
nious arrangement of colors, and a vivid contrast be-
tween the light flame-color of the groundwork and
the dark stripes. As in all the feline animals the
tinge of the back is darker than that of the sides ;
the bell)-, the inner side of the limbs, the lips and
the lower parts of the cheeks are white. The stripes
are differently interspaced in individual animals, and
run in a slightly slanting direction from the spine
backwards and downwards. The tail is lighter than
the back and also shows darker ringlets. The whisk-
ers are white. The large eyes have round pupils and
are of a yellowish-brown color. The young ones
show exactly the same disposition of color, except
that the ground tint is lighter. The Tiger, however,
shows variations in his coloring ; the ground tint
may be dark or light, and in a few rare cases it is
black or white with dingy stripes.

So brilliantly adorned an animal would seem to
be very conspicuous and easily detected by the very
animals it pursues ; but that is not the case. I have
already mentioned how the coloring of all animals,
and the Felidae in particular, harmonizes with sur-
rounding objects, and I need but recall the fact that
the Tiger usually takes up his abode in bushes, reeds
and high grass. Frequently even experienced sports-
men entirely overlook a Tiger, as well as other ani-
mals that are lying quite close to them.

Where the The range of the Tiger is wide, not
Tiger is being confined to the very warm parts
Found. f Asia, but extending over a portion
of that continent equal in area to the whole of
Europe. He inhabits the country between the
eighth degree of south and the fifty-third degree of
north latitude, being found as far north as southeast-
ern Siberia, which has a much colder climate than
has that part of Europe which lies in the same lati-
tude. His headquarters are India ; and thence he
spreads northward through China to the banks of
the Amoor and through Afghanistan and Persia to
the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. A few scat-
tered specimens may occasionally be found beyond
these boundaries, but certainly not westward to the
Caucasus or the Black Sea. On the Malay Islands
the Tiger does not live, except in Sumatra and Java,
and Ceylon is also free from his presence.

Jungles rich in reeds and bushes harbor the Tiger,
as well as stately forests, up to a certain altitude

94

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

above the sea-level. He does not ascend high
mountains, and even in the Himalayas he is not
found at a greater elevation than six thousand feet.
The banks of rivers thickly grown with reeds, impen-
etrable bamboo bushes and other thickets are his
favorite haunts. He is also fond of ruins, and not
infrequently as many as three or four are seen lying
on an old wall or on the roof of a deserted temple.
All observers agree that he habitually returns to
hiding places and lairs that have once been selected,
although others just as desirable may be in the
immediate neighborhood. Blanford writes : " Some
spot grown with high grass or reeds, on the bank of
a river or edge of a marsh, some thicket of bushes
among a dozen of similar kind, some special pile
of rocks among a hundred just like it, continues to
be the home of a Tiger for years, and when its in-
habitant is killed by a sportsman, another will soon
nunc into the deserted home."

Habits and The Tiger possesses the same habits
Characteristics and customs as all the Cats, but they

of Tigers. are proportioned to his great size. His
movements are as graceful as those of the smaller
felines, and he is. possessed of wonderful agility and
great endurance. ,, He glides noiselessly along, cov-
ering great distances in a short time; he runs swiftly
at a gallop and swims excellently. His jumping
ability has been much overestimated. The foot-
marks left by him in the pursuit of game have been
measured and the greatest distance covered in a
single leap was about seventeen feet. He does not
climb trees, unless their trunk is inclined or very
gnarled ; and he is unable to ascend those that are
upright and have a smooth bark. But he sometimes
jumps on trees in play, Cat-like, and tears the bark.

The Tiger cannot be said to have exclusively
nocturnal habits. Like all Cats he prowls around at
any hour of the day or night, but he prefers the
period just before or after sunset. He lies in wait
for prey chiefly at points where animals go to drink,
near roads or along paths through the wood. In
southeastern Siberia he nightly visits places where
salt is being made ; for he, like the native sports-
men, is well aware that Deer congregate there,
attracted by the product of the mines. ( >ften he
encounters hunters intent on the same game as him-
self. No mammal enjoys immunity from his attacks,
except the strongest, like the Elephant, the Unicorn,
or the Buffalo. He is said, sometimes, to try his
strength on the latter, but usually, and especially if
the Buffalo he a male, he comes out worsted- There
also are a few reports to the effect that an old and
tried Wild Boar occasionally gets the better of him.
Now and then the Tiger may pick a quarrel with a
Bear, but his favorite game is Wild Hoars. Deer and
Antelopes. When times are hard he eats any ani-
mal that comes along, whether it creeps, flies or
walks. The Bengal Tiger, during inundations, lives
upon fish, Turtles, Lizards and Crocodiles. Simson
found the stomach of a slain Tiger stuffed with
Grasshoppers. He is said not to disdain Frogs;
and when, in northern regions, food is scarce in win-
ter, he goes Mouse-hunting.
The Tigera Thus all animals, large or small, have

Terror to good reason to be on their guard against
all Animals. \\^ c Tiger. As Crows, or the smaller ani-
mals, make a noise when pursued by a bird of prey, so
many animals in the tropics lift up their voices at
the approach of the Tiger. They know him from
experience, and realize what is in store for them
when he begins his hunt. Forsyth and others tell

us how useful Monkeys may be on a Tiger hunt.
" Once," Forsyth tells us, " I followed a Tiger
through a dried-out water-course, guided solely by
the conduct of numerous Hoonumans, which were
plucking fruit on the banks. When the Tiger was
passing under them, they fled to the highest trees,
shook the branches violently and screamed and chat-
tered so that one could hear them at a great dis-
tance. Each troop continued its noise until he was
out of sight, and then the next one sounded the
alarm ; after which the first troop of Monkeys de-
scended and complacently resumed their berry-eat-
ing. In this way I was kept informed as to the
precise whereabouts of the Tiger, and was able, at a
bend of the river, to cross it, run ahead of the brute
and lie in wait for him. Soon I saw him sneaking
along with great, swinging strides, his tail between
his legs, the very personification of a guilt}- mur-
derer. His conscience evidently smote him, for he
guiltily looked around and up, as if imploring the
Monkeys to keep still and not betray his presence.
A bullet put an end to his career."
Tigers, though On the whole the Tiger is not a coura-
Fierce, not geous animal. He is not only cautious

Brave. anc j timid, but downright cowardly,
though exceedingly cunning. At a first meeting
with Man, the Tiger always seeks safety in flight.
Some Tigers are put out of countenance by noises
and gestures, and probably none resist a resolute
opponent. Some there are, who know by experience
that Man is their most easily conquered prey, and
these are very dangerous, as they then lie in wait
for unsuspecting victims. Under certain conditions
the\- are not only bold, but impudent. A few dis-
tricts are so infested with Tigers that communica-
tion between given points can only be had in safety
by means of large bodies of men, who protect them-
selves by night by building tires, of which these
animals have greal Eear, Tigers are known to have
carried away people in the neighborhood of villages
and even from between huts, and instances are re-
corded where the} - have compelled people to desert
their homes for places of greater security. Those
have most to fear whose occupation demands a rather
solitary outdoor life, as shepherds, mail-carriers,
wood-choppers and field laborers. The first named
are also in constant fear for their flocks.

Villages During the latter part of the '6o's a
Terrorized by Man-eating Tiger had taken up his

Tigers. abode in Maisur, and attained unenvi-
able notoriety under the name of Benkipur, terror-
izing the neighborhood for miles and miles around,
until a bullet closed his career of cruelty. Forsyth
freed the central provinces of several Man-eaters,
of whose deeds he tells us. One of them had
stopped all communication on several roads, driven
away the inhabitants of several villages and com-
pelled others to live in fortified and closed houses.
This Tiger was said to have carried away over one
hundred people before Forsyth succeeded in killing
him. According to Fayrer, a Tiger in the same dis-
trict, during the years 1867, 1868 and 1869, carried
away respectively twenty-seven, thirty-four and for-
ty-seven people ; continuing his depreelations until
he w.is killed by a spring gun. One Tigress drove
away the inhabitants of thirteen different localities,
and escaped all pursuit in the most cunning manner,
until an Englishman killed her. But because such
things happen it must not lie concluded that they
are of common, every da}" occurred e

TIGER ATTACKING A BUFFALO. Watching by the spot where animals come to drink, the Tiger in the picture has had its stealth rewarded

by a victim. The Asiatic Buffalo is one of the most difficult prey with which the Tiger has to do, and under ordinary conditions the Buffalo gets the better
of the Tiger that attacks it. In the instance shown in the picture, however, the Buffalo has been taken at a moment of hopeless disadvantage by its stealthy
assailant, and is evidently doomed. The method of the Tiger's attack is told in a graphic manner by this picture.

96

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

We have an immense stock of information con-
cerning the life and habits of Tigers, owing to the
usually simple mode of hunting them. The number
of people addicted to this sport is very great, com-
prising even ladies, and the old, terrible stories have
lost much credence. It is no longer difficult for
us to separate extraordinary from everyday occur-
rences.

The character and disposition of Tigers vary in
individuals, as might be expected ; yet, according to
the best authorities, there are in the main three
classes of Tigers : those that kill forest animals,
those that carry away cattle, and Man-eaters.

The Game-Hunt- A Tiger of the first group shuns the
ing Tiger's dwellings of Man, for his real home
Habits. j s ; n the wilderness, where he prowls

around at all hours of the day and night. He natu-
rally leads more of a roaming life than the others
and follows his game from one part of the country to
another in the course of the seasons. To the sports-
man he proves a most welcome rival, but to the
agriculturist he is a good friend, as he drives away
Stags and Wild Boars, from whose depradations it is
so difficult to protect the fields. These game-killing
Tigers as a rule are more slender and agile than the
others, though they also boast among their numbers
some of more massive build. They are by far the
most numerous class of Tigers, and during the hot-
test and dryest season they gather near the water-
courses that have not given out.

The Cattle- Those Tigers that carry away cattle pre-

Stealing fer the neighborhood of villages and
Tigers. seek their prey among the herds that
are driven to pasturage, or among such stragglers as
may be left out for a night. As owners of flocks
usually lock them up in secure places before dusk
the rapacious Tiger accustoms himself to get his
food by broad daylight, usually in the latter part of
the afternoon. If he is not pursued, he frequents
but a few villages ; if threatened he extends his wan-
derings. In Maisur, in a stretch of country twenty-
five miles long and thirty-seven miles wide, eight
well-known Tigers at one time made their living in
this way. Of course they also kill Goats, Sheep,
Donkeys, Stags, Boars and other game if it crosses
their path. ■ An exclusive robber of Cattle is found
only among the old, fat and lazy Tigers. Such
robbers select as their headquarters some locality
abundantly supplied with flesh and water. They
establish relations of mutual tolerance with the
human inhabitants of the village, and every four or
five days each Tiger seizes and bears to his lair an
unfortunate Cow or Bull.

We must not take our Cattle as a standard and
thereby measure the damage that is done. The
Hindoo never kills a Cow, and so there are in every
village a multitude of old, decrepit beasts that do
more harm than good, because they aid in spread-
ing the Cattle plague, and these are really best dis-
posed of as Tiger-food. Without the aid of Tigers
in destroying Boars and Deer, it would be utterly
impossible in certain districts to obtain good har-
vests. That is why agriculturists are not greatly
pleased, when a sportsman zealously hunts the
game-killing and modest Cattle-robbing Tigers,
for they serve them as field guards in a certain
way. Sanderson once killed a well-known, gigantic
Tiger, and the natives, surrounding the corpse,
unanimously mourned over his fate ; " He never did
us any harm; what a pity he is dead," they said.

The Man- The Man-eater usually begins by carry-
Eating j n g ff Cattle, and loses his dread' of Man
Tiger. ^y constant contact with shepherds. Of-
tener the Man-eater is a female than a male, prob-
ably because she has to care for her little ones; and
sometimes it is a wounded or crippled specimen,
which cannot support itself in the usual way. Man
can be watched and attacked so much more easily
than any tame or wild 'animal, that a Tiger which
has once lost the fear of him accepts him as lawful
prey, wherever it can safely do so. This has led to
the belief that the Tiger prefers human flesh to any
other ; but this is refuted by main' authentic ac-
counts, as also is the belief that the Man-eating
Tiger as a rule is a lean, half-starved creature.

Man-eating Tigers are said to predominate in
those parts of the country where herds of Cattle
are pastured at certain seasons of the year ; after
their departure the Cattle-robbing beasts are com-
pelled from lack of other food to attack the natives.
The Man-eater does not display any greater courage
than other Tigers. He is as cowardly as he is cun-
ning and surprisingly impudent. Running from
armed Men, he only attacks those who are alone
and defenceless, fully appreciating as he does the
difference between the two. In consequence of his
Man-hunting habits he is better acquainted with the
ways of Men and is therefore much harder to be
reached by the sportsman than other Tigers.

Pleas on Sanderson says : " This dreadful plague

Behalf of of the timid and weaponless Hindoo is

the Tiger, becoming rare. Man-eating Tigers of
the worst character are now seldom heard of, and
when they are they are soon hunted down and killed.

" It is a pity that the Tiger is doomed and is be-
ing exterminated in most unsportsmanlike manner.
The cause of this lies in the hue and cry, raised
mainly in England, over the mischief he does. This
belief is without foundation. Let every Man-eating
Tiger be pursued and killed ; likewise slay the worst
among the Cattle-robbers; but ordinary Tigers are use-
ful, they are not dangerous and ought to be spared.
Distant be the day when there will be no more
Tigers." This explorer is superintendent of the
government department for the capture of Elephants
and his profession compels him to live in the wilder-
ness among wild beasts. lie has an intimate knowl-
edge of every portion of India, its needs and its
dangers, and is therefore a most competent judge.
His conclusions may well cause serious reflection,
especially as they are held by other trustworthy ob-
servers. Sherwill says very positively : "The Ben-
gal Tiger is, on the whole, a harmless, timid animal,
only becoming dangerous when he is wounded. He
never molests Men, unless driven to bay, and Man-
eating Tigers are not found at all in Bengal, except
in the marshy forests of the Ganges delta." Fayrer,
who appreciates the cruelty of the Tiger, declares
that accidents are no more frequent on a Tiger-hunt
than in the following of the Fox in England.

Thus it is shown that this generation has a differ-
ent estimate of the Tiger than was held by our fore-
fathers. He is a beast of prey which, in many dis-
tricts, at least of India, does more good than harm,
and only upon rare occasions does he become that
embodiment of terror which has given a formidable
reputation to the whole species.

How the Rarely does the Tiger or the Lion hunt
Tiger Hunts prey in the manner that has been usu-

His Prey. ally accepted as correct; that is, as if
he measured the distance, crouched down and reached

A TIGEE HUNT. When Prince Phillipe of Orleans and his nephew, Prince Henry, were entertained in 1889 by Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India,

•with a Tiger hunt, they met with the remarkable adventure shown in the picture. A Tigress, whose two cubs had been killed by the party, sprang out of
the jungle on the foremost Elephant. The Mahut (Elephant driver) dexterously slid down the side of the Elephant's head in time to save himself, and the
infuriated beast grasped the Prince's gun as she alighted on the Elephant's neck. Fortunately the gun was simultaneously discharged, and the report
frightened the Tigress, who then made her escape and was next day killed by the party. This picture, which was drawn from the account given by the
Prince himself, is not presented as representing in detail the characteristics of the Tiger, but rather as a valuable illustration of the animal's boldness, and
.also of an interesting mode of hunting it.

(971

98

THE BEASTS OF PREY

his victim at one huge bound. The chief success of
his attack lies in its surprise. An animal that is
close to him, he seizes immediately ; one that is far-
ther away he reaches by quick bounds ; he pursues
a fleeing one, and, if it be a large animal, he tries to
tear the muscles and tendons of its hind legs by
furious blows of his paw.

The Tiger either drags his prey into a thicket
immediately or he waits for dusk ; and sometimes he
carries it a short distance. Sanderson saw an enor-
mous male Tiger carry an ox weighing about three
hundred and sixty pounds a distance of about three
hundred paces. When not disturbed the Tiger eats as
much as he can, which is nearly sixty pounds. He
usually begins with a hind leg ; seldom with a flank.
While eating, he interrupts his meal at intervals by
going for a copious drink of water. He is said to
sometimes wade into the water and dip his head in
as far as the eyes, lapping and gurgling as if he
wished to rinse his huge mouth. After a satis-
factory meal, he goes to sleep. He only arouses to
procure drink, and, in fact, he attends to his diges-
tion with a great measure of enjoyment. In the
evening, generally between four and nine o'clock, he
returns to his prey, to eat what he has left, if he can
find it; for his table, like the Lion's, is, during his ab-
sence, spread for all kinds of hungry beggars, and
he not infrequently discovers that the latter have
made away with the carcass, even to the bones.

He can endure hunger and thirst for a very long
period. Two Tigers were once hemmed in by nets,
in an impenetrable thicket about one hundred paces
in diameter ; they were wounded on the fifth day,
but were not killed until the tenth, and then with the
assistance of an Elephant. The weather was very
hot and they had been, besides, surrounded by fires,
and in all this time they had neither food nor water
and they suffered from their wounds ; yet, they re-
tained their strength to the last.

Methods of There are a great man)- devices for
Catching catching Tigers. All kinds of traps

the Tiger. are se t f or them and pitfalls are very
efficient. Formerly pointed poles were placed in the
center of the latter but an innocent human being
was impaled on one of them and since that time
their use has been interdicted, at least in the neigh-
borhood of Singapore. Hasskarl writes me from
Java that large traps are made of tree-trunks, and
the bait is a young Kid, whose bleating attracts the
beast. After due caution the Tiger creeps into the
trap, tries to carry off the prey and thereby pulls a
string, which shuts the trap. H. O. Forbes tells us
that the natives (if Sumatra make a hole in the fence
surrounding a village, and attach a spear above the
aperture so that when the Tiger crawls through he
detaches a spring, which forces the spear into his
body. In Assam, O. Flex tells us, automatic bows
with poisoned arrows are put in the Tiger's path,
near the place where he goes for water. Spring guns
are also used to good effect. Lately strychnia has
been employed very extensively, but it is said to
lose its efficacy when the meat upon which it is
strewed begins to decompose

The profits of a successful Tiger-hunter are not to
be despised. Besides receiving the bounty offered
for killing a Tiger, he can use nearly all parts of its
body, especially the fat, which amounts to from four
to six quarts, and which is believed by the natives
to cure rheumatism and certain diseases of Cattle.
In some localities the flesh is eaten, and Jagor de-
clares that its taste is not bad. In some countries

the teeth and claws, the fat and the liver are valued
more than the flesh and bones. The teeth are
counted by the Shicaris as precious charms which
render the wearer invulnerable against attacks of
other Tigers. The claws, framed in gold and silver,
are worn as ornaments by European and Asiatic
ladies. The skins are cured and sold to Europeans
and Chinese merchants. The Khirgiz adorn their
arrow-cases with them. In Europe a Tiger skin, ac-
cording to Lomer, may be sold for as much as three
hundred dollars.

Tiger Kittens The Tiger seeks his mate at varying
and Their seasons according to his locality, the
Training. breeding period beginning in the north-
ern regions late in the fall or early in the winter; in
the southern countries, like India, it is restricted to-
no particular time. The Tigress gives birth to two
or three, sometimes four, and in rare cases five or
six cubs, having first selected for her lair some im-
penetrable spot, surrounded with thick vegetation.
The little ones are about half the size of our adult
domestic Cat and are charming little creatures, as
are all Kittens. During the first few weeks the
mother does not leave the young ones until she is
nearly famished ; but as soon as they are somewhat
older and require solid food, she begins to prowl
around for prey.

Sanderson says: "Little Tigers are extremely
pretty and very good-natured. But if one wishes to
tame them, they must be captured before they are
a month old, and have no knowledge of life in the
wilderness, or any dread of Man. They show a
great deal of affection for their owner, follow him
about, lie under his chair, and utter a peculiar, joy-
ous snort when he caresses them. As soon as they
taste meat, they do not want anything else to eat and
will turn up their little noses at milk. The belief
that a raw meat diet renders them wild is totally
unfounded, as my own experience with them has
shown. That is really the only food on which they
thrive, and if they have enough of it they are very
tractable. At the age of four months the}- are al-
ready quite strong and stately, but they can be left
to run about for a much longer period. I kept a
couple of them at liberty until they were eight
months old. They used to play very nicely by
themselves and also with Men, and with a tame
Bear. My experience has taught me that Tigers
tamed in this manner are neither malicious nor blood-
thirsty, and arc not at all subject to savage outbursts
if food is furnished in plentiful supply. I once had
one of considerable size which had accustomed him-
self to sleep in my bedroom. After I had fallen
asleep he would frequently jump upon my bed ; but
he never took it amiss when I gave him a few cuffs
and threw him down again."

Tigers are Oi late Tigers have been trained to per-

Teachable but form certain tricks. The trainer enters

Treacherous. a ca g e anc j causes them to go through
a fixed programme, but it always remains a risk
attended with decided danger. The Tiger is a genu-
ine Cat, and shows affection for those who pet him,
sometimes not only tolerating caresses but also re-
turning them. Still his friendship is always doubt-
ful, and he obeys in matters that are repugnant to his
nature only when he recognizes and fears Man's
authority. He never deserves full confidence ; it is
not so much his malice that is to be dreaded as
his consciousness of his own strength. He has as
little malice or treachery as our own Pussy, but is

THE CAT FAMILY— WILD CAT.

99

sometimes overlaid with a yellow or brownish tinge.
The lower parts are of a tan color. The head, feet
and abdomen are adorned with black, round or oblong
spots or stripes. The margins of the lips show a
black edge, and the ears are black with gray spots.
The length of the body is a little more than three
feet, and the tail measures a little less than the'body.
The range of this animal is very extensive, embrac-
ing all southeastern Asia.

A few years ago the Clouded Tiger was a very
rare animal in collections and zoological gardens,
but is now more frequently met with. The natives of
Sumatra say that he is anything but ferocious and
lives only upon small mammals and birds. Among
the latter we must, unfortunately, include Chickens,
and the damage he does in poultry yards is consider-
able. A beautiful specimen of the Clouded Tiger
was attached to the London Zoological Garden, and

just as intolerant of bad usage, and rebels when he
does not like the treatment accorded him by Man.

Combat Between Indian princes still arrange combats
Tiger and between Tigers and other animals,
Elephant. especially the Elephant and Buffalo.
Tachard witnessed such a fight in Siam. Three
Elephants, whose heads were protected by a kind of
harness, were led into an enclosure, fenced in by
stakes. The Tiger was already there, but was held
by two ropes. He was not very large, and when he
caught sight of the Elephants, looked about for a
hiding place ; but the Elephants at once gave him a
few blows with their trunks, which sent him to the
floor in a dead faint. He was then untied, soon re-
gained consciousness and, with a roar, rushed at the
trunk of one of the Elephants, but the giant lifted
it high up and threw the Tiger into the air with his
tusks. He did not attempt another attack after this,
but ran back and forth
near the stakes and tried

to escape. The three - ;i'f

Elephants were then ,*'**'

pitted against him, and ■•'.;■■ - _^,. e

they administered such
terrific blows that he
again fainted. If the
struggle had not ended
at this point the enraged
Elephants would have
killed him.

The ancients did not
know the Tiger until a
late period. The Bible
does not mention him,
and the Greeks speak
of him but little. Near-
chos, Alexander's gen-
eral, saw a Tiger-skin,
but not the animal itself,
although the Hindoos
informed him that it was
as big as the largest
Horse and was superior
to all other creatures in
swiftness and strength.
Strabo is the first writer
who gives any detailed
account of him. The
Romans had no knowl-
edge of Tigers up to the
time of Varro. Claudius
had four of them in his
possession. Subse-
quently Tifers were of- inhabl 's Assam, Burmah, the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra and perhaps Borneo. (Felis marmorata.)

THE MARBLED CAT

varies, but is usually of a brow
sides are d

limal is a little larger than a large house Cat. The ground tint of the fur

nd merges into a black strip which extends along the entire back. On the

harply defined as those of the Leopard, but still quite prominent. The Marbled Cat

ten brought to Rome, and Heliogabalus had them
draw his chariot when performing as Bacchus.
Avitus gave, in an amphitheatre, the first perform-
ance in which Tigers were killed, five of the beasts
being slaughtered.

Description of The Royal Tiger has as few near kins-
the Clouded men as the Lion; his nearest relatives,
Tiger. one f wn ich W as the Tiger of the

Caverns that inhabited central Europe, all being ex-
tinct. One South Asiatic species, the Clouded Tiger
(Felis nebulosa), approaches him nearest, having like
him a long body set on strong, short limbs. The
head is small, the ears are rounded, and the soft fur
resembles the stripes of the Royal Tiger. The great-
est points of difference are its smaller size, the very
short limbs and the tail, which is as long as the body.
The ground color of his fur is a dingy, whitish-gray,

the keeper treated it as he would a good-natured
Domestic Cat.

THE COMMON WILD CAT.

The Common Wild Cat (Felis catits) is the only
one of the family that has not been quite exter-
minated in the Old World countries, like Germany.
For a long time it was thought to be the ancestor of
our Domestic Cat, but closer investigation does not
support this belief. The Wild Cat is considerably
larger than Pussy. It may be distinguished from
the latter at a glance by its thicker fur, its larger
whiskers, its ferocious look and its stronger teeth;
its head is thicker, and its tail is fuller and shorter,
does not taper toward the end, and is ringed in
gray and black. The throat shows a whitish-yellow
spot, and the soles of the feet are black or dark.

100

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

The Wild Cat attains a weight of sixteen or eight-
een pounds. Its height at the shoulders is about
sixteen inches ; its length from snout to tip of tail,
forty to forty-five inches, the tail measuring twelve
or thirteen inches.

The fur is long and thick, gray in the male, yel-
lowish gray in the female. The face is yellowish,
the ears are russet gray on the outside and yellowish
white on the inner side. Four black bands run from
the forehead backward between the ears, and two of
them uniting run along the spine and the upper side
of the tail. From this band others of a rather faded
dark color proceed downwards, dying away on the
abdomen, which has a yellow color, dotted with
black spots. The eyes of the animal are yellow.
Where and How The Wild Cat inhabits all parts of

the Wild Cat Europe, with the exception of the
Liues. north, or more especially Scandinavia

and Russia. In Germany it inhabits all the wooded
mountains, though not in very large numbers. The
southeast of Europe is par-
ticularly well stocked with
it. In the lower parts of
the Alps it is very common.
It is also frequent in Spain
and France, and Great Brit-
ain has not yet quite exter-
minated it. Outside of Eu-
rope it has only been found
in Grusia, south of the Cau-
casus. Great, thick forests,
especially gloomy woods of
the pine, and fir-tree, are its
favorite haunts. The more
deserted a district is, the
more devoted is the Wild
Cat to it. It prefers rocky
forests to all others, as
rocks afford so many places
of concealment. Besides it
lives in the holes made by
Badgers and Foxes, and in
hollow trees.

The Wild Cat lives in
company with others of its
kind only during the breed-
ing season and while its
young ones are dependent
on it. At all other times it
leads a solitary life. The
young separate from the
mother at an early age and
try hunting on their own
account.

The Wild Cat begins its activity at dusk. En-
dowed with excellent organs of sense, cautious and
cunning, noiselessly creeping up to its prey and
patiently watching its opportunity, it is a dangerous
foe to small and moderate sized animals. It Hes in
wait for the bird in its nest, the Hare on the ground,
the Squirrel on the tree. It kills larger animals by
jumping upon their backs and severing the carotid
artery with its sharp teeth. It also shows its genu-
ine feline nature by renouncing its intended prey, if
the first leap is unsuccessful. Fortunately its prin-
cipal nutriment consists of Mice of all kinds and
small birds. It is only occasionally that it seeks for
larger animals. Still, it is a fact that it attacks Fawns
and Roes, and is strong enough to cope with them.
It keeps watch by the banks of lakes and rivers for
fish and birds and catches them very adroitly. It

COMMON WILD CAT. This fierce European animal is thor-
oughly hated by its human neighbors, who often trap it, like the one in
the picture. Here we see the principal distinguishing features of this
Cat — the arrangement of its strong teeth, the long whiskers, the
stunted tail and the gray and black markings of its shaggy coat. {Felis
catus.)

is extremely destructive in parks and game pre-
serves.

Considering its size, the Wild Cat is a very dan-
gerous Beast of Prey, especially as it is guilty of the
bloodthirstiness that distinguishes all of its kindred.
For this reason hunters detest it and pursue it with-
out mercy. No sportsman gives it due credit for all
the Mice it kills. How many of them it destroys
may be seen from Tschudi's statement that the
remains of twenty-six Mice were found in the stom-
ach of one Cat. Zelebor examined several stomachs
of Cats of this species and found them to contain
the bones and hairs of Martens, Fitchets, Ermines,
Weasels, Marmots, Rats, Mice, Squirrels and birds.
Small mammals, therefore, form its principal food,
and as Mice are the most frequent among these, we
are inclined to think that the good services of the
Wild Cat more than compensate for the mischief it
does. It exterminates more harmful than useful
animals, and if its attributes do not endear it to the
hunter, our woods profit by
its activity.

Hunting The Wild Cat
the is hunted with

Wild Cat. a considerable
amount of zeal. Zelebor
says: "It is the most diffi-
cult thing in the world to
draw a live Wild Cat from
the hollow of a tree. Two'
or three of the strongest
and boldest men, w i t h
hands protected by tough
gloves and a wrapping of
rags, will find both strength
and courage taxed to the
utmost by the effort to drag
one of these Cats from such
a retreat and put it in a
bag." I must confess that
the chances of success of
this method of hunting
these animals seems du-
bious to me, for all other
writers agree that to hunt a
grown Wild Cat is no joke.
Winckell advises sports-
men to proceed with cau-
tion, not to delay with the
second shot if the first
does not kill outright, to
approach the Cat only
when it has been complete-
ly disabled from moving,
and even then to give it a finishing stroke before
touching it. Wounded Wild Cats driven to bay are
very dangerous. Tschudi says : " Take good aim,
hunter ! If the beast is only wounded, it curves its
back, lifts its tail straight up, and makes for the
sportsman with a vicious, hissing snort, and buries
its sharp claws in his flesh, preferably his breast, so
that it can hardly be torn away ; and such wounds
are extremely slow to heal. It has no fear of Dogs,
but will of its own accord, and before it sees the
hunter, often come down to them from a tree; and
the fight that ensues is fearful. The fierce animal
uses its claws to good purpose, always aiming at the
Dog's eyes, and fights with desperate energy until
the last spark of its tenacious life is extinguished."
We must carefully differentiate the Wild Cat
proper from stray domestic Cats that may have

FEMALE WILD CAT AND YOUNG. In the forests of Europe the Common Wild Cat makes its home. This is not the animal commonly known

in America as the Wild Cat, the latter being really the Red Lynx. The European animal is a true Cat, larger than the domestic species and very fierce and
bloodthirsty, preying upon al! mammals and birds it can master. Yet like all felines it rears its young with great tenderness and affection. Here is a family
of Wild Cats which has its home in a hole in the rocky forest. The mother has just returned with dinner for the Kittens, who are welcoming her with vora-
cious expectancy. {Felis catus.)

102

THE BEASTS OF PREY

degenerated in the woods. The latter are frequently
met with, but they never attain the size of the Wild
Cats, though greatly exceeding that of the domestic
Cat. They are as ferocious and dangerous as the
Wild Cat, and after several generations have been
born wild in the forest these animals come to resem-
ble their progenitor, the Egyptian Cat, in color and
tint, though they always lack the blunt tail, the light
spot at the throat and the dark soles of their ances-
tor. The animal known as Wild Cat in the United
States is very different from the European animal of
that name and is in reality a Lynx. (See Red Lynx.)

THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

The next member of this group is the Egyptian
Cat (FcUs maniculatd). Ruppell discovered it in
Nubia, on the western bank of the Nile, in a desert
where rocky stretches of country alternated with
bushy tracts. Later writers have found it in Sou-
dan, in Abyssinia, in the innermost centre of Africa
and in Palestine. The length of its body is about

that the Egyptian Cat is more common in the
Niam-Niam country than in any other part of
Africa that has been fully explored, so that the cen-
ter of the continent might be" considered the point
from which it spread. The Niam-Niam do not pos-
sess a domestic Cat, in the proper meaning of the
word, but their boys capture the Egyptian Cat and
wholly or partially tame it. At first they are tied in
the vicinity of the huts, and soon become com-
pletely at home in the house, where they make it
their business to catch the Mice which infest these
dwellings in great numbers.

Venerated Ebers in " An Egyptian Princess,"
by the Ancient says : " The Cat was probably the

Egyptians. most sacred of all the sacred ani-
mals which the Egyptians regarded with veneration.
Herodotus says that when one of their houses was
on fire, the Egyptians first thought of saving the
Cat and then of putting out the fire, and when a Cat
died they cut off their own hair as a sign of mourn-
ing. When a person wittingly or unwittingly caused

THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

puted by some naturalists the great weight of authority shows the Eg
of the fur in the Egyptian Cat are shown in the picture, and no differet
the wild life led by the former. {Felis maniculata.)

twenty inches and its tail measures a little over ten
inches. These are not the exact dimensions of our
domestic Cat, but they approximate them closely.

The arrangement of the colors of the fur is much
iike that on some of our Cats. The mummies and
pictures on Egyptian monuments agree most closely
with this species, and evidently tend to prove that
this was the domestic Cat of the Egyptians. Per-
haps the priests imported it into Egypt from south-
ern Nubia. It probably extended thence to Arabia
and Syria, and later to Greece, Italy and the remain-
der of Europe, and in more modern times, emigrat-
ing Europeans spread it still farther.

The observations of Schweinfurth in the Niam-
Niam country are of great weight as evidence that
the Egyptian Cat is the original stock from which
the race of our domestic Cats descended. He savs

ptian Cat to be the progenitor of our domestic feline. The markings
es from the house-cat are observable that cannot be accounted for by

the death of one of these animals, he forfeited his
life. Diodorus himself saw a Roman citizen, who
had killed a Cat, put to death by a mob, though the
government, in its fear of Rome, tried its best to
pacify the people. Dead Cats were artistically em-
balmed, and of all mummified animals that are
found, the Cat, carefully swathed in linen bandages,
is the most common."

THE DOMESTIC CAT.

All researches point to the fact that the Cat was
first tamed by the Egyptians, and not by the Hin-
doos, or any northern people. The old Egyptian
monuments speak clearly in pictures, signs and
mummies, while the records of other nations do not
even give us food for conjecture. The very fact
that the mummies of both the domestic Cat and

THE CAT FAMILY— DOMESTIC CAT.

103

:the common Jungle Cat are found supports me in
my opinion, for this goes to prove that when Egypt
was in the meridian of its power, its inhabitants ex-
tensively caught and probably tamed the Jungle Cats.
Herodotus is the first Greek to mention the Cat, and
it is but slightly alluded to by even later Greek and
Roman writers. We may conclude, therefore, that
the animal spread very gradually from Egypt. Prob-
ably it first went East. We know, for instance, that
it was a favorite pet of the prophet Mohammed.
In northern Europe it was barely known before the
tenth century. The Codex of Laws in Wales con-
tains an ordinance fixing the price of domestic Cats
and penalties for their ill-treatment, mutilation and
killing. The law declared that a Cat doubled its
value the moment it caught its first Mouse ; that the
purchaser had a right to require that the Cat have
perfect eyes, ears and claws, to know how to catch
Mice, and, if a female Cat,
to know how to bring ^

up her Kittens prop- "%

erlv. If the Cat failed to
meet any of these require-
ments, the purchaser had
the right to demand a re-
turn of one-third of the
purchase money.

This law is of great
value as furnishing proof
that in those times do-
mestic Cats were held in
high estimation, and also
because we learn by plain
inference from it that the
Wild Cat cannot have
been the progenitor of the
domestic species, as Great
Britain was overrun with
Wild Cats, whose young
ones it would have been
easy to tame in unlimited
numbers.
The Domestic According to

Cat Almost Tschudi, the

Universal. Cat now in-
habits all parts of the
globe except the extreme
north and the highest alti-
tudes of the Andes, and
has established itself
wherever civilization,
progress and domestica-
tion have penetrated. But

notwithstanding the fact that it is an inmate of hu-
man habitations throughout the world, the Cat re-
serves to itself a large measure of independence and
only recognizes Man's authority when obedience suits
its inclination. The more it is petted, the greater
becomes its affection for the family; the more it is
left to its own devices the more its attachment is
directed toward the house in which it was reared
rather than to the people who live there. Man
always determines the degree of tameness and do-
mesticity of a Cat by his conduct towards it. When
neglected it is likely to take to the woods in sum-
mer. Sometimes it becomes quite wild there, but
usually comes back at the approach of winter, accom-
panied by its Kittens if any have been born to it dur-
ing its vacation. It is often the case that after such
a sojourn in the woods the Cat shows little liking for
people, and this is especially noticeable in warm

countries. Rengger tells us that Cats live in a par-
ticularly independent state in Paraguay, although
Cats that have become really savage are seldom
seen in that country, and the localities abandoned
by white Men are also deserted by Cats.
Domestic Cat Our domestic Cat is an excellent speci-
Worthy men for the purpose of studying the
of Study, whole feline family, for it is accessible
to all. It is an exceedingly pretty, cleanly and
graceful creature. Its movements are stately and as
it walks with measured tread on its velvety paws,
with claws carefully retracted, its footfall is imper-
ceptible to the human ear. It is only when pursued
or suddenly frightened that it displays any precipi-
tous haste, and then it proceeds with a succession of
jumps which soon carry it to a place of safety, for it
profits by every advantageous nook or turn and can
climb to any height. With the help of its claws it

X^x^,^;^/

THE DOMESTIC CAT. The animal in the picture is familiar to all, and the playful scene here depicted is

a very common one. The mother Cat watches with every indication of pleasure the merry gambols of her offspring.
The methods of a domestic Cat in training her young are much the same as those of the Lioness, the Tigress and
other larger members of the Cat family, and may thsrefore be observed with profit by the student. {Felis maniculata
domestica.)

clambers up trees or walls easily, but on level ground
a Dog can overtake it without difficulty. However a
Cat is dropped, it will always alight on its paws, the
pads of which soften the violence of the fall. I have
never succeeded in causing a Cat to fall on its back,
even when I have dropped it from close range over
a chair or table. As soon as I would let go it would
instantly turn over and stand on its feet quite un-
concerned. How it is able to accomplish this feat,
especially when the short distance is considered, is
quite a mystery to me. In falling long distances, it,
of course, regulates its position in alighting by means
of its tail. The Cat can also swim, but it practices
this accomplishment only when there is an urgent
need for it, and it probably never enters the water of
its own accord, as it even shows a great dislike of
rain; but there are exceptions, for Haacke knew a
Cat which was in the habit of jumping into a pond

104

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

and catching Goldfishes. In sleeping, the Cat likes to
curl up in a soft, warm place, but cannot bear to be
covered. I have noticed that Cats show a decided
liking for hay as a bed, probably because the fra-
grance is agreeable to them After a nap on such a
bed their fur usually has a very pleasant odor.

Of the senses those of touch, sight and hearing are
the strongest in the Cat. The sense of smell is rather
dull, as anybody can see when the creature is offered
a favorite dainty in such manner as to prevent it
from using any other sense in the effort to deter-
mine what it is. If the whiskers are used, the result
is different, for they are very sensitive organs of
touch ; so are its paws, but in a less degree. The
eyes are excellent and capable of seeing by night as
well as by day. But the palm undoubtedly belongs
to its sense of hearing. Lenz tells us that he was
once sitting outdoors with a Kitten in his lap; sud-
denly it jumped backwards after a Mouse, which was
running unseen on a smooth stone pavement from
one bush to another and did not make a particle of
noise that a human ear could detect. He measured
the distance at which the Kitten had heard the
Mouse running behind it and it proved to be full)-
fourteen yards.

Noteworthy The intellectual capacities of the Cat
Qualities are usually quite misunderstood. Peo-

of the Cat. p[ e consider it a treacherous, deceitful,
sly animal, that is not to be trusted. Many confess
to an unconquerable feeling of antipathy towards it.
As a rule it is compared with the Dog, which ought
never to be done; and as such comparison shows that
the Cat does not possess the Dog's good qualities.
the conclusion is frequently drawn that there is no
use of any further investigation. Even naturalists
are given to pronouncing prejudiced and one-sided
opinions against it. I have sympathetically studied
the Cat from my childhood, and therefore accept the
following description of Scheitlin's, which certainly
possesses the merits of originality, understanding
and just appreciation: "The Cat is an animal of a
high order of intelligence. Its bodily structure alone
indicates this. It is a pretty, diminutive Lion; a
Tiger on a small scale. It show's the most complete
symmetry in its form — no one part is too large or too
small. That its every detail is rounded and beauti-
ful is even shown by an examination of the skull,
which is more symmetrical than that of any other
animal. Its movements are undulating and graceful
to the extent that it seems to have no bones. We
value our Cats too slightly because we detest their
thievish propensities, fear their claws and love their
enemy, the Dog, and we are not able to show equal
friendship and admiration for these two opposite
natures.

" Let us examine the Cat's qualities. We are im-
pressed by its agility, yet its mind is as flexible as
its body. Its cleanliness of habit is as much a matter
of mental bias as physical choice, for it is constantly
licking and cleaning itself. Every hair of its fur
must be in perfect order; it never forgets as much
as the tip of its tail. It has a discriminating sensi-
bility as to both color and sound, for it knows Man
by his dress and by his voice. It possesses an ex-
cellent understanding of locality and practices it, for
it prowls through an entire neighborhood, through
basements and garrets and over roofs and hay-sheds,
without bewilderment. It is an ideally local animal,
and if the family moves it either declines to accom-
pany them or, if carried to the new residence, returns
at the first opportunity to the old homestead; and it

is remarkable how unerringly it will find its way back,,
even when carried away in a sack for a distance of
several miles."

The Mother When the mother Cat gives birth to-
Cat and Kittens there are usually five or six

her Kittens. ; n the Utter, and they remain blind for
nine days. The mother selects for her young ones a
secluded spot and hides them carefully, especially
from the Tom-Cat, which, if he found them, would
make a meal of them.

Young Kittens are beautiful little animals, and
their mother's love for them is unbounded. When-
ever she scents danger she carries them to some
place of safety, tenderly lifting them by compressing
the skin of their necks between her lips so gently
that the little Pussies scarcely feel it. During the
nursing period she leaves them only long enough to
forage for food. Some Cats do not know how to
take care of their first young ones and have to be
initiated into the duties of motherhood by Men or
by some old experienced Tabby. It is a proven fact
that all mother Cats learn how to care for Kittens
better and better with each succeeding litter.

A Cat during the suckling period tolerates no Dog
or strange Cat near her Kittens; even her owner is an
unwelcome visitor at such a time. At the same time
she is particularly open to compassion for others.
There are many instances on record where Cats have
suckled and brought up young Puppies, Foxes, Rab-
bits, Hares, Squirrels, Rats and even Mice; I myself
have tried similar experiments successfully with my
Cats, when I was a boy. Once I brought a little
Squirrel yet blind to one of my Cats. Tenderly she
accepted the strange child among her own, and from
the first cared for it with motherly solicitude. The
Squirrel thrived beautifully, and after its step-brothers
had all been given away, it stayed and lived most
harmoniously with its foster mother, and she then
regarded it with redoubled affection. The relations
between them were as close and tender as possible.
They understood each other perfectly, though each
talked in its own language, and the Squirrel would
follow the Cat all over the house and into the garden.

Intelligence If ' s commonly thought that Cats are
and Affection incapable of being educated; but this
of Cats. j s an injustice. They are also capable
of constant affection, and I have personally known
some which moved with their owners from one house
to another and never thought of returning to their
former home. They were well treated, and there-
fore thought more of the people than of the house.
They will allow those they like, and especially chil-
dren, to take incredible liberties with them, nearly as
much, in fact, as Dogs will. Some Cats accompany
their owners in their walks, and I knew two Tom-
Cats which usually followed the guests of their mis-
tress in the most polite manner. They would accom-
pany them for ten or fifteen minutes and then take
their leave with many an amiable purr, expressive of
their good will. Cats often strike up friendships
with other animals, and there are many instances
where Dogs and Cats have become fast friends, in
spite of the familiar proverb.

Anecdotes There are a great man_\ - anecdotes illus-
About ttating the intelligence of this excellent

the Cat. animal. Once our Cat gave birth to four
charming little Kittens, which she kept carefully
hidden in a hay-shed. Three or four weeks later she
came to my mother, coaxingly rubbed against her
dress, and seemed to call her to the door. Mother
followed her, and the Cat then joyfully ran across

THE CAT FAMILY— DOMESTIC CAT.

105

the yard to a hay-shed. Soon she appeared in the
door of the upper story carrying in her mouth a
Kitten, which she dropped down upon a bundle of
hay. Three other Kittens followed in like manner
and were made welcome and petted. It proved that
the Cat had no more milk to give her young ones,
and in her dilemma bethought herself of the people
who gave her food.

Pechuel-Loesche had a Cat which had struck up a
friendship with an old Parrot, and would always go
to it when the bird called its name: "Ichabod."
When the Parrot interrupted the Cat's slumbeis by
biting its tail the latter never showed the least resent-
ment. The two friends were fond of sitting together
at the window, looking out at the passing sights.

In my native village a friend of mine lost a little
Robin Redbreast and in a few days his Cat brought
it back in its mouth unharmed. Thus it had not
only recognized the bird, but caught it with the
intention of pleasing its mastet. Therefore I also
believe the following story to be true: A Cat lived
on very good terms with a Canary bird and fre-
quently played with it.
One day it suddenly
rushed at it, took it in
its mouth and growling
climbed up on a desk.
The terrified owner, on
looking around, per-
ceived a strange Cat in
the room. Pussy had
distrusted her sister and
thought it best to res-
cue her friend from the
other Cat's clutches.

Great F r o m all
Usefulness these a c -
ofthe Cat. counts we
must conclude that Cats
are deserving of the
friendship of Man, and
that the time has come
at last to correct the un-
just opinions and preju-
dices many people hold
against them. Besides,
the usefulness of Cats
ought to be taken more
into account. He who
has never lived in an
old, tumble-down house,
overrun with Rats and Mice, does not know the
real value of a good Cat. But when one has lived
with this destructive plague for years and has seen
how powerless Man is against it, when one has
suffered da)' after day from some fresh mischief and
has become thoroughly enraged at the detestable
rodents, then he gradually comes to the conclusion
that the Cat is one of the most important domestic
animals, and deserves not only tolerance and care,
but love and gratitude. The mere presence of a Cat
ir! the house is sufficient to render the impudent
rodents ill-humored and inclined to desert the place.
The Beast of Prey pursuing them at every step, seiz-
ing them by the neck before they have become
aware of its presence, inspires them with a whole-
some terror; they prefer moving away from a locality
defended in this way, and even if they remain, the
Cat soon gains a victory over them.

Mice of all kinds, notably house and field Mice,
arc the preferred game of the Cat, and most Cats

will also wage war upon Rats. Young and inexpe-
rienced Cats catch and kill Shrews, but do not eat
them, as their powerful scent repels them; older Cats'
usually leave these odorous animals unmolested.
The Cat finds variety in its diet by hunting Lizards,
Snakes and Frogs, May-Bugs and Grasshoppers.
The Cat exhibits as much perseverance as dexterity
in its hunting. Being a Beast of Prey at heart, it is
also guilty of many little depredations. It destroys
many an awkward young bird, attacks rather grown-
up Hares, catches a Partridge once in awhile, lies in
wait for the very young Chickens in the yard, and
under some circumstances goes fishing. The cook
is usually not on speaking terms with it, for it proves
its domesticity by visiting the pantry whenever it
has a chance. But the sum total of its usefulness-
by far exceeds all its peccadilloes.

Varieties The Domestic Cat (Felis maniculata do-

of the mestica) embraces but few differing

Domestic Cat. species. The following colorings are

the most common: black with a white star on the

breast; white, yellow and red; brown and striped;

THE ANGORA CAT. — Although it is as tame and tractable as any others of the domestic Cats, the animal
shown in the picture has such marked differences from the more common type as to be classed as a distinct variety.
The fur is just as soft as that of the common Cat. but is remarkably long, and the tail is bushy, and these characteris-

tics are well brought out in the picture. {Felis ;

iculaia domestica angorensis.)

bluish gray; light gray with darker stripes, or tri-col-
ored, with white and yellow or yellow-brownish and
coal-black or gray spots. The bluish gray Cats are
rare, the light gray ones very common. The most
handsome Cats have dark gray or blackish brown
stripes like a Tiger. It is a peculiar fact that tri-
colored Cats, which in some localities are regarded
as witches, and for this reason slain, are nearly with-
out exception females.

The Angora The Angora Cat {Felis maniculata domes-
Cat, a Distinct tica angorensis ) is usually regarded as a
Variety. quite distinct variety of the domestic
Cats. It is one of the most beautiful Cats, distin-
guished by its large size and long silky hair, which is-
either a pure white or. assumes a yellowish, grayish
or mixed tinge. The lips and soles are flesh-colored.

THE LION.

A single glance cast at the Lion and particularly
at the expression of his face, suffices to make us-

106

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

subscribe to the opinion held concerning him from
remotest times. The Lion is the king of all Beasts
of Prey, a ruler among quadrupeds. The classifying
naturalist calls him merely a Cat of a particularly
powerful build, yet the impression produced by the
magnificent animal induces even the most scientific
to give him a fitting place among his kindred.

Lions areeasily distinguished from all other Felida?.
Their special peculiarities are: a strong, powerful
body, clothed in short, sleek hair of a uniform tint ;
a broad face with small eyes; a mane, resembling the
tippet of an emperor, adorning the shoulders of the
male ; and a tuft at the tip of the tail. In compari-
son with the other Felidae, the body of the Lion
seems short, the flanks retracted, and the whole body
produces an impression of power, but not of clum-
siness. Hidden in the tuft of the tail is a horny
nail, noticed by Aristotle, but denied by many mod-
ern naturalists. The eyes have a round pupil, the
whisker-hairs are arranged in from six to eight rows.
Above all else it is the mane which distinguishes
the male Lion and bestows upon him his proud,
kingly look.

The mane clothes the whole neck and the breast,
but varies so much, that, with or without just cause,
it has served as a basis to divide the Lion into a few
distinct kinds. I will give a short description of the
different species and leave the reader to judge for
himself whether these distinctions are justified. Let
us first consider the Barbary Lion, for it is he that
has, since time immemorial, retained the title of
"King of Beasts" by his courage, strength, bravery,
nobility, generosity, gravity and calm demeanor.
The Lion The Barbary Lion {Felts leo barbarus) like
of all his kindred has a strong frame; and the
Barbary. f ron t part of his body is much larger than
the hind part, because of the broad chest and re-
tracted flanks. The thick and nearly square head is
prolonged into a broad, blunt muzzle; the ears are
rounded, the eyes are of medium size but full of fire,
the limbs are very strong, and the paws are the larg-
est among all Felidae. The long tail ends in a short
thorn, which is covered with a fluffy tuft. The color
of this Lion is tawny, inclining to a reddish yellow
or dull brown hue, according as some hairs have
black tips or are quite black. The mane is very
thick. A male Lion may measure four feet in height
at the shoulder, and about eleven feet in length from
the nose to the tip of the tail, the latter occupying
from five to six feet. Newborn Lions have a length
of about thirteen inches, but have no mane or tail-
tuft. They are clothed in woolly, grayish hair, which
shows markings suggestive of those of the Ocelot to
an experienced observer. These brindlings are faint
during the first year, but are visible on the legs and
under portions for several years, especially in the
female Lions; and the exterior marks of adult age
make their appearance during the third year. The
Lioness always resembles the young Lion to a greater
or less degree; her coat is either of the same length
on the breast as upon the remainder of the body,
or, at most, but a very little longer. The Barbary
Lion is confined to the Atlas country.

Other The Senegal Lion ( Felts leo senegalensis )

Varieties has a lighter mane, very little developed
of the Lion. on the breast. The South African Lion
(Felts leo capensis), and probably also the Abyssinian
Lion, are distinguished by their huge size ; and they
have a dark mane. The Persian Lion {Felts leo pcr-
sicus) possesses a mane consisting of mixed brown
and black hair; and this animal extends over Persia

to India; he is still too little known for us to be able
to say whether he resembles more closely the Sene-
gal Lion or the Guzerat Lion, which is occasionally
maneless.

The Senegal Lion and the South African Lion
are distributed all over central and southern Africa,
from the western to the eastern coast, and as far
north as the 20th degree of northern latitude. They
are regularly met with on the banks of the Blue and
White Nile and in the Abyssinian forests; and in the
deserts of central and southern Africa they are of
common occurrence.

The Guzerat Lion, known to the ancients, and im-
properly called the Maneless Lion {Felts leo guzerai-
ensis), was formerly supposed to be small and mane-
less, but both these conjectures have been proved to
be erroneous. He is of a dull tan color, the tail-tuft
and ears being darker.

Decrease in The time when six hundred Lions could
Numbers be brought together in one arena is

of the Lion, irremediably past. The King of Beasts
has since then retreated farther and farther before the
Lord of Creation. Man fights him with all his might
and will continue to steadily press him back and
ultimately exterminate him. The Lion of Barbary
formerly inhabited all Northeastern Africa, and was
nearly as common in Egypt as in Tunis, Fez or Mo-
rocco; the increase of population and the progress
of civilization drove him back farther and farther,
until nowadays he is rarely found in the valley of the
Lower Nile or on the southern coast of the Medi-
terranean. In Algeria and Morocco he is still no
rarity, and in Tunis and the oasis of Fessan he is a
permanent feature. In Algeria the Lions are much
reduced in numbers ; the frequent wars between the
French and the Arabs have driven them away, and
the French Lion-hunters, notably Jules Gerard, have
made sad havoc in their ranks. The conditions under
which the Lion of Senegal exists are more favorable.
The native of central Africa is not sufficiently well
armed to rise successfully against his worst tyrant
and tax-gatherer. Still even the Negro presses the
Lion into more remote regions.
The Lion's The Lion leads a solitary life, living with

Manner his mate only during the breeding season.
°f Living. At other times every Lion in northern
Africa has his own hunting district, although he does
not quarrel with others of his kind over such mat-
ters. In South Africa it often happens that several
Lions unite for a hunt upon a large scale. Living-
stone tells us that troops of six to eight Lions will
prowl around together. In extraordinary cases the
troops may be still more numerous. Selous, one of
the latest writers on the subject, also says: " In
central South Africa one more frequently meets four
or five Lions together than single specimens, and
troops of ten or twelve are not extraordinary."

The Lion does not inhabit virgin forests, but likes
an open landscape: jungles of grass, interspersed
with low, bushy forests, and prairies grown with
stunted shrubs and deserts, no matter whether they
are mountainous or level. In some secluded spot in
Soudan, usually ; ,n bushes, or in South Africa in the
high reeds growing on the banks of the temporarily
flowing rivers of that region, he selects a shallow
place as his den and uses it for a day or more, accord-
ing as the country is rich or poor, protected or open
to attacks. When dawn surprises him on his wan-
derings, he goes to sleep wherever he happens to be.

On the whole his habits are those of the entire
feline species; still he differs in many essentials. He

' :■ ■ ...

HEAD OF THE BARBARY LION. A single glance at this head explaii

Power, strength, self-reliance and the air of the conqueror are depicted in the face,
neck gives to this head an especially imposing appearance.

(107)

! sufficiently why the animal that bears it is
nd its expression, and the bold and shaggy

The King of Be

108

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

is lazier than the rest of the Cat family and avoids
extended journeys, trying to make life as easy as pos-
sible. Selous' experiences taught him that the South
African Lion prefers feasting off the game some
hunter has killed to exerting himself to capture his
own prey. This is why, in East Soudan, he regularly
follows nomadic tribes wherever they go. He goes
with them into the treeless plain and returns with
them to the forest; he regards them as his tributary
subjects and the taxes he levies on them are indeed
of the heaviest kind. His manner of life is noctur-
nal. He is seldom met with in daytime in the for-
est; probably only when sought for and disturbed
in his lair by Dogs.

He does not visit the vicinity of villages before
the third hour of night. The Arabs aver that " he
roars thrice to apprise all animals of his coming and
warn them to keep out of his way." Unfortunately
this good opinion is based upon rather imaginary
premises, for whenever I heard the roar of the Lion,
I was always sure to learn that he had previously
slunk into the village and stolen an Ox or Cow.
Other writers also concur with me, that he often
comes "like a thief in the night."

Yet the Arabs are not wholly wrong, but only put
a wrong construction on facts. I have never believed
the roar to be a warning, but have been led to think
that its purpose is to disturb the whole locality, thus
causing the other animals to flee, and perhaps in
their confusion to run right into the fangs of either
the roaring Lion himself, or a hunting companion of
his.
Lion's Attack I am fully persuaded that when a Lion

on a Cattle breaks into a roar near an enclosure in

Enclosure, which Cattle are guarded, his sole pur-
pose is to render them so mad with fear that they
will blindly try to break out. I will attempt to de-
scribe the Lion's attack upon such an enclosure.

At sunset the nomad has led his herd into the
seriba (camp I, closed in by a fence about nine feet
high and three wide, woven out of the thorny
branches of the mimosa: the most secure wall that
he can build. The Sheep bleatingly call their young
ones; the Cows have been milked and are at rest.
A pack of Dogs mounts guard. Gradually all noises
die away and the peace of night descends on the
scene. The Women and Children have gone to
sleep, and the Men are returning from their work to
the huts. Bats come down from the trees and glide
over the camp like ghosts. Everything else is quiet
and in repose. Even the Dogs have ceased their
yelping, although still intent on their faithful watch
and keep.

Suddenly it seems as if the very earth quakes; a
Lion roars in closest proximity. He truly deserves
his name of " Essed," that is, "the causer of alarm,"
for the greatest confusion reigns in the seriba. The
Sheep run against the thorny fence as if insane; the
Goats bleat loudly; the Cattle gather together with
moans; the Camels try to break all fetters in their
mad longing for flight, and the courageous Dogs,
which have been victorious in many a fight with
Leopards and Hyenas, howl loudly and plaintively
and seek the protection of their masters. With one
gigantic leap the powerful animal clears the wall and
selects his prey. One blow with his fearful paw fells
a young Ox, whose neck the Lion breaks with its
huge jaws. With a low growl the robber lies on his
prey; his eyes glow and his tail lashes the air. He
lets go of the dying animal, and again closes his
teeth on it until it ceases to move. Then he beats

his retreat. He must go back over the wall, but
does not intend to leave his victim. All his strength
is taxed to take such a leap with the prey in his
mouth, but he succeeds. I have seen a Lion with a
two-year-old Ox clear a wall over six feet high. I
have also seen the deep impress the Ox left in the
sand, when the Lion dropped it on the other side,
previous to taking it up again. The Oxen in those
countries are not as heavy as ours. Often one sees
the furrow which the animal had made when being
dragged to the place at which he was devoured.

The Terrific The fact is well known that all animals
Roar which know the Lion will tremble at the

of the Lion mere sound of his voice. Yet we must
not think that the Lion lets his roar re-echo through
the wilderness at all times. His usual sounds are a
long-drawn tone, like the mewing of a giant Cat, and
a deep growl. When frightened he utters a short
"huff" or " wau." His real roar is uttered compara-
tively seldom, and many people who have visited
countries inhabited by Lions have never heard it.
The roar is characteristic of the whole animal, and
may appropriately be called the expression of his
power. It is the only one of its kind, and is sur-
passed in fullness of tone by the voice of no living
creature except the male Hippopotamus, according
to Pechuel-Loesche. The Arabs have a pertinent
expression for it: "raad," meaning "thunder." It
seems to come from the very depth of the chest and
to strain it to the utmost.

The effect of the King's voice on his subjects
is indescribable. The howling Hyena is stricken
dumb, though not for long; the Leopard ceases to
grunt; the Monkeys utter a loud, gurgling sound and
mount to the highest tree-tops; the Antelopes rush
through the bushes in a mad flight; a bleating flock
becomes silent; the laden Camel trembles and list-
ens no longer to its driver's appeal, but throws load
and rider off and seeks salvation in flight; the Horse
rears, snorts and rushes back; the Dog unused to thd
chase creeps up to his master with a wail.

The Lion The North African Lion, when within the

in Search reach of a village, seeks nowhere else for

of Prey. prey. He is an unpleasant visitor and
difficult to get rid of; the more so, as he is possessed
of a great deal of craft Livingstone also says:
"When the Lion is too old to hunt, he frequents the
villages in search of Goats, and if a Woman or Child
crosses his path, he attacks them instead. The Lions
which attack human beings are always old ones, and
it is a common saying among the natives, when a
Lion has helped himself to a Goat in a village: ' His
teeth are used up; he will soon kill a human being.'"

In an attack on wild animals the Lion behaves
quite differently. He knows that they scent him
from afar and are fleet-footed enough to escape.
Therefore he lies in ambush for them or slinks up
to them, sometimes with others of his own kind,
keeping well to leeward of the victims, and hunts
them not only at night but even in broad daylight.
Still such day hunts are always the exception. Gen-
erally he awaits dusk at least before he sets out on
his prowliugs. He follows wild herds as well as the
herds of Cattle, and like other Felidae he likes to lie
in wait in such places as water-courses in open ground
where the animals of the wilderness come to drink.

According to Livingstone the Lion seizes his prey
usually in the neck, or in the flanks, where he is most
fond of beginning his meal. Selous corroborates the
statement that the Lion always begins devouring
his victim at the flanks and first eats the intestines

THE BARBARY LION. Seeking their prey in the afternoon or evening the Lion and Lioness spend the daytime sleeping in their lair. In the

picture they are represented as roused from their slumbers by the arrows of secreted foes, one of which has grazed the skin of the Lioness, who is depicted in
the act of roaring. Both are bewildered as well as enraged, and will fall an easy victim to the shower of arrows and bullets that will follow. (Felis leo bar-
barus.)

110

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

and inner organs. He has also seen Lions take these
parts and cover them with earth, doubtless to keep
them till the following night and to protect them
from the Vultures which are sure to put in an ap-
pearance during the da}-. Concerning their mode
of attack he says: "In my experience Lions attack
animals in the most varied manner; I have seen a
Horse, a young Elephant and two Antelopes killed
by bites in the throat; but I have also seen a Horse
and several Zebras killed by bites in the nape of the
neck. I suppose that Buffaloes sometimes meet
their death through dislocation of the vertebrae of
the neck, the Lion jumping on their shoulder, taking
their nose with his paw and giving it a sudden turn.
I have seen and shot a great many Buffaloes which
had escaped the Lion in time to save their lives,
after being terribly lacerated about the shoulders
and neck.

The Lion prefers large game, but in default of it
he accepts rather small fry with good grace. It is
said that he even eats Locusts. The aim of his hunt
is the capture of large prey always, as he is most
frequently found where there is much game, or nu-
merous herds of Cattle. He finds his principal food
among flocks of domestic animals, wild Zebras, An-
telopes and wild Boars. Under certain circumstances
he even eats animals he finds dead. Selous says:
"The South African Lion is often a very dirty feeder
and frequently gorges himself with the huge bodies
of Elephants in a state of decomposition and crawl-
ing with worms in the tropic sun; night after night
he returns to the feast, until all is gone." Probably a
great many other animals help him, and rarely let the
opportunity slip of feasting at the King's table. The
cowardly, lazy Hyena and the whole genus of Dogs
proper think it very convenient to let others do the
killing for them; and as soon as the Lion has left
they eat their fill and more. The King does not tol-
erate them and it is said that serious quarrels occur
over this matter.

Lions Attach Man is very seldom attacked by the
Men Lion, and his tall form seems to in-

but Seldom. S pj re the latter with fear. In Soudan
at least, where His Majesty is met with rather fre-
quently, scarcely any instances of Lions eating Men
arc known. More frequently Man meets with an
untimely death in that country from attacks by
Crocodiles and even Hyenas than from Lions. In
South Africa the anecdotes about their attacking
Men are common, as they penetrate into camps, in
spite of fires, to carry away Cattle, or even human
beings sitting near the fire. Probably only semi-
starvation leads them to the camp fires, as it did that
strong Lioness with an empty stomach, of which
Selous says that notwithstanding fires, guards and
shots, she thrice came into the camp and attacked
a Horse and two natives close to the fire. Each
time her murderous attempts were frustrated, and
finally she was killed. "A hungry Lion is like a
devil " is a saying in South Africa ; and whether
old and debilitated or young and strong, by night
or by day, a famished Lion will attack Men, and if
such an experience teaches him what an easy prey
Man is, he is sure to wish again for such convenient
game. Real " Man-eaters " can hardly be developed
there though, as most of the South African natives
are not the people to stand much from a Lion.

Selous' Nobody has described the South Afri-
Description can Lion in plainer and more perti-

of the Lion. ne nt language than Selous: "It has
always appeared to me that the word 'majestic' is

singularly inapplicable to the Lion in the wild state,
as when seen by daylight he always has a stealthy,
furtive look that entirely does away with the idea of
majesty. To look majestic a Lion should hold his
head high. This he seldom does. When walking he
holds it low, lower than the line of his back, and it is
only when he first becomes aware of the presence of
Man that he sometimes raises his head and takes a
look at the intruder, usually lowering it immediately,
and trotting away with a growl. When at bay, stand-
ing with open mouth and glaring eyes, holding his
head low between his shoulders, and keeping up a
continuous low growling, twitching his tail the while
from side to side, no animal can look more unpleas-
ant than a Lion; but there is then nothing majestic
or noble in his appearance. If the Lion throws his
tail twice or thrice vertically upward, it means ' look
out'; for this is the sign of an immediate attack.
Lions met in the daytime nearly always retreat be-
fore Man, even when they are disturbed in their meal,
and, consequently, hungry. Of course, when they are
attacked or wounded they reciprocate. In my ex-
perience Lions are more aggressive than any other
South African game I have ever met. As they are
more easily concealed and more rapid and agile in
their attack than Elephants, Unicorns or Buffaloes,
I consider them much more dangerous. Still Lions
show as much individuality as Man, and it is not to be
supposed that what one does, the next one is also
sure to do. I think that nobody has a right to call
Lions cowards, because he has shot two or three
which happened to be such. There are more acci-
dents happening from encounters with Buffaloes, but
this is explained not by the fact that Buffaloes are
more dangerous, but because they are more fre-
quently met with. In the '70's one met fifty Buffa-
loes to a single Lion on a hunt."

The awe-inspiring presence of the Lion, his great
power and courage, have always been acknowledged
and admired. Though this enthusiasm may at times
have been exaggerated and may have resulted in
ascribing properties to the Lion which he does not
possess, still it is not without foundation. The most
prominent naturalists give the Lion credit for quali-
ties which in my opinion include nobility enough.
And whoever has become more closely acquainted
with that animal ; whoever has, like myself, inti-
mately known a captive Lion for years, must think
as I do ; he must love and esteem it as much as a
human being can love and esteem any animal.

The Lioness A Lioness gives birth to from one to
and six cubs at once, the number usually

Her Cubs, being two or three. The little Lion-cubs
have their eyes open at birth and are about half the
size of a Cat. The Lioness treats them usually with
great tenderness and one can hardly imagine a more
beautiful spectacle than the mother with her cubs.
They play together like Kittens, and the mother
regards them gravely, but yet with infinite pleasure.
They may be seen thus in captivity, as a Lioness
often gives birth to a litter when a captive. In well
managed zoological gardens Lions are now bred as
carefully and as systematically as Dogs ; and even in
circuses, where the animals have but little room and
often insufficient nourishment, Lions are born and
sometimes grow up.

Lion- cubs are at first rather clumsy. They learn
to walk in the second month of their life and their
play begins still later. At first they mew like Cats,
but later on their voice becomes fuller and stronger.
In their play they are at first awkward and clumsy,

THE CAT FAMILY -LION.

Ill

but agility comes in time. Towards the close of the
first year they have attained the size of a strong Dog.
In the third year the mane begins to appear in the
male, but full growth and distinction of sex are only
completed in the sixth or seventh year. The age a
Lion attains is in proportion to the slow develop-
ment. There are cases on record where Lions have
lived to be seventy years old in captivity ; although
they lose much of their beauty and show signs of
decay rather early, in spite of the best of care.

He needs about eight pounds of fresh meat daily.
This will keep him in fine condition and he will
grow fat on it.

Experience I have taken care of a Lioness for
with a two years. She became accustomed

Tame Lioness. t t ] le household in a very short time
and enjoyed the freedom of the whole yard. She
soon followed me about ilke a Dog, caressed me at
every opportunity and annoyed me only by coming
to my bed in the night and awakening me with her

THE SENEGAL LION. Although there are differences in the Lions found in various parts, they are so slight as to scarcely justify a

scientific division. The principal variance is in the mane of the male, which is largest and darkest in ihe Barbary Lion. In the Senegal I. inn the
mane is lighter and only covers the head, neck and a part of the breast. The Lion in the picture, with his Lioness, have secured their prey and
are about to take their meal, but appear to have heard suspicious sounds, which they would like to know more about before commencing. (Felts
Jeo senegalensis.)

The Lion Lions captured young may become very
in tame if they receive intelligent care. They

Captvity. know their keeper and become attached to
him in proportion to the attention he bestows on
them. One cannot imagine a more amiable creature
than a Lion tamed in this way, which has forgotten
his freedom, and I might say his Lionhood, and de-
votes himself to Man with his whole soul. With
good food a Lion will live in captivity for years.

caresses. A few weeks after her arrival she reigned
supreme in our yard. She teased and frightened all
the other animals in every imaginable way. The
only one that defied her successfully was a Marabou.
At their first meeting the bird went up to her and
gave her so thorough a lesson with its huge beak that
after a prolonged fight she had to give in. She
would often lie down like a Cat, and then jump on
one of us, like the Cat on a Mouse, her only intention

LIONS ATTACKING A BUFFALO. Here is a battle-royal between a South African Lion and Lioness and a Cape Buffalo. The latter is the

strongest and wildest animal of his spei ies in Africa and his horns are large and powerful. A Lion will seldom attack a Buffalo unaided ; when one does the
Buffalo is as likely to be victor as the Lion. Usually two or more Lions unite to conquer this powerful beast. In the picture the Lioness, who has led the
attack, has been thrown to the ground and the Buffalo is about to use his horns to good effect when the male Lion springs on his back, making the contest so.
l that the Buffalo is certain to be vanquished.

114

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

The Long- The Long-tailed Panther ( Felis varie-
Tailed gattj), inhabiting Sumatra and Java, is
Panther. believed to be an entirely distinct spe-
cies. He has a small oblong head, a long neck, a
tail the length of which equals that of the body,
and short, strong limbs endowed with powerful paws.
His spots are small and dark and are grouped very
close together. They give the skin a black-blue lus-
tre, perceived when one looks at the fur from the
side. The ground color is a dark clay yellow, and
the spots are brownish yellow.

The The Black Panther {Felis //is/as) differs
Black from his kindred only in color; and ac-
Panther. cording to Rosenberg every inhabitant of
Java knows that he is found in the same litter with
the yellow animals. Sanderson believes them to
inhabit only thick, extensive forests, and not to be
found everywhere like their yellow kinsmen. Nearly

rked fe
tiding i

THE LEOPARD. This fierce but beautifully formed and i

accuracy. The large, rounded head, the stout limbs of medium lengt
are small on the head, larger on the breast and limbs and very large c
and even the undulating, stealthy, yet rapid motion of the animal can all be accurately discerned

every zoological garden now has Black Leopards,
and in some they are systematically bred.

Leopards and Hunters, merchants, etc., readily dis-
Panthers criminate between the smaller, bulk-
one Family. j cr Leopard and the larger, more
slenderly-built Panther, but in zoology they both
belong to one group. The Panther and Leopard are
both Felis pardus. In West Africa they are called
" Ngo," in Persia " Palang," in India " Tschita,"
"Adnara," "Honiga" and " Kerkal," and on the
Malay Peninsula they are termed " Harimau-bin-
tang." The size, the shape of the head, the slender
or bulky frame, the length of the tail, the ground
color and spots of the skin are subject to the great-
est variation. Some are yellow or reddish, others
light or dark brown; and black ones, whose spots
show only under a certain light, are known; and
even white specimens have come to light. The dif-
ference in the size is probably due to the difference
in age, locality and food.

Traits of It is as customary to speak of the
Leopards and Panther and Leopard as it is to speak
Panthers. f tne Panther or Leopard. We will
call the African animal, Leopard; the Asiatic, Pan-
ther. In their character and mode of life they agree
as much as is consistent with their varying strength
and size. The former is content with smaller game
and smaller domestic animals; the latter enters the
ranks against larger game and Cattle of all kinds,
as well as human beings. It comes next to the
Tiger in point of rapacity, and in India is often con-
sidered more dangerous. We will probably hear
similar reports from Africa when that continent has
been more thoroughly explored. There is no doubt
but that there the size and other features vary much.
The Felis pardus is distributed over the whole of
Africa and all southern Asia. In the west he pen-
etrates much farther north than the Tiger, but in
the east he is confined
much more closely to
the south. The Panther
extends from Persia,
Asia Minor and Arme-
nia to the Caucasus. In
southern Daghestan his
numbers are much re-
duced, yet he is still a
permanent feature
there. At the western
inclination of the Cau-
casus to the Black Sea,
he is said to range still
farther north, but it has
not been established
how far. In central Asia
the middle and lower
Oxus are his northern
boundaries. Blanford
says he is not found in
the Punjab nor in some
parts of Sinde.

These animals might
be called taciturn, for
their voice is not loud
and is seldom heard.
In captivity they have
been heard to make
plaintive sounds, re-
minding one of a Cat's
cry. Sometimes one
hears a hoarse cry from

ted with great
a Cat-like paw . the fur with spots that
and back, the muscular development,
[.Felis far J us.)

them in the wilderness, repeated three or four times.
Pechuel-Loesche represents it by the spelling "Hura-
ak." When frightened, or when attacking they utter
the same coughing sound, sometimes blended with
the indescribable growl of a ferocious Dog.

Symmetry of The Leopard or Panther is the most
Leopards beautiful of all the Cats. We look

and Panthers. U p 0n the Lj on as t } lc Ki n g f Beasts.
The Tiger is considered the most dangerous of this
cruel family; the Ocelot's skin shows a greater vari-
ety of color; but they are all much inferior to the
Leopard in symmetry of bodily structure, in beauty
of coloring, in agility, vigor and gracefulness of
movement. He unites all the advantages which
other Cats possess singly. His velvet paw vies in
softness with our Pussy's, but hides a claw that com-
pares with the strongest. His teeth are proportion-
ately much stronger than those of his kingly kins-
man. He is an ideal Beast of Prey, combining beauty
with agility and vigor, and intrepidity with cunning.

LEOPARDESS AND YOUNG. Here is shown a Leopardess in repose, enjoying the playful sport of her young ones, yet keeping watch

for anything that may endanger them, and at the same time for any luckless animal tnat may serve for a convenient meal. The spots on the fur
are the main distinguishing feature of this animal, extending as they do from the round head and short neck to the tip of the long tail. The
youngsters are having a good time, a characteristic of all Kittens whether they belong to Pussy or a stately Leopardess. (Fells tardus.)

11G

THE BEASTS OF PREY.

At a cursory glance we might deem the spotted
fur of the Leopard much too bright for a successful
life of rapine, in which the prey must be overpowered
by stealthy, unperceived movements. But even a
superficial consideration of the native country of
the animal dispels these ideas. Whoever has seen
his haunts personally, finds it only natural that so
brightly clothed an animal should disappear in their
vegetation and their rocks. These animals are found
in large numbers wherever there are extensive forests
with a dense growth of underbrush. They do not
like grassy plains, although they are frequently met
in other open places and in the plantations and fields
surrounding settlements. Mountains are a favorite
resort for them, for high elevations abound in game
and furnish excellent places of concealment.

The Leopard Notwithstanding his moderate size, the
a Terrible Leopard is a truly terrible foe to all an-
Foe - imals and even to human beings, though

he avoids Man as long as possible. He is a master
in all athletic accomplishments, and craftier than
other Beasts of Prey; so that he catches even the
most wary or the fleetest of game. He climbs a
pole or tree as well as any Cat, and is quite as often
found on trees as on the level ground. In case of
necessity he can swim streams of considerable width.
It is only in movement that he shows his full beauty.
He is so full of lithe, easy gracefulness that one can
not fail to enjoy watching him, however one may hate
him for his cruelty. Nothing denotes the slightest
effort in his soft, rounded movements; his feet tread
as gently as if they carried the lightest of bodies,
and the Leopard delights the eye to an extent
equaled only by one other much smaller beast of
prey — the Genette.

Unfortunately his intellectual gifts do not harmo-
nize with his external beauty; at least, not according
to our standard. The Leopard is crafty, ill-natured,
ferocious, vindictive and by no means cowardly. In
Africa he is, like the Jaguar in America, sometimes
called Tiger, for this name is thought to designate
the embodiment of cruelty, and no other Cat is as
worthy of the name as he. He kills all the creatures
he can, be they large or small, aggressive or defense-
less. His principal food is probably furnished by
Antelopes, Jackals, Sheep and Goats, but he also
climbs after Monkeys and catches birds of all kinds.
Anything in the animal world serves him for prey
although, according to Pechuel-Loesche's observa-
tion, he also devours the fruit of the oil-palm. The
Baboons always have him at their heels. He pre-
vents these animals from becoming too numerous, as
may be seen in the mountains where the Leopard
does not range, the Dog-headed Monkeys being
found there in much larger numbers than elsewhere.

He is said to cause fearful slaughter in herds guarded
by enclosures, and will kill a dozen or more Sheep in
a single night. That is why the herdsmen fear him
more than the other Carnivora, which stop with a
single victim. He is also an inveterate Chicken thief.

Exciting En- The Leopard gave me a personal proof
counter with a of his intrepidity. One day we were
Leopard. riding on horseback through a part of
the Bogos mountains. Suddenly we heard the bark-
ing of Baboons over our heads and decided to try
our guns on them. The servants were left in the
valley with the Mules, while we climbed the mount-
ain and, having selected a convenient spot, fired at
the Baboons. They were perched at a great eleva-
tion, and most of our shots failed to reach them.
Some of them did, though, and the victims either

fell or escaped wounded. A very old Baboon came
staggering down the mountain-wall, and we thought
we would surely find him dead in the valley.

Suddenly there was a terrible uproar among the
Monkeys and then sounds of tumult reached us from
the valley. All the male Baboons advanced to the
edge of their rocks, grunted, growled and roared,
and furiously beat the earth with their fists. All eyes
looked downward and a few of the strongest males
started to climb down. We thought they were going
to attack us and reloaded our guns with a little more
haste. The noise from below grew greater, our Dogs
barked, and at last we heard the words: "Help!
help! a Leonard!" We looked down and saw a Leop-
ard making straight for our servants. He seemed
occupied with something else on the way, but his
body concealed the object from our view. Then two
shots followed and all became quiet, except for the
barking of the Dogs.

Events had happened so quickly, that we did not
know what the matter could be. So we hurried down
at once, and found our servants staring at a bush in
every possible attitude. " There is the Leopard,"
they cried. Cautiously I approached the bush, but
could see no trace of the beast. Then one of them
pointed to a particular spot, and I saw a dead Leop-
ard lying close before me. About ten paces farther
off lay a dead Baboon.

Now we had an explanation of everything. In
mounting we had probably passed quite close to the
Leopard. Then we had fired about ten shots, whose
report had been re-echoed by the rocks. Upon this,
the Leopard had rushed on the wounded, descending
Monkey, in spite of the Men he had seen and heard,
undeterred by the loud reports of the guns which
had frightened all the other animals, and heedless of
the broad daylight. Sitting on the Baboon as on a
Horse, he rode down into the valley, nothing daunted
by the shouts of the servants. The cook said that
he then, being " frightened to death," had seized one
of my guns and shot at random, the bullet luckily
piercing the Leopard through the chest. Then he
had killed the Baboon without being quite clear why
he had done so. Investigation brought to light the
fact that the Leopard had put his claws into the
Monkey's face, tearing deep holes in it, while he had
in some places let his hind paws drag.

Destruction In villages and cities lying in the
Caused woods, the Leopard makes frequent

by Leopards, attacks upon dwellings. Before the
very eyes of people he seizes upon his prey and
drags it away, paying no attention to the shouts and
noises of the spectators. Every domestic animal is
food for him. He is fond of Dogs, too, though they
object strongly, and resist being carried away. In
many localities the natives are compelled to build
strong stables for their domestic animals, so as to
protect them during the night.

When the female Leopard thinks her cubs are in
danger, she rushes at her foes in a mad rage. There
are also instances on record, where Leopards have
attacked people without any reason. In Abyssinia
such things happen every year, especially to children.