Shas br Keay he hy" ini ta Mite ene iN Rania Ahh seat vie aie AHA \ RS Ba Rau is CIEE ? ig ra, Ms mani Many Oe i 1 sph SN CR thts y I ah Bogee WED , oy r, ay Wie ON iy! Wi Wy tip 4 py) TM rey AE di ey i Y Hi tis Pia We /, Li thy, y ME ) “be Ty ti, HUME LY Liye LOLs Wy yy YUL A TEES OTe 7 y ¥ iA UMAR f yy ALS, A ify j Sd Py yty Mente Ye ee Le y ') Hehe vi if, yy. yp YL Yi es i iy 7) Wy LEAL IIIIILLL) Wy, Wy, Wie Mas WUE, I Lc eM Ce , URS aEY PITT I hi Manne ie ey Vi MMA LALLA LL LL EEE SS RIOR yi HERS } Ahh SAALELL SL f yyy yy, LH MM AS Ld ify bi if ( eta i i =e Som Se oS a <2 = = | CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE oe Cc ornell University Li .B83 1895 nimals of the world. wich 24 024 78 olin,ove2 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024782827 ate Aw ‘SSANOIT UNV NOIT 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. COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED WITH WOOD CUTS AND COLOR-PLATES BY FR. SPECHT, W. KUHNERT, G. MUTZEL, R. KRETSCHMER, W. CAMPHAUSEN, L. BECKMANN, E. SCHMIDT, C. F. DEIKER, P. MEYERHEIM, ETC., ETC. 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. e CopyriGHT 1894 By A. N. Marquis & Co., CHicaco. CopyriGHT 1895 By A. N. Marguis & Co., Cuicaco INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. REHMWM’S immortal book, “Life of Animals,” is one of the most fascinating works ever written upon natural history. The author devoted his life to a study of animate nature, seeking out the creatures in their wild state and making most intimate acquaint- ance with 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 Schmidtlein, 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 to 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 cf 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. a 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 f#equently cruel and make unnecessary slaughter of the defenseless. 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- tebre 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 set 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, T he 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 arrangement of the facts will at once be ap- parent. 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 ‘‘ vertebrae,” 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 (/uvertebrata), 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. Piercing the structure of the backbone is what is known as the vertebral canal, enclosed by arches of bone or cartilage forming part of 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 under side of the backbone are 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 (AZammatlia); the Birds (Aves); the Reptiles (Repilia); 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 mamma 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 membrane, or pleura, 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 separable from the vertebral column, or backbone, in all Mammals; the upper jaw forms part of the skull, and the teeth, though varying consider- ably in number and shape, show that in common they are in all species inserted in sockets. Seven vertebre 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 vertebre), consists of from ten to twenty-four vertebrz; the lumbar vertebrz, or thcse 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 vertebrze: but in speaking of ribs we usually vi THE LIF OF ANIMALS. mean the flat, curved bones attached in the back to the dorsal or thoracic vertebrae, 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 are totally lacking or the bony skeleton of the animal only reveals two stunted rudiments. Inthe 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 in close accordance with the-requirements of the skeleton of the ani- mal 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 cesophagus (or gullet), which never shows such a dilatation as in birds. The stomach is always more or less thin- walled, and may be simple or show as many as three compartments. Its arrangement is quite pe- culiar in those animals which, when time permits, comfortably 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 are suspended in it and do not communicate with any special air 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 automat- ically adjustable, as with 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. “Asa 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 of 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 vertebre 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 membrane- ous formation which enables them to flutter through the ai h he T = e 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-eater is’ draped into a long mane. THE LIFE OF ANLMALS. 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 aname to its wearer. ‘he 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: . Apes and Monkeys (Pithecz). . Half-Monkeys or Lemuroids (Proszmiz). . Wing-handed ‘Animals, or Bats ( Cizroptera). . Beasts of Prey (Carnivora). . Seals or Fin-footed Animals (Pinnipedia) . Insect-eating Animals (Lysectvora). . Rodents or Gnawing Animals (Rodentia). Toothless Animals (Edentata). Proboscis Animals or Elephants (Proboscidea). . Odd-toed Animals (Perissodactyta). 11. Cloven-hoofed Animals (Artiodactyla). 12. Sea Cows (Sireniz). 13, Whales (Cezacea). 14. Pouched Animals (Marsupialia). 15. Egg-laying Mammals (Monotremata). 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 Leal OO ONY ANDRW DN vil 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 Linnzus 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 (fomnid@) containing asa single genus Man (Homo); second, the Man-like Apes (Stmiide); third, the remaining Old World Monkeys (Cercopithicide); fourth, the American Monkeys except the Marmosets (Cedzd@), and fifth, the Marmosets (Hapalde). The anatomical distinctions between Man and the nearest Apes are, principally, the greater size of the brain and brain cavity, 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 (Fede) and of the genus of the Cats Proper (Fels) and the species Tiger (7Zizgris) the scientific name including both the generic and the specific designations, thus: Fels tigris. Dr. Brehm, in the great work to which these re- marks are prefaced 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. Inthe 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. Jae WW Che Hpes and Monkeys. FIRST ORDER: PITHECI. AGLER calls the Apes trans- Yy 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. 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 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 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 is 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 2 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 1s 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. of Apes than would be supposed from their outward appearance. The skeleton has seven cervical vertebre, 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 mobile, 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 well-developed glands 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 froin 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. Ina 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 asa 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 species of lower mammals, neither does it place them so much below the level of Man, as is usually as- serted. The possession of ahand 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 doa 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 Sr: as THE GORILLA.—This king of the African forests is tound only in the deepest fastnesses of Equatorial Africa (15 degrees north and 15 degrees south of the equator)-and no adult of this family has been held in captivity, its great strength and ferocity preventing its capture alive. Several young Gorillas have been taken but did not long survive contact with Man. The artist presents the animal as it is secn 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 tor any emergency. Unarmed Man, the Leopard and the Crocodile are no match for this formidable creature, before which even the Lion might tremble. (Gorilla gini.) (3) 4 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 mot 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 Bedouins 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 onlookera 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 little 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 “ra 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 tails. 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. of the 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 upright best of all; the first mentioned can run thus for a short time and so fast that an ordinary Dog can not overtake them; but ‘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 Baboons walk on the soles of their feet, the Man-shaped Apes lean on.the knuckles of their hands, and bend their bodies over in such a way that the feet practically have their position between the hands. Apesin Some kinds are excellent swimmers, wie others sink in water like a piece of lead. ater, 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 on 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 funny fable.” THE APES AND MONKEYS. 5 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 toa 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 bya 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 strong vines. will protect her and the helpless little one, whose dreamy face expresses entire satisfaction. faithful delineation ot a lite-like scene in the great hot torest 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 from all enemies and caretul in providing for their comforts. in the toreground, at the feet of its watchtul mother, while the ever-alert father is keeping guard trom a perch ot The mother’s tace is placid, because she knows the tather’s ear is never closed and that his mighty arm It is a most graphic and (Gorilla gini.) 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 prey gnd Man, and are 6 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 they decisive blow, are greatly to be feared. Th 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 in 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 so 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. The 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 her 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 asserts 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 on 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 am Health and Ape requires for its growth. The Gue- Longevity. nons 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 epizootics 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. Monkeysas 1 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 jot. to be tolerated on account of their indecent behavior. The life of the tame Apes, which comprised severak Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Guenons and others, at the: THE GORILLA AND THE LEOPARD.—The great strength of the Gorilla is clearly brought out in the above masterly illustration, which depicts the manner in which it attacks the Leopard. This treacherous animal dare not assail an adult Gorilla, but will prowl around the home of the latter, and, «when an opportunity offers, seize and run off with a young one of the family. Being more fleet of foot than the Gorilla he easily escapes with his victim. In this case the Gorilla has come up with the predatory wretch and is making short work of him. The mother with her darling pressed close to her breast is an ‘interested spectator, from her perch on the tree-bough, of the deadly struggle beneath, (7) 8 THE APES AND MONKEYS. station of the Loango exploring party, is described by Pechuel-Loesche as Ai 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 (Catarrhini), the Apes. _ Broad-nosed_ (Platyrrhini), and_ the Marmosets (Arctopithecin’). 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 peculiarities existing in 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. The HMarrow=Rosed Hopes. 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 (Cynopithecint). 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 arms are longer than his, while their legs are shorter. The tail is lacking. The face and toes are not covered with hair. Of the four known species, two, the Gorilla and Chimpanzee, inhabit Africa; the Orang-utan and Gibbon, the southeast of Asia. The former step: Hanno Over two thousand years ago the Car- andthe thagenians sent out a fleet with a view “Wild Men.” of 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 froma 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 MAN-SHAPED APES—GORILLA. 9 wi) uy) FACE OF A CHIMPANZEE.—This is an excellent picture of the Chimpanzee, displaying to the greatest mountains to the east, 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 parallel 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 advantage the immense frontal ridge above the eye as well as the great ears for which it is noted. The large, though it might go to the 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. north of the Ogowe.and the Gaboon country, at least as them and conveyed the skins to Carthage.” Pliny far as Cameroon, as that part of the continent has tells us that these skins were kept in the temple of more rain, and, in consequence, abounds in woods. Juno, in the latter city. It is possible that the Gorilla also lives in those There is: scarcely any doubt that Hanno, in speak- parts of Upper Guinea that are equally favored. 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 gina), 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 lying deep.in their sockets, the broad, flat nose, and the large PROFILE OF A CHIMPANZEE.—This picture shows to good advantage the large and slit~ like mouth, the mild and gentle eye and the quaintly shaped nose that are peculiarities of the Chim- panzee. While decidedly unattractive there is absent the ferocity that marks the countenance of the Gorilla. Aiud indeed the Chimpanzee has a disposition that is gentle and kind except when it has suf- fered from privation or age and infirmity overcome it. great Ape is in a striking pose, being at rest, yet alert, as the keen, hazel eyes plainly show. The large nostrils.are wide open, the wi and the chin is resting upon the back of the huge muscular right hand that in turn lays upon the left fore-arm extended scat, fem eee proach of danger all would be changed ; the hair of the forehead and head would become erect and vibrate rapidly and its huge bellowings and sivlent alle of the chest would send awe if not terror to the bravest of Men. (10) f 7 ey iN eas nn \ ORANG-UTAN,—The naturalists have given the name Satyr to this animal because of 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, one hand 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.) (11) 12 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 ahd 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 pursuers. 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 tar 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- THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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- ortunity.” i P Later 7 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 woyages 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 food! 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. . “ Tf let alone, the Gorilla does not attack’ Men, but rather avoids them. If he is taken by stirprise, 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 Atrican torest, 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. (13) 14 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, [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- ioe stood trembling behind me, another gun in and. 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’idea 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.” ; The Gorilla The attempt to import young Gorillas in to Europe had always been unsuccess- Captivity. ful, until the members of the German Loango exploring party tried it. Falkenstein, their 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 the 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 z o ms a : i Mee i : i; oh = th MPANZEES 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=mwan beings. (15) 16 ag 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. ‘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. 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 gice 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. Inthe course of the aftertioon 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. ] Living with his: As soon as the woman came in, he. THE APES AND MONKEYS. THE CHIMPANZEE. Let us now consider the second species of the Anthropomorpha, the Chimpanzee (Sima 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 backs 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 Well-Known. ysually made of the famous mosaic picture, which once adorned the temple of Fortuna in Praeneste,[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 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 rface of the mother and explains why the name, satyr, ‘‘ Wild man of the woods,” is applied to the Orang-utan. (Pithecus satyrus.) (17) 18 the rain. His hair is olive-black, his face hairless and flesh-colored, and his buttocks white.” Character. Savage, who made his observations in ae Lower Guinea, writes : “ We cannot say raits. 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 ata 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 sawthem 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 Chimpan- The Chimpanzee is made a captive zeein oftener than the other Man-like Apes, Captivity. but 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. Buffon re- lates that his Chimpanzee had asad and serious look, and moved about inadignified 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 ainter of animals, Fr. Specht, concerning one in ill’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 THE APES AND MONKEYS. piece of chalk along, and sat down on a chair. In 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, 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. . » The same fate has befallen Chimpanzees “Mr. Crowley brought to the United States as was met by N hy k those taken to Europe. All will readily eens recall that most attractive fellow, “ Mr. Crowe ley,” so long the chief object of admiration in’the museum of Central Park, New York. This Chimpanzee was greatly at- tached to his keeper and displayed a readiness and agility in erforming amusing tricks that won the attention of every one, e acquired a number of accomplishments in the way of eatin, and drinking, and displayed, until the ravages of disease spoil 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 enem 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 showman, 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 z00- 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 incore rectly called Orang-Utang, and named Mias or Majas in Borneo (Pithecus satyrus). He is distin- guished by his disproportionately long arms, reache i fi pe a | ie ie | al . Heat oe a sa ie “The expression is older than a child’s, but the features are nearly 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. ‘This Orang has its own snug bed and sleeps restfully beneath the covers, drinks from its own cup, runs and jumps, plays all kinds of mad pranks and enjoys Wife fully as much as mother’s own baby in any one of ten thousand happy homes. (Pithecus satyrus.) a9) 20 ing as far as his ankle joint, and by his conically shaped head and protruding jaws. He has only twelve rib-supporting vertebre. The skull of a young Orang-utan resembles that of a human child toa high degree; but as it grows older, the bestial 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 thirteen 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 crect, 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. ina natural state of the Orang-utan than of any other of the Man-shaped Apes. This traveler THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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 soonas 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 remains THE MAN-SHAPED APES—ORANG-UT. AN. cd 21 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, oris 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, WHITE-HANDED GIBBONS.—These active and pretty 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 or within a hundred feet of the spot where I 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. 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 this 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- “All the Dyak chiefs, who had spent thei1 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 22 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 fame 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 ona 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 same dexterity as her hands. When she could not reach an article with her hands, she threw herself on her back and got at it with her feet. She never screamed unless left alone. At THE APES AND MONKEYS. first her screams resembled the howling of a Dog: She soon fell a prey to consumption. Another description comes to us from An Orang- Utan on a careful observer, who had an Orang- Shipboard. wtan on a ship 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. Gymnastics and climbing seemed to af- ford him especial pleasure, for he would practice 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 his 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. He stole a bottle of rum, nearly emp- tied it, became sick and died on the fourteenth day. a ~minditig’one of a Grey- THE MAN-SHAPED APES—GIBBON. THE GIBBON... No other Apes show such a development of the upper extremities as the Gibbons or Long-armed Apes (Aylobates). They perfectly justify their name, for when they stand erect their fingers touch the ground. This one trait would suffice to distin- tae 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 S reat islands of Sumatra, woes and Borneo. They 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 yery narrow, re- hound‘ the lower extrem- ities are very much longer than the upper, and the elongated hands in some species show the forefin- er 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 23 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- the Gibbon. ofthe Long- armed Apes are : the Sia- mang (Hylobates syndac- tylus), the Hoolock 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 depth of the chin and the two prominent ridges on the forehead give to the face a rather unpleas- ant appearance, but in captivity the animal is amiable and readily attaches mous in their admiration of the climbing accom- plishments of the Long- armed Apes, in which Fylobates hoolock), the ar or White-handed Gibbon (Aylobaies lar), the Ungko (Hylobates raf- fiesii) and the Wau-wau or Oa (Hylobates 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 itself to its master. (Aylobates variegatus.) they excel every other species. Astonishing Duvaucel relates with what incredible Agility of rapidity and assurance the Wau-wau Gibbons. 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 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. shy 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. Inthis 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 thumbs and the fur is thick, long and black. URSINE COLOBUS AND BLACK COLOBUS.—These monkeys are found in the deep woods of Africa. The Bear-like appearance gave to the Ursine Colobus its name. The cheek bones and chin are covered with long, white hair which stands outward or downward as shown in the picture. It is very timid and flees at the approach of Man. The Black Colobus, like the Ursine, has stunted (See chapter on ‘“‘ Dog-shaped Monkeys.’’) THE APES AND MONKEYS. of a Turkey. He made cries denoting joy as well as anger. The female Ungko in London sometimes cried ina peculiarly harmonious manner. She begar with E, 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 contrary, praises his tame- 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. He brought a Siamang nearly as far as Europe and says that in a short time he made his way into the affections of all his fellow- travelers. He died before they reached England and was mourned bythe 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 they die. BABOONS, The Warrow-Wosed Apes—Continued. THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS. The second group of the Narrow-nosed Apes consists of the Dog- shaped Monkeys (Cynopithecint). 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, i 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 Live. 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. THE PRIAMUS SLENDER OR SACRED MONKEYS. MONKEY. —A native of eg a Nas ar ol Among the Dog-shaped Monkeys we will first turn to the Slender or inches long, with a tailtwen- Sacred Monkeys (Semmnopithecus), which are, as their name indicates, tyinches in length. Its color slichtly built, and are endowed with long, fine extremities and a very ; gt Sona aaa sediaa aan long tail,a small, high head, a face devoid of hair, and a short snout, pro- ae a ee feist ete vided with small cheek-pouches. Their callosities are very small. The and easily escapes. pursuit. (Semnogithecus last molar tooth in the lower jaw is furnished with five cusps. The wrens : 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 ( Semnopithecus entellus), which is the most common of all the Ape species (25) 26 THE APES AND 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. of the 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 ait 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. ‘3 Hoonuman This Monkey Protected by has been stud- Natives. ied for a great ‘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- sattas, 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 (Semnopithecus maurus.) 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 fruitsand buds. The mop of hair surrounding the face gives them a peculiarexpression. 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 measurement. 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- Lhe sacred an- ation forthe 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 every landlord to repair his housetop. As soonas 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 Monkeys, Oxen, Cows, etc., in Ahmadabad. All the THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS—SLENDER OR SACRED. 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 very probable that the sacred character of the. HOONUMAN MONKEYS.—-The most #77: sacred of all the sacred Monkeys of India. /j Here are portrayed a troop of Hoonumans in +7 their arboreal home in the hot lowlands of the % upper Ganges. The full-grown Hoonuman is from three to four feet in length, with a tail still longer than the body. It isa 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. Lm 27 The Budeng or This group has yet other remarkable Negro Monkey members. The Budeng or Negro of Java. Monkey of the Javanese (Semno- pithecus maurus) 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 species are of a cream color, and only the ends of 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 asa sort of servant to provide for its greedy wants. (Semnopithe- fis : cus entellus.) 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 ‘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.” (?) 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-iiosed or Proboscis ‘Monkey, or Kahau (WVasalis 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 neariy 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 as very little known. According to Wurmb, they assemble together in large troops at mornings and evenings and howl, the cry bearing some resem- ‘lance 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 (Colodus), 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 APES AND MONKEYS. 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. The 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, of Monkeys. He is indisputably the handsomest of all Monkeys. His color is exceedingly pretty, and his hair as peculiar and, at the same time, striking in Among these animals we ought to con- : Handsomest sider the Guereza (Colobus guereza) first. . 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, Ruppeli, who found it on his Abyssinian tour, in the province of Godsham, and gave it, for a scientific name, 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 4 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. at a height of three ‘ saw it on the Kilima Njaro, 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 body, 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 Guereza. secure 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 with a great many difficulties. Heis nearly’ 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. 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 only twice I say fortunately, - yi. (a ! ( , IA YA dt : \ apt i i ( fi I \\" oy ie ieee i iat ! " nh ¥ IN of Borneo, and are sometimes called the Proboscis Monkeys, the organ This illustration is taken from life and shows them as they appear in the zoological gardens in Batavia, the assemble together mornings and evenings, . (29) 30 been taken to Europe [and none have ever reached America ]. Other Further members of this group, of which Thumbless 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- country of tics of Guenons. this 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 THE APES AND MONKEYS. 4 ‘impinge and running, thieving and pilfering, the ee a oe asight to see. They have a government of their own, and the strongest : ot 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. Even 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. = of tuft, capacious cheek- pouches and large callos- ities. Their coloring is : hae > It is ver DIANA MONKEYS.—tThese handsome creatures are found on_the Guenons i ed Guinea coast, the banks of the Congo and the Island of Fernando Po. They 0” a Stealing interesting are named for Diana, goddess of the moon, because of the white crescent on Expedition. to the ob- the forehead. Little is known of the Diana Monkey in its wild state, on account of its great agility and its fear of Man, but it is frequently seen and studied in server to watch a troop usually bright. There are about twenty different kinds in this group. In the Nile country 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- pys are around. Merry and The Guenons are among the most Sociable Traits sociable, lively, merry and good- of Guenons. humored of the Monkeys. They nearly always live in rather large troops; single fam- ilies being 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 captivity, where the disposition varies greatly, some of the species being gay and amiable, while others are cross and sullen. bent ona stealing expe- dition. The 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 ashe. 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 chosen field and scamper to their paradise. The activity (Cercopithecus diana.) ui ca if; Mon 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, they are able to enjoy practical security from the natives, who are poormarksmen. (Colobus gugreza.) (31) and where B2 ’ 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 tothe utmost. Then they begin to be more fastidious in their choice. All the ears and cobsare first carefully smelled, and if they dé 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 impl'c‘t 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 seén 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 F the hunted, but are caught in traps, consist- uenon. ing of nets enclosing some dainty food. The Monkeys try to take the bait and entangle themselves in the nets, so that they cannot get away. Europeans have no difficulty 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 THE APES AND MONKEYS. with it. I onceshot 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. . @uenons 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 forgottem 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 have 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 with 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 Captivity. 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. One 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. But they all had this in common, | that, they liked to play practical jokes on larger ani- mals, while they protected and cared for little ones. They knew how to make the most of every situa- tion. Daily they gave me proofs of good commom 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 (Cercopith- ecus sabaeus), 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 a gray-greem tint; the arms, legs and tail are gray; the short beard and the under and inner surface of the legs are : ‘ j 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 grain 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 $f the delicate marking ot each separate hair of their fur. The under portion of the body and limbs is nearly white, the outer part of the limbs is of a grayish shading, while the hair on the side of the face isa golden yellow. Many Green Monkeys have been taken to Europe and brought to the United States. (Cercopithecus sabacus.) (33) 34 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 under 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- Guenonof — ecus cephus), called Muido by the na- West Africa. tives of 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 body and the inner side of the tS SZ, LAV SS . 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 isa very pretty animal. Bruce, who studied it in its wild state, declares that a troop of Red Monkeys watched, from their home in the trees, while his boats were passing up the river, and that they finally became enraged and pelted the voyagers with bits of wood. He adds that when fired at they uttered the most frightful cries but continued the fight, even after several of their comrades were slain. (Cercopithecus ruber.) limbs are bluish-gray. The face is of a beautiful 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 bya 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 painted or stained. They 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 Pechuel-Loesche, who studied this Guenon species, as well as a great many Domesticated. others both in the wild state and in captivity, gives it as his opinion, that no other THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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 would 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, and 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 anybody, 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 did she torment them. If she soiled her hands, she tried to clean them, 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 Bluee 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 for a great many trinkets. For several little articles she showed a great predilection, THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS—GUENONS. 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 # 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 4 = hia SOOTY MANGABEY.—This Monkey received its name from its color, and the mistaken notion that it It is a native ot west Africa and, like all the class it came from Madagascar, where there are no true Monkeys represents, has the upper eyelid white, in strong contrast with its sooty color. 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 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 fuliginosus.) the most quaint of grimaces. 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- 35 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 | Gi This Mangabey is easily tamed, 36 with her always found the little Monkey ready to defend her in case of need, sitting on her shoulder or inher 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 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. cus sinicus.) 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 we 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- 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. THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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 (Macacus) 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 wig, 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 go 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. They 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 gtoup is _the Macaque of Common Macaque or Monjet (Maca- Java. cus 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 (Maca- COMMON MACAQUE,—This picture illustrates in astriking manner the impudence that is so strong a characteristic of the Common 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, the 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.) (37) B8 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 (Macacus rhesus), is Macaque. said 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 BHUNDER, OR RHESUS MONKEY.—This picture presents a very contented tamily of Bhunder or Rhesus Monkeys, which are THE APES AND MONKEYS. impression on them, on one does them real injury, ndangers his own lite. ee eee The story of Lady Barker’s great din- Feast ner in Simla, shows how peculiarly civ- Demolished. jlized 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 = ait = Sot - natives of British India, where, in many localities, they are 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 viliages, 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 their tribute.” Every Hindoo willingly gives his share, and hereby shows a gentleness of spirit and goodness 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 animals. Of course the Hindoos go too farin this. It is hard fora foreigner to live with these Monkeys without waging war on them. Itis scarcely possible to have a plantation or a garden; for the protected rascals devastate it in 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 kind. A band of Monkeys had effected an entrance through the windows and were hugely enjoying themselves at the table. One may imagine the feel- ings of the hostess, who could offer her guests noth- ing 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 and tormented by all the Monkeys, and, at last, was 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 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- PIG-TAILED MACAQUES.— Natives of Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula, and are called Bruh, or “Climbers of Palms,” by the natives, on account of their fondness for the fruit of these trees. They are harmless and easily domesticated. The artist has sketched them with their favorite food, the hand of one of the animals resting comfortably uponit. (MWacacus nemestrinus.) hands are of a light copper color ; the callosities of avivid 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 Ape." — Ape, or Tailless Ape (Macacus 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 = ew vr oe a oat = _ ae oo its mountainous regions, and is as much at home on rocks as on trees. It igs said that it feeds on in: sects and worms like the Baboon, and therefore keeps lifting up stones, which occasionally roll down hilland endanger the safety of passers-by. It is also thought to be very fond of Scorpions; very adroitly twisting off their poisonous tails, and then eating the bodies. 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 Magotsat is the only Gibraltar, Monke y that inhabits Europe in a wild state. I was told when I visited the south 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- CBr =~ 25. : Th EDs. A BLACK BABOON,.—This picture presents the Black 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 AO came into the gardens. Even the Spaniards do not know whether the animals originally were natives of 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 : Europe in the wild state, a colony of them being dwellers upon the Rock of Gibraltar. Dog and a very frail animal. destroy far more than they eat or take away with them. (/nuuus 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 wice versa, and try to shelter themselves from it behind the rocks. They are active to a degree and preferably dwell on steep, wy ! A he b I {| MAGOT, BARBARY, OR TAILLESS APE,—This is the only member of the Monkey family that lives in Y It is also found in the Barbary States, always living in the hilly or mountainous coun- try. Inthe Atlas Mountains these Monkeys are known as great thieves, making raids upon fields of grain, where they THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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 sleek 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 they 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- Monkeys. _—_selt says about the same Monk- eys: “On my passage from 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 “i 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 away from me, and from it the sound had come. I stopped and saw tha. 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. Ata 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, create It is about the size of a Setter THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEYS—BABOON. 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 right 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 that 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 4] 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, built, and not so strong. The — satan but more slenderly he United States. They are true 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. that are older. (Cynocephalus babuin.) 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 The playfulness of the little one is 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 (Cynocephalus) 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 Like Aristotle, we call the Baboons Dog-headed Monkeys, for the shape of their heads resembles that of a rude, fierce Dog more than it does 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, The body is of a strong, bulky make and the muscular power is enormous. The 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 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- ally of an undefined earthy or rocky color: gray, gray-green, yel- low or brownish-green. Homes and The Baboons are found widely spread Habits of about in Africa, Arabia and India. Dif- Baboons. ferent 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 iu 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, CHACMA BABOON.—Is very large, being about the size of an English Mastiff, and is possessed of great strength. It is anative of the Cape of Good Hope, where its ferocity brings terror to the Dogs, whom it does not hesitate to attack and frequently kill. in hilly places, and when not engaged in making forays upon a neighboring field, passes much of its time sleeping in its hiding-place in the rocks. THE APES AND MONKEYS. i ir greed of animal food also attack larger a * Acoar diag 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 ilitary manner. : ee than any other Monkeys, Baboons show, by their gait, that they are rea'ly quadrupeds. The 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 alk more or less bad fel- lows, always savage, fierce, impudent and ; malicious; the muz- zle is a coarse imita- tion of a Dog’s, the face a distortion of a Dog’s face. The look is cunning, the 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. 1 They easily perceive traps and dangers, and defend them- selves with courage and bravery. As bad as they may be, 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 % Acted bhke. It lives (Cynocephalus porcarius.) THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEVS—BABOON. 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 nemieés. him 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 ij hamadryas.) 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 they enjoy eating these animals as much as they do insects or Spiders. ; ; The usefulness of the Baboons is very slight. They are taught a great many tricks, and in South 48 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 ( Cynocepha- Described. Jys niger) 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 half way back on the up- 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- void of fur, while the rest of the body is covered by long, woolly hair, which is the longest on the head, 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 AND MONKEYS. was too quick for him. He seemed to be on friendly terms with the Macaques, and sustained very amicable 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 ( Cynocephalus bab- and Sphinx. —__4n) is 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- sents a formidable appearance, and its looks do not belie its character. creatures encounters a body of Hamadryas when on a marauding expedition, and engage in desperate battle. The legs of the Gelada are black and the mane is a pale brown. vided with manes; but he closely resembles the Chacma (Cynocephalus 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 Sometimes a troop of these (Cynocephalus gelada.) 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 his keeper, while she lives with him on the most amicable terms. Story of The first Common Baboon that came “Perro,” a into my possession was named “Perro.” Captive Baboon. He was a _ good-looking, pleasant Monkey and grew to like me after a short interval of three days. I made him guard our doors, chaining him to the yard gate. Hesoon 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 bringing his hand down violently on the table, only that he did not 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 ourther 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 MONKEYVS—BABOON. 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 4 iit ant Za aid VS >a 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. (Cyxocephalus 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 J. 45 Great Courage Among my pets was a tame Lioness, of the who made the Guenons rather nervous, Baboons. but 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 ina 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 1 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. and 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 her chain would permit. But she did not suffer 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- Reverenced in madryas by the ancient Egyptians Ancient Egypt. has 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 plains 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 Egypt 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 stayin Abyssinia, and can speak about him from personal experience. ! THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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); double this number were adult females. Theremainder 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 MONKEYVS—BABOON. 47 Hamadryas When a troop of these Baboons are oe for sitting still, they all keep perfectly nemies. 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 Monkeys roar, growl, bark, shriek, grunt and squeal in chorus. All the DRILL.—The Drill has prominent cheek bones and ridges above, the same as the Mandrill, but the vivid color- ing is lacking. 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 1s most imminent. It is entirely different when they It is smaller than the Mandrill and its hair is greener, while underneath it is whiter and more silvery. The whiskers which are heavy are brushed back and the small beard is orange colored. It is a native of the coast of Guinea and its habits are similar to those of the Mandrill which it so closely resembles. tivity in the United States as well as in Europe. (C. ‘ynocephalus leucophacus.) see a Dog ora 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 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 furious beasts of prey. Unfortunately the rock was too high for our bul- 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 It is sometimes seen in cap- 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. body and tail area deep black. The Wanderoo lives along the Malabar coast, and has been introduced into Ceylon. Itis easily domesticated, but does not long survive a residence in temperate climates. (Cyno- cephalus 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. and learned of 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, | 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 Schimper 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. the Hamadryas, we find the Gelada of the Abys- sinians, (Cynocephalus 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. The 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 huhdred years. THE DOG-SHAPED MONKEVS—MANDRILL AND DRILL. = 49 The Mandrill, With the right that we call the Gue- Ugliest of the yeza the most beautiful of Monkeys, Monkey Tribe. we may also call the Mandrill ( Cyno- cephalus 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 o RED HOWLERS,.—Like the other members of this numerous family these Monkeys possess extraordinary voices, the great traveler They are 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 Il-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 7 SS ey! =e se So Ties Boat ® a Waterton saying of them, ‘‘ Nothing can sound more dreadful than their nocturnal noises. You would suppose that one-half the wild beasts of 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. (Adycetes seniculus.) black, the nose and the immediate surroundings ver- milion, the swellings on both its sides a bright blue, while the furrows in them are black. The callosities are blue and red. The usual height attained by males is a little over three feet. The Drill, Similar to His cousin, the Drill ( Cynocepha- but Smaller than lus leucophacus),is a trifle smaller, the Mandrill. his fur is brown above, whitish below, the beard dull white, the face black, the hands and feet are a copper brown. ; It is astonishing that we do not know anything about the life in the wild state of these two Monk- eys, specimens of which have so often been cap- tured. Both species are natives of Upper Guinea. no means repulsive. But all this changes very early, much earlier than with the other Baboons, and ina very few years the Mandrill reveals all the repul- siveness of his hideous nature. An English author says that the anger of other Monkeys compared to the rage of the Mandrills is but as a zephyr to a tor- nado carrying everything before it. His passions know no bounds. He rushes at his enemy, like one possessed, his eyes reflecting a demoniacal rage. One thought has hold of his brain : to tear his oppo- nent to pieces, and he heeds neither whip nor knife. His mode of attack strikes one not as courageous, but as insane. No animal is more dangerous to a keeper than an angry Mandrill. Lions and Tigers 50 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- THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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 totwenty, exclusively in the high forests, ranging from the 14th degree of. northern latitude to Cape Comorin. Emerican or Broad=Hosed Monkeys. SECOND FAMILY: Pratyrruint. 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 is made between the Monkeys of the Old and New Worlds. The American or Broad-nosed Monkeys (Platyrrhint) 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. d1 and none of them has a projecting muzzie. 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 = 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 5 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 _ fondof their meat. 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 réal 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. callosities, as the Old World Monkeys. : ‘ é Paraguay, and this species is found in the mountains as high as six thousand feet. 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. (Mycetes niger.) 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. The American Monkeys do very little, And the vast, American BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS,—Found in Guatemala and have prehensile tails but no cheek-pouches or The Black Howlers are one of ten species, which extend from Guatemala to Like all of the Howlers it has They are the largest of the New World Monkeys, and the Indians are very roasts tor 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. \xeep captive. Schomburgk tells us that the Arekunas, when they wish to tame an old, 52 THE APES AND MONKEYS. sulky Monkey, steep the arrow in weak Urari poison. When he falls down unconscious from the aA wi SCHeREERS N n MIRIKI SPIDER MONKEY.—It is only in South Amer 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 tace. They have very long tails, and one of their ways of using them is well brought to view by the Monkey in the background of this picture. (Ateles hypoxanthus.) : effect of the poison they suck the wound ; then they 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 t6 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 he- 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- agerie in the United States. There are some ve 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 Cebidz, and those whose tails are not prehensile, the Pithecidz. THE HOWLERS. Chief among the Cebidz is the Howler (JJycetes). 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 get their “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 “The other American Monkeys, N a “yr QN PERING SS COAITA SPIDER MONKEY.—The artist has caught two Coaitas in attitudes that tell more strongl¥ 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. (A‘eles paniscus.) voices of these animals, which have earned for them a perfect right to the name of Howlers.’ whose voice is piping like a Spar- ’ THE AMERICAN MONKEYS—HOWLER. 53 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. Where the The Howlers are widely spread over Howleris all parts of South America. Thick, Found. 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 ee the cooler regions if food and water are plen- tiful. The Aluate or Red Howler (Mycetes seniculus), 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 isan 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 awhole 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 being a deep brown. 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 sponding to the Colobus of Africa, but the Chameck has the thumb slightly ‘projecting, consisting of but a single joint, without a nail. Itis found in great numbers in Brazil, and is nearly black in color, the face and ears (Ateles pentadactylus.) 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 d+ 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, ing crest of hair, its long-haired tail and strikingly marked coloring. South America and its home is deep in the forests. constantly using its prehensile tail in traveling. 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 lke 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: “ They live Red Howler. jn small 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 ith its project- It has a wide range in In the trees it is swift in its movements, (Ateles bartlettii.) 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 day. The Howler is lazy and melancholy i 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. Ifa 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. How the When Howlers are shot at Howler Acts they make their escape as When Hunted. 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 box 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 attention to their keeper than to anybody 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 (Aves). 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 he lives of the different species of in Their Spider Monkeys seem to be very Native 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 ‘here are two species which of Spider are found quite frequently Monkeys. in Guiana; the Coaita ( Azeles paniscus), and the Marimonda or Aru (Ateles belzebuth). 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 (Aéeles pentadactylus). His fur is long and deep black in color and his thumb rudimental. The Miriki (Aveles 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 arule 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 i.6- Grinoco. Spider Monkeys Monkeys 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 cold 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 Ay) 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 Fe pha Vie BY stg mss x \ Sane : HUMBOLDT’S LAGOTHRIX MONKEY.——Was discovered by Humboldt up th 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 humboldtii.) 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 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 (Ceédus) 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- THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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 by the. tails of the elders, 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 eat 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. ters 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 in cap- tivity give birth to young ones, 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. of its captivity it learns to know its master and keeper, looks to him for food, warmth, THE AMERICAN MONKEYS—CAPUCHIN. a 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 almiost 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 isso 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 CAL 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 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 (Cebus 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 SSS 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. (Cebus capucinus.) 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 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 Apellaas Lhe Apella is often shipped to Organ-Grinder's Europe [and the United States, and Assistant. is 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 artist 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. (1. White-Bearded Capuchin—Cebus leucogenys. 2. 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 Pithecitde, or Tails. the 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. Apella, or Brown Capuchin—Cedus _apella, 3. White-Faced Capuchin—Cebus hypolencus. 4. Green Capuchin—Cedbus olzvaceus.) THE APES AND MONKEYS. The Pithecia 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- ofthe mon group of Cuxio. this tribe inhab- its the extensive forests on the upper Maranon and Ori- noco rivers. The Indians call it Cuxio (Pithecia 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. § ( Pithecta 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—CALLITARIX. 59 The Black- The life of the Black-headed Saki Headed Saki, (Brachyurus melanocephalus) is very \it- or Cacajao. tle known, though the many names by which it is called would indicate that it is frequently Ma ay 7 xhibits a very 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 ina savage manner. (Fithecia satanas.) encountered by the natives. Besides the preceding names, this Monkey is also called Cacajao, Chucuto, Chucuzo, Caruari, Mono-feo or Ugly ope) Monkey, and Mono-Rabon or Short- & Tae 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 (Brachyurus). 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 shining black. 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 as tured. [although a number of live Short-tailed Saki Monk- eys have been taken to the United States ]. In captivity it is 2S Wk E58 SE aa THE HAIRY SAKI,—Has hair of a speckled gray color, which is very long, hanging over the head and half hiding the sad little face. This Jong hair extends all over the body and out to the end of the tail. ‘It is a nocturnal animal, timid and retiring, and does not live long after being cap- (Pithecia hirsuta.) 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 Callithrices 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. [ithyix lugens). 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-forméd 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 ( Chrysothriz) 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. As with the Callithrix, the tail is round and S We Sa SS \" GUN slender, and they have many peculiarities that are common to the non-prehensile-tailed group. 60 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 vA ‘a é a 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. keep three of these Monkeys in cap- tivity, supplying each vacancy by death with a new \ Ny 0 AWN WN I, 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. (Pithecta leucocephala.) THE APES AND MONKEYS. 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. Inthe beginning 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 leftthem 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 (WVyctipithecus), 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. y: : \ 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 tothe 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 (Nyctipithecus trivergatus) 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 Bates asserts that they are also met with in greater numbers. The Mirikina A Mirikina caught young is easily ina tamed, while an old one always re- Captive State. tains its fierce 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 mL Siocn 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 them 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. (Callithrix 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 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 been Se sound, which has likened by SQUIRREL MONKEYS,—Here are two of these merry and lively little creatures perched in a palm tree, the fruit of 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 sciurea.) travelers to the distant call of a Jaguar. They ex- press anger by a repeated “ grr, grr, grr, grr.” The Marmosets. THIRD FAMILY: 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 Marmoset has a round head, a short flat face, small eyes, large ears, sometimes adorned with tufts, a slim body and short limbs, a bushy tail and silky fur. The claws on the fingers and toes are small and narrow, except those of the thumb-toes, which are broad and nail-like. The claw-like hands, whose thumbs cannot be opposed to the other fingers—this peculiarity is not noticeable in the feet—have really become paws in this genus, and the feet only 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 and numbers in Brazil, Guiana and Peru, Mexico affording but two kinds. How high they ascend the mountains has not been determined ; ARCTOPITHECI. THE APES AND MONKEYS. Schomburgk saw them at an elevation of 1,600 feet, but it is believed they inhabit much greater altitudes in the Andes range. Sane 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 place 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. 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 great ideas; on the con- Special Traits S PRYQ 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 tail is long and bushy. They inhabit Brazil, and are about the size of a common Squirrel. (Hapale 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 acow- tuft over each ear stand out in bold relief against ard: the plaintive voice, the evident incapacity or the brown face. unwillingness to give in to necessity, the complain- In captivity they subsist on fruit, vegetables, in- ing resignation, the morbid fancy that the actions of sects, Snails and meat, and soon get familiar with 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 hunt 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 Tamarins, to which belongs the Silver Monkey (Hapale Argentata), having a longer tail, but no mane, and the Silky Monkey (Hapale pygmea) 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 in 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 = wz aes == SS& f SS = = 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. ((Vyctipithecus trivirgatus.) + alternately russet, black and white. The tail is black, those who take constant care of them. They show showing about twenty white ringlets and a white tip. themselves distrustful and irritable towards stran- A whitish spot on the forehead, and a pure white 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 tin 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, 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 toa 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 ke pt in unheated rooms, even on cool days in Spring and Autumn, and were given no liberty at all, still they gave birth to young 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. 3 a 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 penicilata which is about the same size and nearly as common as the Ouistiti. The Pinche (Hapale edipus), 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 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 sott and sweet, varying with the different moods of the animal. It is a most delicate creature and does not live long in captivity. regions of South America. Its home is in the tropical (Hapale edipus). and only designated by their scientific names, which rest only on slight variations. Che Dalt=MMonkeys or Demuroids. SECOND ORDER: ProsiMi1. HE 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 Quadrumana (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 Featuresof 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 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 yg some they are rather long. The tail may be longer than the body or may scarcely be visible; it may ES, 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 Lhe 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 (65) 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. The Lemurs. FIRST FAMILY: Lemuripa. 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. Ax 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. po IQS WN iN om >. Oo NK V/A To K-CAKRMAROT 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 (Lemurid@) 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, 66 tich 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 If one disturbs such a ball of fur, two each other. My * es 2 = Ss _ 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. THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 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, 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 Seb SSS 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—INDRIS. es THE INDRIS. The largest and most highly developed of all Lemurs are the Indris (Léchanotus) 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 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- 4nent 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 acrying child. He is gentle and good-natured, and numbers of his family are trained, and, like the Dog, used for hunting purposes by the natives of the southern part of Madagascar. “In certain parts of 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 MONGOOSE LEMUR.—Has a remarkable, bushy tail that is longer than its body, and is reddish gray incolor. 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-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 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 their 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. Mp : Wun Mian i seg Wii Their intellectual capacities are not any higher than those of other Lemurs. Still they are usually gentle and prepossessing. Makis inthe 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- MACACO, OR BLACK LEMUR,— Although called the Black Lemur, it is only the male specimen of the 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- ee tion, the Loris (.Szenops) 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 (Stenops 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 ofa To my great surprise and joy I found Captive aliving Slender Loris in the precincts Slender Loris. of a wandering zoological garden. The delicate creature had come to Europe with three others about four years before, and had borne nol 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 THE LEMURS—LORIS. ‘ being in the least disturbed by its surroundings. At sunset it awakes, stretches itself and noiselessly walks to and fro inits 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- Oe NS Pee MN THE GRAY OR GENTLE LEMUR,—tThis 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. (Hafalemur 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 make 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 69 them itself, and it requires the keeper to hold them while it eats. The Slow The Slow Loris, Sharmindi Billi, o1 Lorisor 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 ca \ \ Swe s FORK-CROWNED LEMUR,—tThis animal is very abundant in the forests on the west side of Madagascar, and is found in less numbers on the eastern side of theisland. 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 Surcifer.) 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 is : a 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 Lorises 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 uponthem. 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 Lorig 1 have seen and observed but two and its living Slow Lorises; the first, only by Peculiar Traits. day, in the Zoological Garden at 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 spat like a Cat, and explained its meaning still Cel Why rN ge, WLLL” N, Zz al, , 2 ———, OL al! SUT] Aes y hty i i Do ~~ | ee circular. (Stenops gracilis.) further by trying to bite the keeper’s hand, an offence it had been guilty of before. Failing in THE SLENDER LORIS.—The-artist here shows the position of the Slender Loris at rest when awake, and also when asieep. 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 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. wreaking this revenge, it slowly retired sulking to , its corner. Its retreat was performed in a manner ue SLENDER LORIS 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 Jong, slender limbs account for the awkwardness of the animal when in a sitting posture, asshown by the figure in the front of the picture, while the deliberation as well as stealth of the animal are well shown by the other in the background. (Stenops gracilis.) z surprising to me, though I was familiar with Har- vey’s excellent drawing made thirty years ago. Fix- ing its large eyes upon us, it went back, step by step, and upwards on a nearly vertical pole. This means that it occasionally climbs upwards, with the face - downwards. In my knowledge, no other animal does that. When it ar- rived at a point where two branches diverged from the main pole it stopped, and made the sketching artist’s task an easy one. 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.are.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 MARS. 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. 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 ear, 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. of whom equals a Rabbit in size, the smallest barely exceeding the average Mouse, we will first consider the Common Galago (Ovolicnus 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 Tend). . As soon as the forest is enveloped - 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. (Stenops tardigradus.) 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. Itis 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 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 agisymbanus), 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. redents can be: “When palm wine is being manufactured,” so 72 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 only sweet, but also intoxicating, and POTTO LEMUR.—This is a small animal, its body being only six inches long, and as the picture shows, has a short, stumpy tai! and very small ears. Like other nocturna! animals its eyes are very prominent. It inhabits the West Coast of Africa and lives on fruits. (Perodicticus 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. Ina room which harbors a Comba, there is no comfortable living fora 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 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 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,” The Tarsier. SECOND FAMILY: Tarsip2. 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 (Zar side) 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 (Zarstus spectrum) attains a length of about seventeen inches, including the tail which is about ten inches long. The fur is brownish \ b eet ete oa DAY Be ANGWANTIBO LEMUR.—This is a small, cS . symmetrical animal resembling the Potto in some respects buthaving 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. (Arctocedus 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 AYVE-AVE., The natives regard him as an enchanted animal and stand in great awe of him. : Jagor tells us about his captive Tarsiers as follows: ‘Thad the opportunity of purchasing two Spectre Tarsiers. J was assured’ in Luzon, that these strange, pretty little animals inhabited only Samar. AS th i; une LITTLE GALAGO LEMUR,—This littie 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 inthe picture. Itaccumulates 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 atree and practically hibernates. (A@- 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 ona 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. The Hpeziye. THIRD FAMILY: 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. LEPTODACTYLA. 73 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 LEMUR,——This picture ac- curately shows the characteristic features of this animal. The great, hairless ears, the large eyes, the claw on the index finger, the well-formed limbs that give him his great agility, as well as the remarkably long tail, are all brought out with fidelity. (Ozo- licnus galago.) 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 (Chiromys mad- the Half-Monkeys. agascariensis) has been regarded as forming a distinct group by itself among the Half- Monkeys. 74 THE HALF-MONKEYS OR LEMUROIDS. 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 ; AYE-AYE.—This animal, classed with the Lemurs, but differing in many respects from al] others of that order, is the most peculiar known to naturalists. portrayed. (Chiromys madagascariensis.) the small, fixed, stirring, glowing eye, 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- The picture shows many of its oddities—the long, sprawling fingers, all except the thumb having pointed claws (the third finger being especially long), the loose straggling outer fur that covers a woolly undercoat, the large, naked ears, the Jong bushy tail, and even the rat-like teeth, are vividly able hands with their slender middle fingers—al] 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, A cursory glance at the Aye-Aye is Night is Da A ke the sufficient to tell the naturalist that ha 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 and strokes his fur; but when the Aye- Aye has been awakened in the daytime _ with a great deal of trouble, he seems to be perfectly absent in spirit. Me- chanically he drags himself back into his dark corner, curls himself up, and covers his face with his thick tail, which 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 spatlike 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 pith of the bamboo and sugar- cane, but also on Beetles and’ thei larve. To get at the food, it gnaws an aperture in the stem of the plant, inserts its slender middle finger and scoops out the pith 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. ~ Che Wiing=ebanded Hnimals. 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 Mm has been hidden during the @ day as if it had reasons of its own for shunning the light, es and sets out on its nightly uC 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 -darkenthesky. Onesoon Jf -ceases to count.them, for. g in every direction multi- tudes are flutteringthrough the air. ,/Everywhere there is a living and moving ‘mass flying through the trees of gardens and groves, fluttering over the : fields, 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 by their bod- Handed Animals. j)y shape. Almost uniformly they have a “ stocky ” trunk, a short neck and a thick, ob- long head, with a wide mouth. In general structure hover about the edges of forests. they correspond nearest with the Monkeys, and, like the latter, have two mamme, 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; itis 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 (Synotus barbastellus.) 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- (75) 76 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. it 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 deyelopment 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 Lhe 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 brandy, 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. Yet 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 may have its seat in the wings ; at least, this is the conclusion that has been reached after long and frequent observations. The senses of smell and hearing are very well developed. THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 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 intellect of the Bats is by no The z= Intelligence means as lowas is commonly supposed, of Bats. and the 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 forthe game. If one tries to angle for Bats by using Butterflies on hooks, his labor is lost. They 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. shape of 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. Asa 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 they 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. “Tt is not difficult to guess the genus from the height and manner of flight and the size of the GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BATS. 17 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 wees THE KALONG BATS.—-This sketch from nature presents the largest of the Dog-headed Bats in their sleeping-place in the forest, aroused from repose possibly by the artist while he studies them. How like a great cloak is the membrane drawn closely about them as they hang from the long, twisted vine. From tip to tip the wings are nearly five feet as they fly. Their home is in Java, Sumatra, Benda and Timor, where they are very destructive to orchards, the fruit of which they de- vour only at night. (Pteropus edulis.) 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 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- us as 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 lang 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 All Bats sleep by day and fly about and Character- at night. The majority make thcir 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 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 species 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. = ~F oe vil \ ESS c THE KALONG BAT. greatswarms, (Pteropus edulis.) 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. 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 smallear. The Kalong is gregarious and always moves in THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 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. (ne 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 4 Warm temperature is an Essential to a essential condition to Bats, not Bat's Existence. only 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 evenings their flying about is to no purpose, as the = insects likewise keep in 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 mora or less sound sleep. They select for their hiding- place nooks or corners that are protected from the outside cold, as caverns, cellars, warm roofs, prefer- 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 ant- mals can no longer withstand it, they awake from their lethargy and begin to move about. Frequently they freeze to death, especially in captivity, wher exposed to a very low temperature. While the cold \ x N S Sy WN N ow 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 SS the little Pipistrelle busily flies, looking for such. tiny 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 pipistrellus.) 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- Lhe 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. The number of prehistoric Bats that But Few . 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. PIPISTRELLE BAT,——Out in the night in the light of the stars FLYING DOGS, OR FRUIT-EATING BATS. | 79 Slying Dogs, or Fruit-Lating Bats. FIRST DIVISION: PTEROPINA. The first grand division of the Bat family is formed by the Flying Dogs 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-Dogs ( Cynonycteris). ll 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 Desides 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. ee DAUBENTON’S BAT.——A tiny 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. (Vespertili 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 80 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. as ina 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 i ae LONG-EARED BAT.——The picture presents these creatures, which are the common English Bat, although found in middle Europe and parts of Asia, in their favorite haunt, a great barn, and the mighty ears are strongly brought out in the flying and the crouching examples. These ears are nearly as long as the entire body, The manner of sleeping is shown in the third animal, whose ears project far below the body although the head is well drawn up. (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 suspended, motionless, from the trees. The voice has a pecu- liar creaky or shrieking sound and sometimes they hiss like Geese. The female gives birth to one or two young ones ' at atime, 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 at a natives, The largest of the Fruit-eaters is the ee " 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 THE SMOOTH-NOSED BATS. 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 NOCTULE BAT,—This sketch accurately portrays the Noctules in the foreground at rest, while one in the distance is flying high in 81 Old Flying Dogs of this genus attain a length of seven inches, their expanse of wing being thirty to thirty-five inches. . The SmootheMWMosed 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- = ss = 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. (Vesperugo noctula.) ‘consequence, sooner or later, abscesses form on their wings and finally cause their death. Egypti To the group Cynonycteris belongs Figing-Dog the Egyptian Flying Dog ( Cynonycteris Bat. egypiacus). It is spread all over 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. Egypt and Nubia and How like a Frog is the crouching Bat in the foreground of the picture. 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 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-eared Bat is distributed all over Eu- rope, south from the sixtieth degree of latitude ; THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. The Mouse- The Mouse-colored or Common Bat Colored or Com- (Vespertilio murinus) inhabits all of mon Bat. central Europe, beginning with Eng. land, 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 rav-brown, the lower a dingy white; young animals ing lighter gray. om pene ae : The genus Vespertilio, which is found in The Brown Bat 15th ‘hemispheres, has more species than and its Rela- any other, there being forty-three of these ues: species known to naturalists. Its distin- guishing marks, besides its dentition, are the oval shape of the ear, of which the tragus is narrow and attenuated. The ear is also greatly elongated, being as long as the head or longer, and the muzzle, which is narrow, is hairy in front. There are four species of this genus found in the United States, one being the Common Brown Bat ( Vespertzlio sub- ulatus), of the region east of the Rocky Mountains. The other species, which seem to have no distinguishing English names, are’ the Vespertilio lucifugus, which is found in nearly all wooded re- gions of this country, including the Pa- Cific Coast states; the Vespertzlio nttidus, which is found in California and Texas, . and the Vespertilio evotis, having a more * northern range on the Pacific Coast and e here depicted, with their Hog- like noses, great ears aie long, Rat-like tails. They are African Bats and are found along the waters of the E the Nile, being fond of low places, and diligent hunters for food. 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 Santen Of the same genus is the American Large- L alee a d eared Bat (Plecotus smacrotus) which bears e ee a strong resemblance to the European spe- cies in many particulars. It has, however, a distinguishing feature in the large size attained by the gland- ular prominences at the side of the muzzle, which meet in the center above and behind the nostrils. This Bat makes its home in the southern and western parts of the United States, and on the Pacific coast its range extends north to Vancouver. (Rhinopoma microphyllum.) “\ being found in Oregon and Washington, ‘ as well as in California. These species live for the greater part in woods, but some of them, especially of the Brown Bat species, make their homes in caves. XN; or in the roofs of houses and barns. The Noctule The Noctule (Ves- or Great perugo noctula) is Bat. an early flying Bat ‘and is popularly known in Eng- ‘ land as the ‘Great Bat.” It is a ‘common animal in Europe and is. S long, with an expanse of wing of =«NSN fifteen inches. Its color is a red- ‘ ay dish-brown, the ears and wings: < being brownish-black. The wings s are long and narrow and its flight is very rapid, resembling that of a Swallow. The Noctule is the strongest of uropean Bats. It comes out earliest and flies highest. Not in- frequently 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 Swallows on the wing, can harm it. The genus Vesperugo is also represented in the United States by four species. One of these, the Serotine (Vesperugo serotinus) is remarkable as being the only species of Bat found in both the Old and the New World, although the American is smaller than the European animal. It is an ar- boreal animal and is found in most of the wooded regions east of the Mississippi. Other species, differing from the Serotine principally in dentition are Vesperugo hesperus, Vesperugo georgianus and Vesperugo noctivagans, The general charac- teristics of this genus are comparatively thick bodies, flat broad heads and blunt muzzles, short legs, and ears which are short, broad, triangular in shape and obtusely pointed The Barbastelle A strange looking creature is the orPug-Dog Barbastelle (Synotus barbastellus), Bat. called 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 Serotine Bats Found in Both Hemispheres. LEAF-NOSED OR BLOOD-SUCKING BATS. 83. 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. The suborder of Smooth-nosed Bats is rep- Red or labo rorl resented in this country by several ene a Bat and Other : : 3 § Species. and species peculiar to America. The most common in all the Atlantic Coast states is the Red Bat or New York Bat (Atalapha noveboracensis), which is a busy hunter of flying insects, which it follows so peaicoty that it frequently flies into rooms in pursuit of its avorite prey. It flies rather slowly but it can change the direction of its flight very rapidly, and its movements in the air are very graceful. Besides this species several others have been observed and described, but so far the descriptions have been principally technical, and little or nothing is known of their habits, except that no North American species seem to be harmful, but on the contrary, as they are all insect-eaters. SSS VAMPIRE BAT.—Here is presented a strikingly faithful picture of the Vampire with its enormous wings, great ears, lofty nose appendage 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,: but only under certain conditions. The stories about them are very conflicting, and there is one species of Leaf-nosed Bats which I can not positively connect with any of the 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, PAINS 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 Guiana. (Phyllostoma spectrum.) Deafefosed or Blood-Sucking Bats. THIRD DIVISION: All sub-orders of this tribe are distinguished by leaf-like complications of the nose, which may as- sume the most varied shapes. - 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. ISTIOPHORA. 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 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. 1 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 & a= ae sunset on the lookout for food. THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. 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.——What a hideous face is that of this uncanny creature, as the artist presents it, sallying forth towards If naturalists tell the truth this Old World Bat is a blood-sucker, and sleeping Chamois, Squirrels and other animals should be on their guard. During the summer months it pursues insects up the mountains to a height greater than a mile, (Rhinolo- phus ferrum-equinum.) 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, 1 saw that the room was full of them. The air ‘seemed black with the swarm flying around init. 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. 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-SUCKING BATS—HORSESHOE. SO 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 se 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 Lhere are four Horseshoe known Euro- Bats. pean species in this group, the most common of them being the Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hippocrepis). 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 1s 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 rum-equinum.) 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 A ‘GREATER HORSESHOE BAT.—The grotesque and unsightly nose, sharp teeth and huge ears of this. Bat are strikingly presented in this picture as the creature hangs in its peculiar sleeping posture from a tree- branch. Partially aroused it would seem to scent danger and be preparing for escape by flight. (Ahinolophus 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- 86 tions show. This explorer one winter found forty- five sleeping Bats ina 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 THE WING-HANDED ANIMALS. raised edges during the night, a thing he was ata 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 (Khinolo- Horseshoe phus ferrum-equinum) is still more com- Bat. 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 WELWITSCH’S BAT,.—This Bat, first discovered by the late Dr. Welwitsch, is noteworthy for the bright ‘and variegated coloring of its wings which near the body are brown dotted with black, and beyond this blackish brown with curved lines of yellow dots, while bands of dark orange dotted with black follow the course of the forearm and three of the fingers. It inhabits the vicinity of Angola. 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 tthat his pigeons often received small wounds with (Scotophilus welwitschii.) 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 prover 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 to ‘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- ma lyra), which may be 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 It is a very small ani-' (Rhinopoma microphyllum). 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. we aval Che Beasts of Prey. 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 Carnivora. considerable uniformity, notwithstand- ing their superficial difference. Their modes of life, their habits, their food, all more or fot ame e a less similar, indicate that not only §& ea Lr ycoll if / \\ (i ual Y fi] 6 LW Yh wx the structure of their limbs, their 3 Ms 4 Sor (il Sai: Nii MWAWAN \7 : : \ teeth and digestive organs, but also 3 yy ge that their minds and mental capac- *\ ASS Neahe3 | ity must, in some degree, be of the Seay 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 j 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 vertebre are long, and those of the lumbar region are often united; but the number of vertebre 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, ey < cag ~Coe ul ERP x THE ROYAL TIGER.—This picture shows with the strictdst’ fidelity the structure and mark- ings of this great feline. r ; 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. (Fedis tigris.) The curved outline of the head'with its stripings and shadings, the muscular 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 1n addition to all this their senses are Senses in acute toa high degree. In exceptional Carnivora. 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) 88 smell, others of the sense of hearing, others again of the sight ; and in some the sense of touch plays an important part. Asa 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 bload. : How Carnivora Differing mental and physical qualities Liveand inananimal indicate a certain mode of Hunt. —_‘ life in 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 BEASTS OF PREY. 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 Felidez 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 Carnivora. none of them unite for life. Among some Felidze 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. The Cat Family. FIRST FAMILY: Fevipa. 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 Felide. The Cats are the most 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 esthetic sense. We may safely regard our domestic Cat as representative of the entire family. Physical We may assume the structure of the: Featuresof body to be known; the strong, yet the Cat Family. graceful body, the round head set. ona 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. 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. T=. TN S a THE ROYAL TIGER.—Here is presented a faithful portrayal of the scourge of Asia in his native jungle. 89, 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 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 i = - 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 rapiciy approaching it, for the uplifted tail in these animals is a signal of attack, a I 0 expectancy. Soon those sharp canine teeth and the yet sheathed claws will claim a life. are well brought out. (Fe/is 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 k, and the whole expression ot the face in the picture is one of voracious The fierce nature and muscular structure of the Tiger daytime it shrinks toa narrow slit under the infiu 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 ina 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 -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 dowment of the Dogs, but not to such an extent Cat Tribe. as is 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 Felidz 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, THE BEASTS OF PREY. 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 teeti 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, only attacking such prey when experience has taught them that they'can do so successfully. 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 Felidz 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 only. Generally 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 toa 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 *yusufolua ouaias jo totjip Janis ptre ssausosay 343 04 3se1]U00 Sutseod Ul puezs ssdurnyhejd a[HUeyUT pus uoNodye [etuajeut oy 7, TSqno Joy Y}IM pasesuo ssaispy, 943 Jo 91n3z0 13 £q passassod Ay P 94} Se JouUeU aurES 943 APOEKA 19};e 49[[0} SuruOUT oy} U ‘aaiZap 9aQB[1adns yons ut seloads s' "SUD}ITS JOY YI 3eD oNSeUIO 3 afOyM SY, “0d v ur st dno13 a qd suloy Surwseyo B st 91947— SAND UNV SSHUDIL ae (91) 92 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 Felide is very of the _— difficult; yet we think it proper to di- Cat Species. vide them into the Cats proper (Felis); the Lynxes (Lynx); the Cheetah (Cynadlurus) 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 Viverride, 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 (F¢/is), 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 hi> 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 hasd 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 sur-, 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 BEASTS OF PREY. The The Royal Tiger (Felis tigris), also Magnificent called Bagh, Sher and Nahar by the Royal Tiger. Hindoos, and Hariman by the Malays, is a magnificent specimen of the Felidae, 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 ti 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 belly, 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 seém 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 Felide 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 = being confined to the very warm parts ound, : of Asia, but extending over a portion of that continent equal in area to the whole of Europe. He inhabits the country bétween’ 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 Tiget, as well as stately forests, up to a certain altitude AN INTERRUPTED MEAL.—tThe Tiger in the picture, having secured an Antelope for its prey, and dragged it into a thicket of bamboos and long grass in the jungle, is about to begin its sanguinary meal A i ed f » when it hears a suspicious sound. Ears and eyes are alert to see whether the noise portends danger to itself. If it is caused by an animal the feast may go on, but if it be a hunter, the Tiger must either fight or flee. ES 94 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 move 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. Often 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 be 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 witha Bear, but his favorite game is Wild Boars, 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 Terrorto good reason to be on their guard against all Animals. the 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 THE BEASTS OF PREY. ¢ 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, ata 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 guilty 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. and 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 they are not only bold, but impudent. A few dis- tricts are so infested with Tigers that communicd- 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 fires, of which. these animals have great fear. Tigers are known to have carried away people in the neighborhood of villages and even from between huts, and instances are re- corded where they 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, miail-carriers, wood-choppers and field laborers. The first named are also in constant fear for their flocks. Villages During the latter part of the ’60’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 depredations until he was 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 be concluded that they are of common, every day occurrence. = —— SS = = : TIGER ATTACKING A BUFFALO.— Watching by the spot where animals come to drink, the Tiger in the picture has had its stealth rewarded The Asiatic Buffalo is one of the most difficult prey with which the Tiger has to do, and under orginary 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. by a victim. (95) 96 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. is in 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 asa 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 BEASTS OF PREY. The Man- The Man-eater usually begins by carry- Eating ing off Cattle, and loses his dread of Man Tiger. by 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 many 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. , He is as cowardly as he is cun- than other Tigers. Running from ning and surprisingly impudent. 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 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 isa 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 Sanderson says: ‘This dreadful plague . and his profession compels him to live in the wilder-: - ness among wild beasts. 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 Le i Men, unless driven to bay, and Man-.. srs are not found at all in Bengal, except: ‘i eating Tig in the marshy forests of the Ganges delta.” Fayrer, who appreciates the cruelty of the Tiger, declares He has an intimate knowl-" BBa 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-_ He isa beast of prey which, in many dis- © fathers. F 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 Prince Henry, were entertained in 1889 by Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India, 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. fori A TIGER HUNT.— When Prince Phillipe of Orleans and his nephew, with a Tiger hunt, they met with the remarkable adventure shown in the picture. 98 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 fe- tained their strength to the last. | aide ns Og Methodsof There are a great many devices for Catching catching Tigers. All kinds of traps the-Tiger. are set for 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 of 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- slares that its taste’is not bad. In some countries THE BEASTS OF PREY. 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 European 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 they are al- ready quite strong and stately, but they can be left to run about fora 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 are 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 Of late Tigers have been trained to per- Teachable but form certain tricks. The trainer enters. Treacherous. a cage and 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. 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 hima 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 Elephants were then pitted against him, and 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 Jate 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 Tigers were of- : ten brought to Rome, and Heliogabalus had them draw his chariot when performing as Bacchus. Avitus gave, in an amphitheatre, the first perform- Feat! ox ance in which Tigers were killed, five of the beasts: being slaughtered. ; Description of The Royal Tiger has as few near kins- the Clouded menas the Lion; his nearest relatives, Tiger. one of which was 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, ee . we = ee THE MARBLED CAT.—This animal is a little larger than a large house Cat. The ground tint of the fur - varies, but is usually of a brownish gray and merges into a black strip which extends along the entire back. On the sides are dark spots, not so sharply defined as those of the Leopard, but still quite prominent. The Marbled Cat * inhabits Assam, Burmah, the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra and perhaps Borneo. (Felis marmorata.) : 99 sometimes overlaid with a yellow or brownish tinge. The lower parts are of a tancolor. 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 Coan the keeper treatéd it as he would a good-natured Domestic Cat. THE COMMON WILD CAT. The Common Wild Cat (felts catus) 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 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. 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 Lhe Wild Cat inhabits all parts of the Wild Cat Europe, with the exception of the Lives. 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 oung ones are dependent onit. 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. catus.) | 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 lies 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 Four black bands run from: COMMON WILD CAT.—This fierce European anim: 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. (Fedis THE BEASTS OF PREY. 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. The Wild Cat Hunting 3 ‘i _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, with 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 Cee le al is thor- AN: 4 we ~~ _—Jn 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 all 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.) FEMALE WILD CAT AND YOUNG. (101) 102 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 marking, though always lacking the blunt tail, the light spot at the throat and the dark soles of their ancestor. 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 (Fels maniculata). 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 THE EGYPTIAN CAT. the wild life led by the former. 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 like 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. 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 says (Felis maniculata.) The animal known as Wild Cat in America | This picture has a familiar look, the resemblance to the puted by some naturalists the great weight of authority shows the Egyptian Cat to be the progenitor of our domestic feline. The markings of the fur in the Egyptian Cat are shown in the picture, and no differences from the house Per-. THE BEASTS OF PREY. 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 at being so marked. Although still dis- -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 bést 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. 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 Pe eyes, ears and claws, to know how to catch ice, and, if a female Cat, to know how to bring up her Kittens prop- erly. Ifthe 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 Gats, whose young ones it would have been ‘easy to tame in unlimited numbers. t 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 ae = has established itself wherever civilization, progress and domestica- tion have penetrated. But domestica) 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 ——— THE DOMESTIC CAT.,—The animal in the picture is fa: averycommon 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 therefore be observed with profit by the student. (Felis mantculata 103 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- tate 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 SS OSES =| r to all, and the playful scene here depicted is 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. Ihave 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 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 tothem 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 inthe 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. Ifthe 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 fully fourteen yards. Noteworthy ‘The intellectual capacities of the Cat Qualities are usually quite misunderstood. Peo- of the Cat. ple 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 shows 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 aré 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 mucha 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 THE BEASTS OF PREY. 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. Catand Kittens there are usually five or six her Kittens. in the litter, 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 néar her Kittens; even her owner is an unwelcome visitor at such atime. 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 It is commonly thought that Cats are and Affection incapable of being educated; but this- of Cats. is 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 many anecdotes illus- About trating the intelligence of this excellent. the Cat. animal. Once our Cat gave birth to four charming little Kittens, which she kept carefully hidden ina 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. 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 slumbers 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 From all Usefulness these ac- of the 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 yy against them. Besides, <”~YZ TA 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 day 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 ofa Cat in 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, are the preferred game of the Cat, and most Cats THE ANGORA CAT.—Although it is as tame and tractable as any others of the domestic Cats, the animak 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 maniculata domestica angorensis.) 105: 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 (Feks maniculata do- ofthe 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;. 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 Lhe 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 mixedtinge. 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 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 are easily distinguished from all other Felidz. 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 Felidz, 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 “Kiag of Beasts” by his courage, strength, bravery, nobility, generosity, gravity and calm demeanor. TheLion The Barbary Lion (Felis leo barbarus) like of all his kindred has a strong frame; and the Barbary. front 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 Felidze. 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 (Felis leo senegalensis) Varieties has a lighter mane, very little developed of the Lion. on the breast. The South African Lion (Felis leo capensis), and probably also the Abyssinian Lion, are distinguished by their huge size; and they have a dark mane. The Persian Lion (Felis leo per- sicus) possesses a mane consisting of mixed brown and black hair; and this animal extends over Persia THE BEASTS OF PREY. 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 (feds leo guzerat. 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 ‘he 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 Gérard, have made sad havocintheir 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. of 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 thari 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 in 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 N ING >> aR HEAD OF THE BARBARY LION.——A single glance at this head explains sufficiently why the animal that bears it is called ‘‘ The King of Beasts.” Power, strength, self-reliance and the air of the conqueror are depicted in the face, and its expression, and the bold and shaggy mane that covers the head and oeck gives to this head an especially imposing appearance. (107) 108 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