MONKEYS EMOTIONS. 473 



Regarding their sympathy for injured companions this 

 writer says : 



I keep in my garden a number of Gibbon apes (Hylobates 

 agilis) ; they live quite free from all restraint in the trees, merely 

 coming when called to be fed. One of them, a young male, on 

 one occasion fell from a tree and dislocated his wrist ; it received 

 the greatest attention from the others, especially from an old 

 female, who, however, was no relation she used before eating 

 her own plantains to take up the first that were offered to her 

 every day, and give them to the cripple, who was living in the 

 eaves of a wooden house ; and I have frequently noticed that a 

 cry of fright, pain, or distress from one would bring all the 

 others at once to the complainer, and they would then condole 

 with him and fold him in their arms. 



Captain Hugh Crow, in his ' Narrative of my Life,' 

 relates an interesting tale of the conduct of some mon- 

 keys on board his ship. He says : 



"Wa had several monkeys on board ; they were of different 

 species and sizes, and amongst them was a beautiful little 

 creature, the body of which was about ten inches or a foot in 

 length, and about the circumference of a common drinking glas^. 

 This interesting little animal, which, when I received it from 

 the Governor of the Island of St. Thomas, diverted me by its 

 innocent gambols, became afflicted by the malady which un- 

 fortunately prevailed in the ship. It had always been a 

 favourite with the other monkeys, who seemed to regard it as 

 the last born and the pet of the family ; and they granted it 

 many indulgences which they seldom conceded to one another. 

 It "was very tractable and gentle in its temper, and never took 

 advantage of the partiality shown to it. From the moment it 

 was taken ill their attention and care of it redoubled ; and it 

 was truly affecting and interesting to see with what anxiety 

 and tenderness they tended and nursed the little creature. A 

 struggle often ensued among them for priority in those offices 

 of affection ; and some would steal one thing and some another, 

 which they would carry to it untasted, however tempting it 

 might be to their own palates. Then they would take it up 

 gently in their fore-paws, hug it to their breasts, and cry over 

 it as a fond mother would over her suffering child. The little 

 creature seemed sensible of their assiduities, but it was wofully 

 overpowered by sickness. It would sometimes come to me 

 and look me pitifully in the face, and moan and cry like an 



