THE WAYS OF MONKEYS. 239 



their voice nor in their general behavior : they act like automata and 

 yell and howl like maniacs. In the morning, when all the rest of na- 

 ture is rejoicing in the new-born daylight, the troop of howling monk- 

 eys will descend gravely from the leafy tree where they have passed 

 the night, closely gather in a huddled crowd, and, having secured 

 some breakfast, will proceed to indulge in a kind of social entertain- 

 ment which is as exempt from frivolity and impropriety as it well can 

 be, but which well reflects the character of the participants. The 

 company make choice of some leafless tree, which they climb with 

 great dignity. Each member takes his place as he pleases, but one 

 large bough is reserved for the exclusive use of the leader, who paces it 

 to and fro, solemnly raising his tail, and begins to utter low sounds, 

 similar to the grunt of a young hog. The prelude grows insensibly 

 louder, the time is quickened, after a few moments the pauses are 

 omitted, and the wretched tune, sinister at first, becomes an unin- 

 terrupted, dreadful yelling. Now the crew are thrown into raptures, 

 and all join in one deafening cry and howl in concert. The powerful 

 roar of the jaguar, the terrific growling of the panther, the wild 

 shouting of a crowd of beastly, drunken rustics, lamentations, groans, 

 seem to be combined in this chorus. And, curiously, the artists have 

 no idea of expressing any special feeling. Such entertainments some- 

 times last several hours. Those long-tailed howlers are tiresome 

 creatures, and I must confess that, in the matter of apes, the Old World 

 takes the lead. Here, also, we find two sub-families the Cynopithecini 

 (dog-apes) and the Anthropomorpha (man-shaped apes). The former 

 have perfectly developed teeth, like the quadrupeds, and a tail ; the 

 Anthropomorpha, on the contrary, have no tail, and their set of teeth 

 resembles that of men, with the exception of the canine teeth, which 

 are stronger and intermediate between those of beast and man. 



The Cynopithecini present almost all the features in character 

 which distinguish monkeys in general. The leadership is intrusted 

 to the strongest male ; he assigns to each member of the troop his 

 duties, and watches for the general welfare. Their well-shaped hands 

 give to these monkeys advantages which other animals do not enjoy, 

 but still it is a question whether the dog could not in justice be placed 

 on the same level with them as regards intelligence and sagacity. Apes 

 and dogs show discernment and exercise restraint on their manner 

 of living ; both are aware that every disorderly act on their side is fol- 

 lowed by punishment, but the apes believe themselves far above the 

 dogs. Excessively susceptible to reproaches, they want to be praised 

 and fondled, while they themselves tease and insult other animals at 

 every opportunity. They are docile, they eat with knife and fork, 

 drink from the glass, dress, ride on horseback, submit to military drill- 

 ing, wait on their masters, but only when, where, and as long as they 

 are pleased, and never with the same care and conscientiousness that 

 characterize a well-trained dog. There is no troop in the world so hard 



