154 Field Columbian Museu.m — Zoology, Vol. i. 



ORDER PRIMATES. 

 FAM. CERCOPITHECID^. 



« 



Cynocephalus hamadryas (Linn). 



Cynocephalus hamadryas. Hamadryas Baboon. Native name,. 



jDclyer. 



a. $ ad. Sheik Pass. Golis Range. 



This large species of Baboon was the only one inhabiting the 

 entire country until the valley of the Shebeyleh is reached. We 

 met with it numerous times in Durban, where we went for the wild 

 ass. It is fond of living among the rocks, in fact it is rare to find 

 any individuals far from some rocky ledge, to which they hastily 

 betake themselves on the slightest appearance of danger. They 

 run on all fours with considerable speed and get over the rough- 

 est places and overcome intervening obstacles with wonderful 

 dexterity. Where a troupe is discovered the members salute the 

 intruder with loud hoarse barks, and the entire party are appar- 

 ently thrown into a state of great excitement. Some old male 

 will seat himself upon a high vantage point so as to overlook all 

 below him, while expressing his disapproval of the presence of 

 foreigners not of his class in his dominions, by angry barks and 

 grunts, at the same time he keeps a sharp eye upon the enemy's 

 movements and issues his orders to the rest of the band as to the 

 imminence of danger, and the proper methods for them to adopt 

 in order to escape it. When it is evident that it is the stranger's 

 intention to cultivate a close acquaintance with the rock-dwellers, 

 then the order for flight is given, and the band cease their offen- 

 sive remarks and scamper away over the rocky heights, those of 

 them too young to keep up with the rest, clinging to their 

 mother's body with arms and legs. The sentinel delays 

 a moment after the rest have started, and then, ejaculat- 

 ing one more emphatic swear word, takes up the line of flight 

 making the best time he knows, but stopping occasionally to 

 anathematize his pursuers. When one has made a slight mis- 

 take in his calculations as to the distance a rifle bullet might be 

 disagreeable and gets hit, although his interests in all the subse- 

 quent proceedings may have vanished, the excitement of the rest 

 is greatly increased, and, with much threatening by voice and 

 action, they advance toward the body of their fallen companion, 

 as if to dispute its possession with the slayers. No doubt these 

 powerful animals with their great teeth and strength would be 

 very formidable adversaries even to an armed manif they attacked 



