Monkeys I Have Met 



country I occasionally had glimpses of monkey 

 family life. Paterfamilias would be seen heading 

 the family party, and occasionally rising on his 

 hind legs to secure a better view ; his wives 

 followed dutifully behind with their children, and I 

 have seen a young monkey helping himself along 

 by a hold taken on his mother's tail. In spite of 

 the surly temper of the male monkey when adult, 

 his wives must regard him with real affection, 

 as was exemplified in a little episode at the 

 Calcutta Zoological Gardens, in which I, as a 

 member of the Committee of Management, took 

 part. We had in one of the cages a trio of 

 Bunders, the two females fat and well-liking, but 

 the male a most miserable specimen, gaunt and 

 consumptive-looking, and so discreditable to the 

 collection that I thought he ought to be put out 

 of his misery, and said so to one of the garden 

 officials with whom I was making a tour of in- 

 spection. Scarcely, however, were the words 

 out of my mouth before both female monkeys 

 sprang straight at my face, and nothing but 

 the intervening wire saved me from getting 

 bitten. Of course, they could not have under- 

 stood what I said, but I feel sure their sudden 

 attack was not an accident, and that in some 

 strange way they had divined that I was medi- 

 tating something against their companion. He, 



I may mention, was taken away and liberated in 



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