Monkeys I Have Met 



merits — out went her hand and the child was 

 unceremoniously hauled back by a hind leg or 

 by its ridiculous little tail, which was just long 

 enough to serve as a convenient handle. But 

 after a little cuddling it was sure to start ex- 

 ploring again, and I have never seen it chastised 

 for so doing, though a member of the same genus, 

 the long-tailed macaque (Macacus cynontolgus) 

 has been seen, in the wild state, smartly to correct 

 its offspring for being too venturesome. 



This extreme caution in keeping the young 

 close at hand is no doubt necessary among wild 

 monkeys, for the little thing would be a highly 

 acceptable prey to carnivora, both furred and 

 feathered ; the latter are, I suspect, far the most 

 dangerous foes, for a fox or wild cat, which had 

 snapped up a young monkey, would still have 

 to get away with its prey from the infuriated 

 parents (as quick to spring and almost as for- 

 midable biters as the captor itself), whereas with 

 a bird the hapless infant would be whirled aloft 

 beyond reach of parental aid or retaliation. It is 

 in assisting to guard his child against supposed 

 danger that the male Japanese monkey has 

 shown the only sign of parental interest in his 

 offspring ; otherwise he has practically ignored 

 it, and has never dreamt of offering his mate 

 any of the delicacies freely supplied the couple 



by the public — and no monkeys have ever en- 



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