558 THE HIGHER ANTHROPOIDS 



fruit and by means of the stick to bring the hint to earth. Here two modes 

 of reaction were combined, namely, that ot actual building to serve as a 

 basis from which to employ an implement whose uses were alread\ well 

 understood. 



These building operations soon became a lavorite pastime among the 

 group, but in spite of the fact that the animals were permitted every opj^oi- 

 tunity to cooperate in their constructive activities, they ne\er fully developed 

 any indication of systematic collaboration. However helpful sucii combined 

 efforts might iiave been toward their ultimate aim, the apes failed to utilize 

 the adxantages of mutual associations in these transactions. The underlying 

 reason for this apparent deficiency in cooperation may perhaps become clear 

 when it is considered that the obtaining of food among a group of animals, 

 particularly among these chimpanzees, was not in reality a mutual interest. 

 It was from the beginning and always remained a matter of wholly selfish 

 indi\ idual acquisition. Whatever division of labor there might be, there never 

 was a thought of dividing the spoils. 



When the chimpanzees were assembled in the presence of an objective 

 hung over their heads, they gazed about for jjroper materials to use as tools 

 to approach their goal. One would bring a pole, another a box. These would 

 be dragged up into position preparatory to constructing a tower. The 

 building would then begin and when the lirst stages of construction were 

 completed, several of the animals would manifest an assertive disposition to 

 ascend at the same time, and each ol them would act as it it alone were the 

 builder. Often, too, the box already in position would be snatched away by 

 some competitive group in the building industry and the pilfered object used 

 in the construction ot another independent tower. This would freqiu-ntly 

 result in a wrangle among the architects; in tact, the entire company ol 

 builders might come to blows over this irregularity and mtrmgemeiit ot 

 property rights. Alter the subsidence of such Babel-like controversies, 



