THE CAPE BABOON OR BAVIAN 



Baboons are not without some redeeming qualities 

 as far as man is concerned. The migratory locust 

 levies a heavy toll on the produce of the farmer, 

 besides eating off the natural vegetation on which 

 stock animals subsist. Notwithstanding the con- 

 tinuous efforts of the Government to exterminate 

 these vast swarms of locusts, they still exist, and 

 the slightest laxity in the prosecution of the warfare 

 against them results in fresh swarms breeding out 

 and devastating the country. The baboon is ex- 

 tremely fond of locusts, and devours them with 

 avidity. I have seen troops of baboons swarm 

 down from their rocky fastnesses and remain the 

 entire day out on the veld, capturing and eating 

 these insect pests. The Vervet Monkeys also wage 

 war on the swarms of locusts when they come to 

 roost on the tree-tops in the early evening, or 

 during the early morning, when, owing to the cold- 

 ness of the air, they are unable to fly. 



Baboons seem to know the difference between a 

 European with a gun, and a Kafir with assegais or 

 kerries. In Natal I always noticed they made off 

 to their retreats long before we could get within 

 range, even of a rifle. It was quite evident they 

 possessed keen and long-distance vision — practically 

 telescopic. 



Whenever I wandered about unarmed, the baboons 

 allowed me to approach within fifty yards. One day 

 I stood at the foot of a stony hill watching a troop 

 of baboons sunning themselves on the rocks. A 



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