THE CAPE BABOON OR BAVIAN 



came terrified, and fled. When the pursuers were 



reining up to shoot, the baboon which could not 



manage to keep pace with the troop faced round 



and set up a series of piteous screams and barks. 



The reason for its inability to keep up with its fellows 



became apparent, for clinging to its side and breast 



were two babies, whose faces wore an expression of 



terror. The farmer, who had been exasperated by 



repeated raids on his crops, with an oath raised 



his gun to shoot, but, divining his intention, the 



mother baboon turned her back to him, and at the 



same time threw her arms round her children and 



crouched over them. She received the charge of 



shot in her lungs, and fell forward, her last effort 



being to thrust her babies under her body. The 



two youngsters were subsequently given to me, and 



were reared. For the first two months they were 



fed on cows' milk, diluted one-third with water, and 



a little lime water added. They sucked this readily 



from an AUenbury baby's feeding-bottle. They 



had a bottle each to prevent them squabbling, for, 



should one be fed before the other, the lamentations 



it set up were loud, piteous, and long. The little 



fellow thought itself very badly treated, and said so 



in his own peculiar way. 



We established peace and harmony by handing 

 the bottles of milk simultaneously to the two. 

 Hugging the bottles tightly, they retired to their 

 respective corners, looking now and then fearfully 

 over their shoulders ; then, pushing the teat of 



57 



