Chap. 80.] APES. 347 



only animals that have the hair the contrary way, the points 

 being turned towards the head. There are the dama also,^* 

 the pygargus,-^ and the strepsiceros,^* besides many others 

 which strongly resemble them. The first mentioned of these 

 animals,-^ however, dwell in the Alps ; all the others are sent 

 to us from the parts beyond sea. 



CHAP. 80. (54.) APES. 



The different kinds of apes, which approach the nearest to 

 the human figure, are distinguished from each other by the 

 tail.-^ Their shrewdness is quite wonderful. It is said that, 

 imitating the hunters, they will besmear themselves with 

 bird-lime, and put their feet into the shoes, which, as so many 

 snares, have been prepared for them.-^ Mucianus says, that 

 they have even played at chess, having, by practice, learned 

 to distinguish the difi'erent pieces, which are made of wax.'^ 



22 Cuvier remarks, tkat there is some doubt respecting the dama of 

 Pliny; he is, however, disposed to regard it as a species of antelope. 

 Ajasson, vol. vi. p. 464, 465 ; Leraaire, vol. iii. p. 554. — B. 



23 The term pygargus is derived from the words irvyq apybg, denoting 

 " white buttocks." Probably a kind of gazelle. 



"•* " "With twisted horns." It is probable that Pliny intended to desig- 

 aate a species of antelope, — B. See B. xi. c, 45. 



2= In this division Pliny, probably, included what he has termed the 

 caprsea," the rupicapra, and the ibex. — B. 



26 Some of these animals are entirely without a tail, and this circum- 

 5tance has been employed to form the primary division of the simile into 

 :he two species, those Avith and those without tails. We have an epi- 

 gram of Martial, in which this is referred to. " Si mihi cauda foret, 

 ercopithecus eram" — " If I had but a tail, I should be a monkey." B. 

 Ep. 102.— B. See B. xi. c. 100. 



2" We learn from Strabo, Ind. Hist. B.xv., that, in catching the monkey, 

 he hunters took advantage of the propensity of these animals to imitate 

 iny action they see performed. " Two modes," he says, " are employed in 

 aking this animal, as by nature it is taught to imitate every action, and to 

 ake to flight by climbing up trees. The hunters, when they see an ape 

 itting on a tree, place within sight of it a dish full of water, with which 

 hey rub their eyes ; and then, slyly substituting another in its place, full of 

 'rd-lime, retire and keep upon the watch. The animal comes down from 

 he tree, and rubs its eyes with the bird-lime, in consequence of which the 

 lyelids stick together, and it is unable to escape." ^lian also says. Hist. 

 imm. B. xvii. c. 25, that the hunters pretend to put on their shoes, and 

 hen substitute, in their place, shoes of lead ; the animal attempts to imitate 

 hem, and, the shoes being so contrived, when it has once got them on, it 

 inds itself unable to take them off, or to move, and is consequently taken. 



"'^ There has been some difficulty in ascertaining the exact reading here; 



