224 IMITATIVE FACULTY OF MONKEYS. 



caresses when timorous, and menacing, and some- 

 times beating them, when refractory. 



These animals show a curious instinct in their 

 method of destroying the snakes which infest these 

 trees : as if fully aware of their malignity, they seize 

 them when asleep by the neck, and running to the 

 nearest flat stone, grind down the head by rubbing it 

 with great force on the surface ; frequently looking 

 at it, and grinning at their progress. When they 

 are convinced that the venomous fangs are destroy- 

 ed, they toss it to their young ones to play with, 

 and seem to rejoice in the destruction of the common 

 enemy. 



The sagacity of the monkey tribe, in a wild state, 

 seems to approach very near to reason ; when do- 

 mesticated, they gain more credit for intelligence 

 than they deserve, from their extraordinary pow- 

 ers of mimicry. Some time ago, a lady of rank* 

 had a present sent her, of a parrot and a monkey, 

 by the same ship. These animals became very socia- 

 ble and fond of each other. The monkey one day 

 observing the cook pluck a fowl, and thinking that he 

 could perform the same feat, took it into his head to 

 try the experiment upon the poor parrot, and present- 

 ly stripped her of all her feathers. 



The same monkey, after he came to England, hap- 



* Lady Mary Talbot. 



