8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.73 



ing case and was horizontally divided by two narrow planks running 

 lengthwise, onto which were nailed two other planks at right angles. 

 This not only nearly doubled the seating capacity of the cage but 

 left nine spaces through which the animals could play "follow my 

 leader " and other riotous games, v»4iich they did with a will. To start 

 the fun it was only necessary for a baboon on the "ground floor" to 

 jerk, as if it were a bell rope, the tail of one of its companions sitting 

 above; the summons was soon answered. 



The effect on the young one of being confined in a cage was remark- 

 able; it left its adopted parent for a separate existence and was first 

 with its mouth into any plate of food put into the cage. The step- 

 mother now assumed a different role of guardian angel. Sitting on 

 the scaffolding above, she would reach down and seize the youngster 

 by the hair of his head, gently lift him to her, pull open his mouth 

 and feel around it with her finger till she extracted the food, which she 

 would sniff at and then put into her own mouth, allowing him to 

 return to his meal. The serious air with which she performed these 

 ludicrous actions was intensely funny. 



The young male also became very tame and docile, so that if one 

 pushed a finger through the wire netting he would take it in his 

 mouth and bite it very gently, letting it remain in his mouth indefi- 

 nitely. The female had the same little trick, which was soon adopted 

 by the infant. At first she resented this by immediately seizing the 

 "child" and cuddling it to her bosom as she retreated to the back of 

 the cage. During August her attitude changed. If the youngster 

 took anyone's finger in his mouth — and he became most forward of 

 all in doing so — she would quickly push him aside and bite the finger 

 very fiercely, so that I learned to withdraw it promptly as soon as 

 I saw she had observed the intrigue. 



Another of their customs after they had been fondling each other 

 was for her to let her tongue hang out of her mouth until he gently 

 took it up in his. 



Five other baboons shared the cage of the trio during the last 

 month, but whatever disagreements arose the adopted infant was 

 never molested and his sleek condition and rounded paunch spoke 

 well for the way in which the foster mother exercised her guardianship. 



One other baboon deserves special mention. She was more than 

 half grown when brought in by a native ; her right ear had been bored 

 to carry a little red twine. I should like to have seen more of her 

 master, for though he parted from her for a comparatively paltry sum 

 her behavior emphasized the extraordinary kindness with which she 

 had been treated. One had but to hold out one's arms and she would 

 spring into them, hugging one to the accompaniment of little croon- 

 ing sounds or "urrs" of satisfaction. She gave us to understand 



