2 48 THE MONKEY TRIBES 



every morning, I should never get an egg, I endeavored to accomplish 

 my purpose in another manner; I trained one of my dogs, as soon as 

 the hen cackled, to run to the nest and bring me the egg without 

 breaking it. In a few days the dog had learned his lesson; but Kees 

 as soon as he heard the hen cackle, ran with him to the nest. A contest 

 now took place between them, who should have the egg; often the dog 

 was foiled, although he was the stronger of the two. If he gained the 

 victory he ran joyfully to me with the egg and put it into my hand. 

 Kees, nevertheless, followed him, and did not cease to grumble and 

 make threatening grimaces at him till he saw me take the egg, — as if 

 he was comforted for the loss of his booty by his adversary's not 

 retaining it for himself. If Kees had got hold of the egg, he endeav- 

 ored to run with it to a tree, where, having devoured it, he threw down 

 the shells upon his adversary, as if to make game of him. Kees was 

 always the first awake in the morning, and, when it was the proper 

 time, he awoke the dogs, who were accustomed to his voice, and, in 

 general, obeyed without hesitation, the slightest motions by which he 

 communicated his orders to them, immediately taking their posts about 

 the tent and carriage, as he directed them." 



The Gorilla is an interesting member of the monkey family 

 and is the largest of all the known apes, his appearance being repulsive 

 in the extreme. The enormous head joined to the huge body by a thick, 

 short neck, the immensely lengthened arms, and the feeble, crooked 

 legs, together with a countenance in wdiich the lowest animal passions 

 are forcibly portrayed, unite in forming a creature of the most forbid- 

 ding appearance. But little is known of the habits of this animal as 

 yet ; and although many stories are told of its ferocity and untamable 

 disposition, and although it is said that the natives of the Western 

 Equatorial Africa, where the gorilla is found, are afraid to enter the 

 woods where he roams at large, yet we cannot but believe he will prove 

 as harmless in character as the other large apes are know'n to be. He 

 feeds upon roots and different vegetables that he easily finds growing 

 wild in his native woods ; and whenever molested, endeavors by all the 

 means in his power to escape from his pursuers, only standing on the 

 defensive when wounded, or when retreat has been made impossible. 

 If angered, or in the act of protecting his young, the great strength 



