to a previously selected spot where he could get close 

 up again and watch. 



The foremost monkey was already on the ground 

 when he got back and others were hanging from low 

 branches or clinging to the stems, ready to drop or 

 retreat. Then began the grunts and careful timid ap- 

 proaches, such as one sees in a party of children hunting 

 for the hidden ' ghost ' who is expected to appear sud- 

 denly and chase them ; next, the chattering garrulous 

 warnings and protests from the timid ones the 

 females in the upper branches ; the sudden start and 

 scurry of one of the youngsters ; and the scare com- 

 municated to all, making even the leader jump back 

 a pace ; then his angry grunt and loud scolding of the 

 frightened ones angry because they had given him a 

 fright, and loud because he was reassuring himself. 



After a pause they began the careful roundabout 

 approach and the squatting and waiting, making pre- 

 tences of not being particularly interested, while 

 their quick eyes watched everything ; then the deft 

 picking up of one thing instantly dropped again, 

 as one picks up a roasted chestnut and drops it in the 

 same movement, in case it should be hot ; and finally 

 the greedy scramble and chatter. 



I have seen all that, but not, alas, the successful 

 ending, when trying to imitate Jantje's methods. 

 Jantje waited until the tugs at the gourd became 

 serious, and then, knowing that the smaller things had 

 been taken out or shaken out and eaten and that 

 some enterprising monkey had put its arm into the 

 hole and grabbed the crust, he ran out. 



362 



