60 THE REASON WHY: 



1 All these are ours ; and I with pleasure see 

 Man strutting on two legs, and aping me." DRYDEN. 



180. Why are lemurs included in the same, order with the 

 monkey tribes ? 



Because although differing from the monkeys of the old and 

 new worlds in their teeth, they are quadrumanous, having 

 opposable thumbs on the fore as well as the hind paws. 



181. Why are they called lemurs ? 



The Latin lemurs means sprites that walk by night ; and these 

 animals were so named by Linnaeus, because of their nocturnal 

 habits, and their large glaring eyes. They wander by night, and 

 sub.sist upon fruit, insects, and small birds. 



182. In *he jungles about Tillicherry, there is a large species of monkey 

 frequently tamed by the natives, and at a village a short distance from this 

 celebrated seaport there occurred an evidence of the extreme sagacity of this 

 animal. A few yards from the house of the person to whom it belonged, a thick 

 pole, at least thirty feet high, had been fixed into the earth, round which was an 

 iron ring, and to this was attached a strong chain of considerable length, fastened 

 to a band round the monkey's body. The ring being loose, it slid along the pole 

 when h iscended or descended. He was in the habit of taking his station upon 

 the top ef the bamboo, where he perched as if to enjoy the beauties of the prospect 

 around him. The crows, which in India are very abundant and singularly 

 audacious, taking advantage of his elevated position, had been in the habit of 

 robbing him of his food, which was placed every morning and evening at the foot 

 of the pole. To this he had vainly expressed hia dislike by chattering, and other 

 indications of his displeasure equally ineffectual ; but they continued their depreda- 

 tions. Finding that he was perfectly unheeded, he adopted a plan of retribution as 

 effectual as it was ingenious. 



One morning, when his tormenters had been particularly troublesome, he appeared 

 as if seriously indisposed ; he closed his eyes, drooped his head, and exhibited 

 various other symptoms of severe suffering. No sooner were his ordinary rations 

 placed at the foot of the bamboo, than the crowr, watching their opportunity, 

 descended in great numbers, and according to their usual practice began to 

 'demolish his provisions. The monkey now began to slide down the pole by slow 

 degrees, as if the effort were painful to him, and as if so overcome by indisposition 

 that his remaining strength was scarcely equal to such exertion. When he reached 

 the ground he rolled about for some time, seeming in great agony, until he found 

 himself close to the vessel which contained his food, but which the crows had by 

 this time well-nigh devoured. There was still, however, some remaining, which a 

 solit-y bird, emboldened by the apparent indisposition of the monkey, advanced to 

 Bei?e. The wily creature was at this time lying in a state of apparent insensibility 

 4t the foot of the pole and close to the pan. The moment the crow stretched ou> 



