14 MATERNAL AFFECTION OF A MONKEY. 



Cuvier gives a pleasing account of two of these 

 animals and their offspring, as occupants of the 

 menagerie of Paris. The young were exceedingly 

 affectionate to their mother; they used to cling 

 round her neck, and when alarmed would en- 

 deavour to hide themselves in her warm fur. When 

 tired with carrying them, she would go to the 

 male, and utter a soft plaintive cry ; he understood 

 her meaning, and immediately took them in his 

 paws, or else placed them on his back ; and they, on 

 their part, well knew how to hold fast, while he 

 carried them about till they grew hungry. He then 

 returned them to their mother, who shortly gave 

 them back again. Indeed, the burden of their nur- 

 ture seemed principally to devolve upon the father. 

 He did his best, and seemed very fond of his 

 young charge, but she did not show to them that 

 degree of tenderness and affection which is common 

 to the females of most species; or, perhaps, being 

 unable to partake of the wild gambols in which she 

 used to delight, her health and spirits might be 

 unequal to the task. Perhaps, even, a sad remem- 

 brance of her native forests might imbitter her 

 maternal feelings ; she might have little pleasure in 

 nursing those young creatures who were thus early 

 deprived of their freedom. Be this as it may, they 

 both died young, one at a month old, the other a 

 week after. 



Those who consider animals merely as automa- 

 tons, formed of bone and muscle, going on four 

 legs, and covered with fur or wool, may deride the 

 idea of thought, and memory, and feeling, being 

 assigned to a Striated Monkey; yet such is un- 



