APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



baboons picking up sand, and straining it through their fingers, to see if there were ants in it 

 He has also seen one hold up sand in the palm of its hand, and blow the dust away with its 

 breath, and then look again to see if anything edible were left. Mandrills kept in captivity until 

 adult become very savage. One in Wombwell's menagerie killed another monkey and a beagle. 

 Mr. Cross owned one which would sit in an armchair, smoke, and drink porter ; but these 

 convivial accomplishments were accompanied by a most ferocious temper. 



One of the earliest accounts of the habits of the Abyssinian baboons was given by Ludolf in 

 his " History of Ethiopia." It was translated into quaint, but excellent old English : " Of Apes," 

 he says, " there are infinite flocks up and down in the mountains, a thousand and more together, 

 and they leave no stone unturned. If they meet with one that two or three cannot lift they call 

 for more aid, and all for the sake of the Worms that lye under, a sort of dyet which they relish 

 exceedingly. They are very greedy after Emmets. So that having found an emmet hill, they 



Photo by Ottomar jlnichutx."] 



PIG-TAILED MONKEY 



" Footing the line." Note how the monkey uses its feet as hands when walking on a branch 



[Btrlin 



presently surround it, and laying their fore paws with the hollow downward upon the ant heap, 

 as soon as the Emmets creep into their treacherous palms they lick 'em off, with great comfort to 

 their stomachs. And there they will lye till there is not an Emmet left. They are also perni- 

 cious to fruits and apples, and will destroy whole fields and gardens unless they be looked 

 after. For they are very cunning, and will never venture in till the return of their spies, 

 which they send always before, who, giving all information that it is safe, in they rush with their 

 whole body and make a quick despatch. Therefore they go very quiet and silent to their prey ; 

 and if their young ones chance to make a noise, they chastise them with their fists ; but if the 

 coast is clear, then every one has a different noise to express his joy." Ludolf clearly means the 

 baboons by this description. 



A more ancient story deals with Alexander's campaigns. He encamped on a mountain on 

 which were numerous bands of monkeys (probably baboons). On the following morning the 

 sentries saw what looked like troops coming to offer them battle. As they had just won a 



