CHAP. VII.] THE BRUTE. 205 



criticism. This is the more noteworthy when we consider 

 the care and pains which he bestows on all the phenomena 

 which he himself examines. 



Thus, for example, we are told on the authority of Brehm 

 that 



&quot; An eagle seized a young cercopithecus, which, by clinging to a 

 branch, was not at once carried off; it cried loudly for assistance, 

 upon which other members of the troop, with much uproar, rushed to 

 the rescue, surrounded the eagle, and pulled out so many feathers that 

 he no longer thought of his prey, but only how to escape.&quot; vol. i. 

 p. 76. 



I confess I wish that Mr. Darwin had witnessed this 

 episode. Perhaps, however, he has seen other facts suffi 

 ciently similar to render this one credible. In the absence 

 of really good evidence, I should, however, be inclined to 

 doubt the fact of a young cercopithecus, unexpectedly 

 seized, being able, by clinging, to resist the action of an 

 eagle s wings. 



Again he tells us (vol. i. p. 41) that &quot; one female baboon 

 had so capacious a heart that she not only adopted young 

 monkeys of other species, but stole young dogs and cats, 

 which she continually carried about. Her kindness, how 

 ever, did not go so far as to share her food with her adopted 

 offspring, at which Brehm was surprised, as his monkeys 

 always divided everything quite fairly with their own young 

 ones. An adopted kitten scratched the above-mentioned 

 affectionate baboon, who certainly had a fine intellect, for she 

 was much astonished at being scratched, and immediately 

 examined the kitten s feet, and without more ado bit off 

 the claws !&quot; 



Another sensational statement is given on the same au 

 thority:* &quot;A great troop of baboons were crossing a valley; 

 some had already ascended the opposite mountain, and 

 some were still in the valley ; the latter were attacked by 

 dogs, but the old males immediately hurried down from the 



* Op. cit. p 75. 



