70 THE MANDRILL. 



* 



into the cage for the purpose of exterminating the offending keeper. Another keeper was 

 stationed in ambush near the cage, and the moment the infuriated animal entered the den, he 

 shut and fastened the door. 



The male Mandrills are always more ferocious and less tamable than the females, who 

 axe also comparatively free from the revolting habits that are so unfortunately found in the 

 adult males. 



There are several instances on record of Mandrills which have led a peaceful life in cap 

 tivity, and learned many accomplishments some, perhaps, rather of a dubious nature. 



One of the most celebrated of these individuals, surnamed "Happy Jerry," on account of 

 his contented disposition, was a well-known inhabitant of the menagerie at Exeter 'Change 

 during his lifetime ; and, even after his death, is still before the public who visit the British 

 Museum. 



He was accustomed to drink porter, which he liked, and to smoke a pipe, which he tole- 

 rated. He had the honor of being a royal guest, by special invitation, and seems to have 

 passed a life as happy as could well fall to the lot of an expatriated animal. 



There are several allusions to this baboon by ancient writers, although they seem to have 

 been very undecided about the real character of the animal. 



Topsel gives a really good illustration of the Mandrill, placing it among the hyenas, 

 because preceding writers had done so. However, his own penetrative mind refused to accept 

 this opinion, and after saying that it might be the Artocyon, a beast which was supposed to 

 be the offspring of bear and dog, diffidently puts forward his own idea on the subject, which 

 is the correct one, as is usual when men will venture to think boldly for themselves, and shake 

 off the trammels of conventional prejudice. 



"His fore-feet," says Topsel, "are divided like a man's fingers. It continually holdeth 

 tip his tail, for at every motion it turneth that as other beasts do their head. It hath a short 

 tail, and but for that I should judge it to be a kind of ape." Many of the traits recorded by 

 the same author are precisely applicable to the Mandrill, although, as he thought, that it 

 ought to be a hyena, he has intermixed with his account a few truly hyenine anecdotes. 



His name for it is, "The Second Kinde of Hyaena, called Papio, or Dabuh." 



In its native land, the usual food of the Mandrill is of a vegetable nature, although, in. 

 common with the rest of the baboons, it displays a great liking for ants, centipedes, and simi- 

 lar creatures. 



Sometimes it happens that it takes a carnivorous turn, and then will capture and devour 

 small birds, quadrupeds, and reptiles. In captivity it is tolerably carnivorous, its tastes being 

 sufficiently universal to accommodate itself to strong drink, as well as to civilized fare. Meat 

 of all kinds seems acceptable to the animal, as does beer and wine. Tobacco, as we have seen, 

 it can endure, but hardly appreciate. 



It drinks by shooting forward its mobile lips into the vessel, and drawing the liquid into 

 its mouth by suction. 



When it eats, it generally commences its repast by filling its pouches with food in readi- 

 ness for another meal, and unless very severely pressed by hunger, never neglects this pre- 

 caution. 



The tail of this animal is a remarkable feature, if it may so be termed, in the general 

 aspect of the baboon. It is short, set high on the back, and curved upwards in a manner that 

 is most singular, not to say ludicrous, in the living animals, and conspicuously noticeable in 

 the skeleton. The skull of an adult Mandrill is most brutal in character. The brain has but 

 little place in the cranium, and the greater part of the surface is either composed of, or 

 covered with, heavy ridges of solid bone that are formed for the support of the large muscles 

 which move the jaws. 



The eyes are placed extremely high in the face, leaving hardly any forehead above them, 

 and they are deeply set beneath a pair of morosely overhanging brows. The hair on the head 

 is rather peculiar in its arrangement, forming a kind of pointed crest on the crown, and thus- 

 giving an almost triangular outline to the head. 



It is a very common animal in its own country, but on account of its great strength, cun- 



