8 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



many at Cape Coast; bat not till I advanced into the 

 forest up the windings of the river Gaboon, could I 

 form any idea of their multitude, or of the various 

 habits which characterize their savage lives. The first 

 time the reality burst upon me, was in going up a 

 creek of that river to reach the town of Naango, when 

 the most deafening screams were to be heard overhead, 

 mixed with squeaks and sundry strange noises. These 

 proceeded from red and grey parrots, which were pur- 

 sued to the tops of the tallest trees by the monkeys. 

 The birds were not frightened ; on the contrary, they 

 appeared to enjoy the fun, and perching on slight twigs, 

 which would not bear the weight of their playfellows, 

 they stretched out their wings, and seemed vociferously 

 to exclaim, ' You can't catch me ! ' Sometimes, how- 

 ever, they were surprised, and then there was such a 

 scuffle and noise. The four-handed beast, however, 

 plucked the red feathers from the tail of the bird ; and 

 careless of its anger, seated himself on a branch, suck- 

 ing the quills till they were dry, when he started for a 

 fresh supply. 



That monkeys enjoy movement, that they delight in 

 pilfering, in outwitting each other and their higher 

 brethren men ; that they glory in tearing and destroy- 

 ing the works of art by which they are surrounded in a 

 domestic state ; that they lay the most artful plans to 

 effect their purpose, is all perfectly true ; but the terms 

 mirthful and merry seem to me to be totally misapplied 

 in reference to their feeling and actions, for they do all 

 in- solemnity and seriousness. Do you stand under a 

 tree, whose thick foliage completely screens you from 

 the sun, and you hope to enjoy perfect shade and re- 

 pose : a slight rustling proves that companions are 



