70 ANIMAL SKETCHES. CHAP. 



does with the anthropoids for the smile that never 

 comes, though all the onlookers are laughing. Still he 

 seemed healthy and happy, on excellent terms with his 

 keeper, and in thorough enjoyment of a game with his 

 toys. Much that was interesting and amusing enough to 

 see would be tedious and tiresome to narrate. I want 

 you to watch the animals for yourself and to take an in- 

 telligent interest in their habits and structures. One of 

 this chimpanzee's favourite amusements was to scamper 

 round his cage bowling with his feet a large wooden ball 

 after him. To this he constantly recurred. At one time 

 he endeavoured to collect his six nine-pins in a bundle 

 and carry them all at once. I dare say you have seen, at 

 the pantomime, the clown picking up sausages, or babies, 

 or bits of policemen, or such-like odds and ends, tucking 

 them under his arm and gravely letting fall the last as he 

 opens his arm to receive the next. The chimpanzee was 

 in similar difficulties. Thrice he all but succeeded in 

 carrying the six, but then some one or more would slip 

 away, and spoil the whole arrangement. At the third 

 failure he was so disgusted that throwing the nine-pins 

 away in all directions he resumed the ball-trick where he 

 was certain of success. Now here the points of interest 

 seem to be : first, the perseverance shown by the thrice- 

 repeated attempt, and secondly, the apparent annoyance 

 at the continued failure and the resumption of an easier 

 game. There is always however a danger of reading the 

 thoughts of men into the actions of animals ; and it is 

 perhaps best, so far as is possible, simply to record the 

 actions. One other act of the chimpanzee will I here 

 record. He had been given some broth which he drank 

 very tidily from his tin pannikin ; and also some biscuits. 

 In the adjoining cage separated by wide, strong bars 

 was a little mona monkey who cast longing glances at the 



