118 THE PLAY OF ANIMALS. 



freedom. Climbing and exercising in the rigging 

 seemed to give him the greatest pleasure, for he in- 

 dulged in it many times a day, and in such a manner 

 as to astonish all beholders with his dexterity. Ben- 

 nett makes a similar report of a specimen that he 

 brought to Europe. A female ape (Spinnenaffe), whose 

 habits have been well described by an Englishman, also 

 played in the rigging. When " Sally " really wanted to 

 have some fun she danced with such gaiety and abandon 

 on the sail yards that a spectator could hardly distinguish 

 arms, legs, and tail. At such times the name " spider 

 ape '' seemed especially appropriate, for she resembled 

 a giant tarantula in her motions. During this perform- 

 ance she would stop from time to time and gaze, with 

 familiar nods, at her admirers, wrinkle up her nose, 

 and emit short low sounds. She was usually liveliest at 

 about sunset. Her special delight was to clamber up 

 the rigging till she reached a horizontal sail yard or a 

 slender spar. Here she hung firmly by the end of her 

 tail and swung to and fro.* According to Duvaucel, 

 " the gibbon climbs with incredible rapidity up a bam- 

 boo stalk or to the top of a tree, there swings to and 

 fro several times, and then, aided by the impetus so 

 gained, throws himself a distance of twelve or thirteen 

 metres. Repeating this three or four times in rapid 

 succession, his progress appears much like the flight of 

 a bird. One is forced to believe that the consciousness 

 of his unparalleled dexterity affords him pleasure, for he 

 leaps unnecessarily over spaces that he could easily avoid 

 by a slight detour, varies his course, leaping to promising 

 boughs, swinging and hanging there, and again launch- 

 ing out in the air with unfailing certainty toward a new 



* [See other cases in the original.] 



