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ZOOLOGICAL SKETCHES. 



to be on hand. The menu consists of rice, turnips, pani- 

 cum (a sort of millet), pumpkins, and now and then a 

 bushel of figs, served in a pile on the floor, between two 

 troughs full of water. As soon as the gate opens, the 

 guests crowd in, the old sachems first, the stout squaws 

 a good second ; but at the sight of any extras the press 

 for precedence overrides all etiquette, and the dhevadar 

 himself would be knocked down if he should presume 

 too far on the deference of his proteges. They are on 

 the watch for him if he enters the building, and when 

 he reappears with a bucketful of tidbits they charge him 

 with a rush, empty his bucket, clamber all over him in 

 search of hidden sweets, and often use him as a jumping- 

 board as they chase each other round the yard. In 

 about four minutes from the first creaking of the gate 

 the provisions are generally disposed of, — provisionally 

 at least, Providence having provided each baboon with 

 a cheek-pouch of such elastic capacities that a day's 

 rations can be stowed away in one cheek. Lack of 

 " cheek" is, indeed, no constitutional foible of the Papio 

 Rliesus : he takes all he can get, and shares with no- 

 body if he can help it. A fat old poucher, both cheeks 

 distended with millet and his four fists full of good ex- 

 tras, will retire into a corner and growl viciously at the 

 wistful look of a starved youngster. Woe to the low- 

 caste monkey who should attempt to glean the crumbs 

 of their feast ! they charge him like bull-dogs, and 

 somebody at the gate does not fail to take him across 



