THE BABOON 57 



height. The generic name Cynocephalus means Dog-headed, 

 and Baboons differ from all the rest of the monkey 

 family in the muzzle, which is elongated into a snout 

 pierced with nostrils at the end like a dog. In fact, the 

 face generally resembles that of the dog, and the likeness 

 is increased by the animal seldom walking, or even stand- 

 ing, other than on all fours. Their front and hind legs 

 being differently proportioned from those of the Simiidae, 

 they can run swiftly along the ground, and yet can climb 

 rocks and trees with an agility equal to that of almost 

 any quadrumanous beast. Some species possess tails of 

 considerable length ; in some it is the merest stump, with 

 an erect tuft of hair. The hair is long, and often on the 

 upper parts there is a kind of mane, which becomes grey 

 in the animal's later years. 



Like most of the monkeys of the Old World, Baboons 

 have callosities on the buttocks, and they also possess the 

 cheek-pouches with which so many monkeys are provided. 

 A Baboon's pouches are of sufficient size to hold seven 

 or eight eggs without inconvenience, allowing it to eat 

 them at its leisure one at a time. 



In the Baboon there is nothing of the gentleness of the 

 mias or gibbons, nothing of the amusing vivacity of 

 monkeys generally. The eyes are small, close set, deeply 

 sunk, and with a horribly sinister expression that gives 

 the animal a most repulsive appearance, in strict keeping 

 with the fierceness which is the distinguishing feature of its 

 character. 



Various species attain a large size, and possess such 

 strength that they can rarely be taken alive except when 

 very young. They are quite dreaded by the inhabitants, 

 for the animals herd themselves together in great numbers 

 and work much mischief to plantations and crops. The 

 Baboons are the least arboreal of all the Quadrumana. 

 They live chiefly on roots and fruits ; those that inhabit 

 rocky regions feed largely upon insects, lizards, &c., easily 

 devouring scorpions, which they first cleverly deprive of 

 their stings. 



The Chacma or Pig-faced Baboon (Cynocephalus porcarius) 

 of South Africa, when it runs short of its ordinary food, 



