THE VERVET MONKEY OR BLUE APE 



This fierce fighting amongst male animals for 

 the right to perpetuate the species is a safeguard 

 against physical deterioration. It is indeed a bitter 

 struggle for the survival of the fittest, but none can 

 question the wisdom of it. 



The males who from time to time are driven into 

 exile, live lonely, celibate lives, becoming morose and 

 exceedingly cunning and daring. They usually take 

 to robbing the agriculturalist and fruit-grower of the 

 hard-earned products of his labour. So intelligently 

 are these raids planned, that it is the exception for 

 the exasperated farmer to succeed in encompassing 

 the death of the thief. 



Unfortunately it is not only the solitary indivi- 

 duals who rob man of the fruits of his industry. The 

 cultivated fields of farmers are invaded by whole 

 troops of these monkeys, and lamentable havoc is 

 wrought. Nothing in the way of vegetable produce 

 or fruit comes amiss to them. They are wasteful in 

 the extreme, and it is indeed no wonder the agricul- 

 turalist regards them as one of the most destructive 

 forms of vermin. Many species of animals eat to 

 satisfy their hunger, and are not in the least wasteful ; 

 others dine generously and carry off a portion and 

 lay it aside for lean times ; but not so the monkey 

 tribe. 



Many scores of times I have seen the results of 

 raids on orchards and crops by Vervet Monkeys. 

 On one occasion a troop of a hundred or more of 

 them visited a mealie field at dawn. The mealies on 



