MONKEYS 



seldom seen on the ground. It need not go to the 

 river or other drinking-places to quench its thirst, for 

 there is plenty of water stored up in the hollows of the 

 trees. 



The colobus loves the solitude of the woods and is 

 rarely seen near human habitations. Where it is not 

 hunted, it is full of curiosity, and not over shy. But 

 its fur, unfortunately, is a much-desired article of trade, 

 and therefore the animal is pursued and its numbers 

 greatly diminished by European and native hunters. 

 This is to be regretted very much, as the "mbega" is 

 perfectly harmless and does no damage to the planta- 

 tions as do the destructive baboons and lemurs. 



The beautiful guereza cannot escape its doom — in- 

 evitable destruction. ' As many of the tribes of man 

 disappeared when they came in contact with civiliza- 

 tion, as the elk of our northern forests were killed rather 

 than leave their native home, so the guereza will cling to 

 its forests, the only place where it can exist, until the 

 hand of man destroys this beautiful species. It simply 

 cannot live long without its accustomed food, the aro- 

 matic leaves of the different kinds of trees in its native 

 forests. The "mbega" rarely eats the fruits of the 

 trees, and once in a while he may, for a change, feast on 

 birds' eggs or young birds and certain kinds of insects. 



Sometimes, towards morning, when the thick mist 

 still hovers over the virgin forest and the twigs and 

 leaves are heavy with dew, the woodland stillness is 



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