ANIMALS. 433 



lie makes a sign with the hand for the rest to reply ; and at that 

 instant they i-aise their voices together, until by another signal 

 of the hand they are enjoined silence. This they as readily 

 obey ; till, at last, the whole assembly breaks up, after bearing a 

 repetition of the same preachment." 



The chief food of the monkey tribe is fruits, the buds of 

 trees, or succulent roots and plants. They all, like man, seem 

 ibnd of sweets ; and particularly the pleasant juice of the palm- 

 tree and the sugar-cane. With these the fertile regions in 

 which they are bred seldom fail to supply them ; but when it 

 happens that these fail, or that more nourishing food becomes 

 more agreeable, they eat insects and worms •, and sometimes, if 

 near the coasts, descend to the sea-shore, where they eat oysters, 

 crabs, and shell-iish. Their manner of managing an oyster is 

 extraordinary enough •, but it is too well attested to fail of our 

 assent. As the oysters in the tropical climates are generally larger 

 than with us, the monkeys, when they go to the sea-side, pick 

 up a stone, and clap it between the opening shells ; this prevents 

 them from closing ; and the monkey then eats the fish at his easse. 

 They often also draw crabs from the water, by putting theii tail 

 to the hole where that animal takes refuge, and, the crab fasten- 

 ing upon it, they withdraw it with a jerk, and thus pull their 

 prey upon shore. This habit of laying traps for other animals 

 makes them very cautious of being entrapped themselves ; and 

 I am assured, by many persons of credit, that no snare, hoy 

 nicely baited soever, will take the monkey of the West India 

 islands ; for having been accustomed to the cunning of man, it op- 

 poses its natural distrust to human artifice. 



The monkey generally brings forth one at a time, and some- 

 times two. They are rarely found to breed when brought over 

 into Europe ; but of those that do, they exhibit a very striking 

 picture of parental affection. The male and female are never 

 tired of fondling their young one. They instruct it with no little 

 assiduity ; and often severely correct it, if stubborn, or disinclin- 

 ed to profit by their example : they hand it from one to the other ; 

 and when the male has done showing his regard, the female takes 

 her turn. When wild in the woods, the female, if she happens 

 to have two, carries one on her back, and the other in her arms : 

 that on her back clings very closely, clasping its hands round her 

 neck, and its feet about her middle ; when slie wants to suckle it, 



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