THE PIG-TAILED MACAQUE. 



59 



set to work at the feather, picking out each vane separately, nibbling it, and spurting 

 the fragments on the floor. 



Just at this juncture the keeper made his appearance at the door, and the very gleam 

 of his cap was a signal for the delinquents to dive into the furthermost corner of their 

 cage, out of reach of stick or whip. The feather was ultimately restored to its rightful 

 owner, but as its shaft had been bitten nearly through, had lost many of its snowy 

 vanes, and hung limp and flaccid, as if it had been mangled, there was but slight prob- 

 ability of its ever renewing its position upon hat or bonnet. 



As to the depredators, they were incorrigible. Hardly had the excitement caused by 

 the feather-robbery begun to subside, when a fresh storm of laughter and exclamations 

 arose. 



'0, 



FIG-TAILED MACAQUE Macacus nemesMnus. 



On my returning to the cage, the same monkey was seen perched on his bar examin- 

 ing leisurely a new prize in the shape of a bracelet, which he had snatched from the 

 hand of a lady who was offering some biscuit. It was one of those bracelets that are 

 composed of large beads, threaded on elastic cord, and the whole attention of the thief 

 was absorbed in the amusement caused by drawing the bracelet to its full length, and 

 letting it snap. The clatter of the beads seemed to amuse the monkey mightily, and 

 he was so entirely charmed with this novel recreation, that he did not even see the 

 approaching keeper. At the sound of his voice, however, down went beads, away 

 went monkey, and the bracelet was soon in possession of its owner. 



It was a very fortunate circumstance for the monkey that he was deprived of his 

 prize. He would most certainly have pulled the bracelet until the string broke, and the 

 beads fell on the floor ; and in that case, he would inevitably have swallowed every bead 

 that had not been seized and eaten by his companion. 



