THE MANDRILL. 77 



who are also comparatively free from the revolting habits that are so unfortunately found 

 in the adult males. 



There are several instances on record of Mandrills which have led a peaceful life in 

 captivity, and learned many accomplishments some, perhaps, rather of a dubious 

 nature. 



One of the most celebrated of these individuals, surnamed " Happy Jerry," on 

 account of his contented disposition, was a well-known inhabitant of the menagerie at 

 Exeter 'Change during his lifetime ; and, even after his death, is still before the public 

 who visit the British Museum. 



He was accustomed to drink porter, which he liked, and to smoke a pipe which 

 he tolerated. He had the honor of being a royal guest, by special invitation, and 

 seems to have passed a life as happy as could well fall to the lot of an expatriated 

 animal. 



There are several allusions to this baboon by ancient writers, although they seem to 

 have been very undecided about the real character of the animal. 



Topsel gives a really good illustration of the Mandrill, placing it among the hyenas, 

 because preceding writers had done so. However, his own penetrative mind refused to 

 accept this opinion, and after saying that it might be the Artocyon, a beast which was 

 supposed to be the offspring of bear and dog, diffidently puts forward his own idea on 

 the subject, which is the correct one, as is usual when men will venture to think boldly 

 for themselves, and shake off the trammels of conventional prejudice. 



" His fore-feet," says Topsel," are divided like a man's fingers. It continually holdeth 

 up his tail, for at every motion itturneth that as other beasts do their head. It hath a 

 short tail, and but for that I should judge it to be a kind of ape." Many of the traits 

 recorded by the same author are precisely applicable to the Mandrill, although, as he 

 thought, that it ought to be a hyena, he has intermixed with his account a few truly 

 hyenine anecdotes. 



His name for it is, " The Second Kinde of Hyaena, called Papio, or Dabuh." 



In its native land, the usual food of the Mandrill is of a vegetable nature, although, in 

 common with the rest of the baboons, it displays a great liking for ants, centipedes, and 

 similar creatures. 



Sometimes it happens that it takes a carnivorous turn, and then will capture and 

 devour small birds, quadrupeds, and reptiles. In captivity it is tolerably carnivorous, its 

 tastes being sufficiently universal to accommodate itself to strong drink, as well as to 

 civilized fare. Meat of all kinds seems acceptable to the animal, as does beer and 

 wine. Tobacco, as we have seen, it can endure, but hardly appreciate. 



It drinks by shooting forward its mobile lips into the vessel, and drawing the liquid 

 into its mouth by suction. 



When it eats, it generally commences its repast by filling its pouches with food in 

 readiness for another meal, and unless very severely pressed by hunger, never neglects 

 this precaution. 



The tail of this animal is a remarkable feature, if it may so be termed, in the general 

 aspect of the baboon. It is short, set high on the back, and curved upwards in a manner 

 that is most singular, not to say ludicrous, in the living animals, and conspicuously notice- 

 able in the skeleton. The skull of an adult Mandrill is most brutal in character. The 

 brain has but little place in the cranium, and the greater part of the surface is either com- 

 posed of, or covered with, heavy ridges of solid bone that are formed for the support of the 

 large muscles which move the jaws. 



The eyes are placed extremely high in the face, leaving hardly any forehead above 

 them, and they are deeply set beneath a pair of morosely overhanging brows. The hair on 

 the head is rather peculiar in its arrangement, forming a kind of pointed crest on the 

 crown, and thus giving an almost triangular outline to the head. 



It is a very common animal in its own country, but on account of its great strength, 

 cunning, and ferocity, is not so often captured as might be expected. Even when a 

 specimen is made prisoner, it is generally a very young one, which soon loses in captivity 

 the individuality of its being, and learns to accommodate itself to the altered circum- 

 stances among which it is placed. 



