70 NATUEAL HISTOKY OP 



to destroy them. Emboldened by this impunity, they 

 come down from the woods in large herds, and take 

 possession of the husbandman's toil, "with as little 

 ceremony, as though it had been collected for their 

 use. 



In a state of confinement, vegetable diet continues 

 their favourite and most nourishing support ; but they 

 will eat almost anything that the luxury of man has 

 introduced, and some even become remarkable for their 

 peculiarities. Among the greater part of them, the 

 love of wine or diluted spirits becomes almost a pas- 

 sion ; they are often offered as a bribe to the perform- 

 ance of various tricks, and they will always be greedily 

 drunk when left within reach. Vosmaer's orang, one 

 day when loose, commenced its exploits by finishing a 

 bottle of Malaga wine. Happy Jerry, the ribbed nose 

 baboon in Exeter Change, performed all his tricks 

 upon the anticipation of a glass of gin and water ; and 

 the relish and expression with which it was taken, 

 would have done honour to the most accomplished 

 taster. 



Nearly the whole family are gregarious,* and troops 

 of many hundreds together may be seen in the forest 

 glades and openings, or upon the banks of the noble 

 rivers, which, 



** Shaded and rolling on through sunless solitudes,'* 



form almost the only passages in those vast countries. 



* Pithed a chiropotes* Humb., and a few other species, live in 

 pairs. 



