126 APES AXD MONKEYS. 



(dog-headed) to these animals; and ii is this name which has heen adopted in 

 scientific phraseologj- as the distinctive appellation of the group. Tliis great 

 prolongation of the snout shows that the baboons are the lowest of the Old 

 World monkeys, and they bear the most marked signs of relationship with the 

 inferior orders of Mammals. 



In addition to their long snouts, baboons are likewise distinguished by the 

 large proportionate size of their skulls, this being most markedly the case with some 

 of the West Afi-ican forms. Moreover, the bones foi-ming the upper jaws are greatly 

 inflated, so as to give a swollen look to this j^art of the face in some of the 

 species. They may also carry prominent oblique ridges, which fonn the support, 

 for the peculiar fleshy tumour-like stmctures occurring in certain West African 

 examples. 



In all the baboons the callosities on the buttocks ai-e unusually large, and may 

 be ver}^ brightlj' coloured. The tail is never very long, and maj^ be short. The 

 aiTQS and legs, or, as thej* maj* be better termed, fore- and liind-legs, are nearlj- equal 

 in length, and are thus far better adapted for progress on the gi-ound than for 

 climbing. Indeed, none of the baboons appear to be adepts at climbing, and many 

 of them pass almost their whole time on the gi'ound. As we shall have occasion to 

 notice more fully later on, several species of this group show an especial predilection 

 for rocky ground, and are accustomed to go in large troops — this association being 

 probably necessary for defence against the attacks of leopards and other Carnivores, 

 to wlileh their terrestrial habits render them peculiarly hable. 



Their defence does not, however, rest solely on the sti-ength of numbers; for 

 the male baboons, which are considerably superior in size and strength to their 

 consoi-ts, ai-e armed with tusks of the most formidable dimensions. Indeed, a bite 

 from one of these animals must be almost, if not quite, as severe and dangerous as 

 a leopard's ; and there are instances on record where leopards have been successfully 

 attacked and mastered bj* a few old male baboons. 



The great size of the head, coupled with their general bodily conformation, 

 rendei"s all the baboons much less capable of assuming and maintaining the 

 erect posture than any of the other Old World monkeys. They are, indeed, 

 accustomed to go almost invariably on all-foui-s ; and when on tolerably flat ground 

 can gallop at a pace that requires a hoi-se to overtake them. When brought to 

 bay, a baboon wdU, however, stand on its hind - quartei-s to defend itself more 

 readily. 



In the wild state scarcelv anv kind of food comes amiss to baboons : 

 and although the bulk of their nutriment may take the fonn of seeds, 

 fruits, roots, and the gum which exudes from the stems of many of the African acacias, 

 the}' also search for and eat insects, lizards, and birds' eggs. In regions where culti- 

 vated lands exist much harm is done by the noctui-nal excureions of baboons. During 

 such raids most travellers agree in saying that a certain number of the troop are 

 selected to act as sentinels and to give timelj' warning of the appi'oach of an enemj". 

 How much credence is to be given to the statements that on these occasions the 

 marauders are accustomed to range themselves in long lines leading from the 

 cultivated ground to their homes, and to pass the stolen plunder from hand to 

 hand, it is not for us to decide. 



