266 MENTAL LIFE OF APES AND MONKEYS 



beyond the reach of his chain he deliberately goes to the 

 marble and pushes an arm down between the upright part 

 of it and the wall, until he has moved the whole slab 

 sufficiently far from the wall to admit of his slipping down 

 behind the upright part himself. He then places his back 

 against the wall and his four hands against the upright 

 part of the marble, and pushes the slab as far as he can 

 stretch his long legs. He only does this, however, when he is 

 bent on mischief, as the fact of food being beyond the reach 

 of his chain does not furnish a strong enough inducement to 

 lead him to take so much exertion." 



Another interesting incident in this connection is furnished 

 by Prof. Mobius. A chimpanzee, Molli, was confined in a 

 wooden cell. When someone from the outside was driving 

 a nail into the wall of her cell, and she saw the nail coming 

 through the board, she went to her drinking vessel, took it 

 in both hands and pounded the nail back again. 



The use of implements for various purposes is, according 

 to the testimony of several writers, a not uncommon feature 

 of monkey behavior. Prof. Cope, in describing the perform- 

 ances of a Cebus capucinus says: "He then used the strap 

 in a novel way. He was accustomed to catch his food with 

 his hands when thrown to him. Sometimes it fell short 

 three or four feet. One day he seized his strap and took 

 pretty correct aim and finally drew the pieces to within 

 reach of his hand. This performance he constantly repeats, 

 hooking and pulling the articles to him in turns of the strap. 

 Sometimes he loses hold of the strap. If the poker is handed 

 him he uses it with some skill for the recovery of the strap. 

 After punishment the animal would only exert himself in 

 this way when not watched; as soon as an eye was directed 

 to him he would cease." 



Witmer relates that Peter, a trained chimpanzee which 



