THE O U A R i N E, &c i 



// 



baboons. They have prehenfile tails, aild con- 

 fequently belong to the family of fapajous, ia 

 which they hold a diftinguillied rank, not only 

 by their ftature, but alfo by their voice, which 

 refouiids like a drum, and is heard at a great 

 diftance. Marcgrave relates *, ' That, every 



* morning and evening, theouarines affemble in 

 ' the woods ; that one of them takes a more e- 

 ' levated ftation, and gives a fignal with his hand 

 ' for the others to fit around and liften to him ; 



* that, when he perceives them to be al! feated, 

 ' he begins a difcourfe, in a tone fo loud and 

 ' rapid as to be heard at a great diilance ; and a 

 ' perfon would be led to think that the whole 

 ' were crying together ; that all the reft, how- 

 ' ever, keep the moll; profound filence; that,. 

 ' when he ftops, he gives a fignal with his hand 



* for the others to reply ; that, in an inilant, the; 



* whole cry together, till he commands filence 



* by another fignal, which they obey in a mo- 



* ment ; that the iirft refumes his difcourfe or 

 ' fong ; and that, after heariiig him attentively 

 'for a confiderable time, the aifembly breaks 



* up.' Thefe fatts, which Marcgrave fays he 

 has often witnefTed, may perhaps be exaggerated, 

 and feafoned a little with the marvellous : The 

 whole may be founded on the terrible noife 

 made by thefe animals. They have a kind of 

 ofleous drum in their throat, in tlie concavity 

 of which the found is augmented, multiplied, and 



Vol. VIII. M. makes 



• Marcgrav. Hi ft. Braf. p. 2? (5. 



