9090 Sucklers. 
Monkeys in Africa.—The most attractive of all the native inhabitants are the 
troops of monkeys which we saw disporting themselves among the wood on the 
opposite side of the gorge. These creatures, which are of the same species as those 
of the Rock of Gibraltar, descend in the morning and evening to drink at the Chiffa ; 
and, at the approach of wheels, they may be seen scrambling promiscuously up the 
mountain side, mothers carrying their young, some on their back, others in their arms, 
aud frequently turning, rushing up a tree, and, after a hasty glance at the passing 
traveller, chattering and grinning as monkeys know how. Now and then a fellow 
older and bolder than the rest will remain ensconced among the branches of a chesnut- 
tree, and take a very close survey of the intruders.—* The Great Sahara, by H. B. 
Tristram, p. 38. 
Harp Seal in Shetland.—Several harp seals are now to be seen in the deep 
sheltered Voe at Baltasound. This species can scarcely be considered very rare here, 
but it is said only to occur in bad weather, and certainly the present visit forms 
no exception to the rule, the wind having for some days been blowing heavily from 
N.E., accompanied by sleet and snow.—Henry L. Saxby; Baltasound, Shetland, 
March 14, 1864. 
The Grampus in the River Parret, Somersetshire—On the 21st of March ten of 
these huge creatures came up the Parret to within five miles of Bridgwater, following 
the course of the river, or three miles in a straight line; they then returned about four 
miles down the river, or to about half a mile below the village of Combwich, when they 
were all captured by means of barpoons and spears. Two of them were brought up to 
Bridgwater and exhibited: these I saw; one of them was twenty-three feet three 
inches long, measured in a straight line, and sixteen feet round at the largest part; 
the other was very much smaller, being but thirteen feet long. Of the other eight, 
one is said to have been rather longer than the larger of the two which were brought 
to the town, but not thicker; another, still smaller than the smaller of these, being but 
eleven or twelve feet long; the rest are described as varying in length from eighteen to 
twenty-one feet. They agreed well with the figure and description in Bell’s ‘ British 
Quadrupeds,’ except that the fins did not appear to me quite so large in proportion to 
the whole body as the description gives them.— Thomas Clark ; Halesleigh, April 12, 
1864. 
The White Camel of the Sahara.—The most peculiar appendage of the Touareg is 
his magnificent “ mahari,” or white dromedary, as indissulubly associated with these 
people as the horse is with the sons of Ishmael. This graceful creature, which may 
generally be seen kneeling in the souk of any M’zab city, with its fawn-coloured head 
and neck towering above the camels round, bears the same relation <o them that the 
thorough-bred racer does to the cart-horse. Its small head, its very fine coat, its 
great length of limb and depth of chest, all bespeak the highest “ breeding.” I never 
saw any ordinary camel (or djimel) which approached within eighteen inches the 
stature of a mabari; but the most distinctive development is in the depth and width 
of chest, while the hump is comparatively small. The Saharans maintain the mabari 
to be distinct species; but it is not necessary to be an acceptor of Mr. Darwin’s theory, 
jn order to believe that this noble creature is simply the development of the camel by 
a long course of artificial selection in a very dry, hot climate, where speed, and not the 
power of bearing burdens, is the one object aimed at. The Touareg is as careful in 
the selection of his breeding mahari as the Arab is in that of his horse, All inter- 
mixture with the common camel is carefully avoided; and as the pedigrees are handed 
