The Zoologist — November, 1868. 1429 



" The large tamarind trees on the opposite bank are generally full 

 of the dog-faced baboons {Cynocephalus) in the evening, at their 

 drinking-hour. I watched a large crocodile creep slyly out of the 

 water, and lie in waiting among the rocks at the usual drinking-place 

 before they arrived, but the baboons were too wide awake to be taken 

 in so easily. A young fellow was the first to discover the enemy ; he 

 had accompanied several wise and experienced old hands to the 

 extremity of a bough that at a considerable height overhung the 

 river; from this post they had a bird's-eye view, and reconnoitred 

 before one of the numerous party descended to drink. The sharp 

 eyes of the young one at once detected the crocodile, who matched in 

 colour so well with the rocks that most probably a man would not 

 have noticed it until too late. At once the young one commenced 

 shaking the bough and screaming with all his might to attract the 

 atteution of the crocodile, and to induce it to move. In this he was 

 immediately joined by the whole party, who yelled in chorus, while 

 the large old males bellowed defiance, and descended to the lowest 

 branches within eight or ten feet of the crocodile. It was of no use — 

 the pretender never stirred, and I watched it until dark ; it remained 

 still in the same place, waiting for some unfortunate baboon whose 

 thirst might provoke his fate; but not one was sufficiently foolish, 

 although the perpendicular banks prevented them from drinking 

 except at that particular spot." — p. 177. 



I have inserted a note of interrogation after the few words which 

 introduce the compliment paid in the next extract to the con- 

 templative character of the baboons. I have done so because it does 

 not seem to me that this mighty Nimrod of the desert is always quite 

 so forbearing as he would have us believe. 



" I never allow either the monkeys or baboons to be disturbed (?) : 

 thus they have no fear of our party, but with perfect confidence they 

 approach within thirty or forty yards of the tents, sitting upon the 

 rocks and trees, and curiously watching all that takes place in the 

 camp."— p. 224. 



This is quiet and pretty, but the next quotation exhibits a little 

 more action. 



" We had several times disturbed antelopes during the early 

 portion of the march, and we had just ascended from the rugged 

 slopes of the valley, when we observed a troop of about a hundred 



