18 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



This species is frequent in the forests round Ben- 

 coolen, in Sumatra. 



The Barbary Ape. 



Cercocebus Sylvan us, Geoff. Simla inuus, Linn. 



The only part of Europe which comes within those 

 geographic limits assigned by Providence to the family 

 of monkeys, is the rock, or rather the mountain, of 

 Gibraltar, — that south-western extremity of the con- 

 tinent, which almost encroaches upon the African shore. 

 In the lofty and almost inaccessible fastnesses of this 

 mountain, the Barbary apes have lived, in perfect se- 

 curity, from time immemorial. What they subsist 

 upon we know not, except it may be upon the fleshy 

 roots of several species of asphodel, which constitutes 

 the principal, yet scanty clothing of these arid rocks, 

 which are only here and there relieved by a stunted 

 olive. Small companies of these apes are sometimes 

 seen perched up among the heights, or scrambhng like 

 goats from crag to crag ; yet so sagacious are they, 

 that we could not hear of a single instance where the 

 shooting parties, formed by the garrison officers, had ever 

 returned with an ape, alive or dead. It is said by M. 

 F. Cuvier, that the Magot (by which name the French 

 distinguish this species), when in a state of liberty, is 

 peculiarly active and intelligent ; that they assemble in 

 numerous troops, and openly attack their enemies. Their 

 most dangerous foes seem to be the middle-sized species 

 of vvild cats ; who possessing, like themselves, the 

 faculty of climbing, often surprise them in the silence 

 and obscurity of night. Like others of his family, the 

 Barbary ape lives, in a state of nature, on fruits, roots, 

 and leaves ; and even when in confinement, these are 

 his favourite aliments, but he is easily habituated to take 

 other nourishment. In losing his liberty, however, his 

 disposition undergoes a complete change : nor can this 

 be wondered at ; for what is more dear to all animals 



