4 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



lowing interesting account of an individual which was 

 long a favourite at the Paris menagerie: — Upon his 

 first arrival he was extremely young ; and his gentle- 

 ness, and total want of malice and petulance, insured 

 him the free range of the apartment. Age did not 

 alter his excellent disposition ; and, as he increased in 

 size and strength, his address and agility became un- 

 paralleled. Yet all his motions were gentle, and his 

 actions circumspect : he was persevering in his wants 

 and wishes, but never violent in the attempt to enforce 

 them. When, after considerable solicitation, his requests 

 were still refused, he would go oflP in a gambol, and find 

 entertainment in some new object. He had no idea of 

 property, but took every thing that pleased him, even 

 such articles as had previously caused his punishment ; 

 and he executed his thefts with dexterity and silence. 

 He would open locks wherein the key had been left, 

 untie knots, open the links of a chain, and search pockets 

 with so much address that you did not feel his hand 

 there, although conscious he was in the act of thieving. 

 The examination, indeed, of pockets was his favourite 

 occupation ; doubtless from expecting to find articles of 

 food. He was not very conspicuous for affection ; but 

 w^hen tranquil, and not engaged, he received caresses with 

 pleasure. When tempted to play, he signified his assent 

 by many graceful motions : he would throw himself into 

 all possible attitudes, bite gently, press himself against 

 the person, and accompany all these little gambols with 

 a soft and gentle cry, which appeared to be his ex- 

 pression of joy. He never made grimaces ; but, on the 

 contrary, his countenance was always calm, and fre- 

 quently serious. 



But monkeys, like other animals, vary in their temper; 

 and a specimen of the Mona, kept at the Zoological 

 Gardens, "occasionally exhibits a temper as capricious 

 and as savage as is possessed by almost any of the tribe." 



The colouring of the Mona is particularly beautiful. 

 The hair is of a brilliant golden green ; while the back 

 and sides are of a rich marroun, variegated with black : 



