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THE MONA MONKEY. 39 
state of nature we know but little. Buffon imdeed 
refers to the account given by Ludolf in his History of 
Ethiopia of the Monkeys of that country as in all 
probability applicable to the present species; but it 
will be seen by a reference to the plate of the latter 
author that the animals there figured are in reality a 
species of Baboon. There is reason, however, to believe 
that the learned historian was not too scrupulous in 
respect to his figures of the animals of the country 
which he undertook to illustrate, as the very next plate 
in his work represents, as a native of Abyssinia, a 
species of Jacchus, a group strictly confined to the 
New World. It is therefore possible that these may 
be the Monkeys to which the text refers; and the 
account is altogether so curious that we cannot resist 
the temptation of transcribing it entire from the English 
translation of that singular work, published in 1684. 
“ Of Apes,” he says, “ there are infinite flocks up 
and down in the mountains, a thousand and more 
together: there they leave no stone unturn’d. If they 
meet with one that two or three cannot lift, they call 
for more aid, and all for the sake of the Worms that 
lye under; a sort of dyet which they relish exceedingly. 
They are very greedy after Emmets. So that having 
found an Emmet-hill, they presently surround it, and 
laying their fore-paws with the hollow downward upon 
the ant-heap, as fast as the Emmets creep into their 
treacherous palmes, they lick ’em off with great Com- 
fort to their Stomachs: and there they will lie till there 
is not an Emmet left. They are also pernicious to fruit 
and apples, and will destroy whole fields and gardens, 
unless they be carefully look’d after. For they are 
very cunning, and will never venture in till the return 
of their spies, which they send always before; who 
giving information that all things are safe, in they rush 
