32 
possession proves. Unfortunately the skins 
of these animals are likely to become in 
ereat demand owing to the fact that the 
Viceroy of India has sanctioned their use 
by the officers of a native regiment, so that 
it is quite possible that before long this 
beautiful creature will have to be reckoned 
among the great army of extinct mammals. 
0a 
THE Arabian or Sacred Baboon was known 
thousands of years B.C., and 
that it was worshipped, and 
even sculptured as represent- 
ing the god “Thort, Lord of Letters” him- 
self, ancient cee 
mummies 
and relics go 
to prove, and 
they all give 
him the sit- 
ting position 
shown in the 
photographs. 
Although this 
genus 1s con- 
sidered the 
lowest in 
capacity and 
intelligence, 
and an un- 
tractable, 
malicious, 
and ferocious annnal, we 
see them in very ancient 
bas-reliefs represented as 
gathering fruit on the 
high branches of trees, 
and handing it down to 
thei masters. The heavy 
mantle of fur on the 
shoulders of the large 
monkeys represented on 
the obelisks which Sir 
Henry Leyard brought 
from Nimroud are in- 
tended for the Arabian 
Baboon. In their natural 
state they go about in tribes numbering 
about 200, headed by an old male with a 
very prominent mantle, and he seems to 
do the scouting and warns the tribe of any 
approaching danger. 
In the 
Monkey House 
Animal Life 
I HAveE not observed anyone fail to laugh, 
on seeing the King Penguin 
for the first time, and the 
comical manners of ‘“ Kingie” 
when its keeper is about is a great source of 
pleasure to the visitors. Until a week or two 
ago ‘“Kingie” was the only King Penguin 
in the gardens, but thanks again to the Hon. 
Walter Rothschild, two more King and a 
thick-billed variety have been deposited. 
They arrived at Regents Park on April 18th, 
and were brought over from New Zealand 
where they had been temporally landed by a 
vessel that goes every three years to the 
Antarctic Seas, and gener- 
ally manages to capture 
one or two Penguins. As 
a remaining example of 
the flightless birds, the 
King Penguin is the largest 
of the family (Sphen- 
iscidae). The wings are 
useless for flight and their 
legs still more awkwardly 
adapted for walking, for 
nothing appears but two 
short legs, or as some may 
call them feet, that seem 
stuck into the rump, 
forming a very awkward 
support for the ani- 
mal. They always 
eive the impres- 
sion’ when sit- 
ting or walking, 
of a.performing 
dog that has 
been taught 
to walk on 
his hind legs, 
and draws the 
body in pro- 
eression from 
side to side. 
Companions 
for the 
King Penguin 
Like men 
they walk 
THE ARABIAN BABOON erect 5 and 
their fin-like wings hang down lke arms, 
giving them the appearance from a distance of 
so many children wearing white aprons. That 
ereat naturalist, the late Mr. G. Bennett, 
made special observation of the habits of the 
