630 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE, 



well known, monkeys have an intolerable dread of snakes, and these were terri- 

 fied beyond measure. They fled at once to the highest point of the cage, utter- 

 ing their expressive cry of fear, and there they remained for hours, refusing to- 

 come down even at sight of their accustomed dish of food, and when at last they 

 did so, it was with the greatest caution ; a slight movement in the straw covering 

 the floor, was enough to cause a panic, and it was some hours before they fully 

 recovered equihbrium. Finally, when both were sitting quietly near the glass 

 front, the snake was suddenly shown to them on the outside, but there, the ob- 

 ject which had caused such terror in the same room, was powerless ; the glass 

 which they themselves could not pass, was a barrier as well to their enemy, and 

 they simply sat still, pointing at it with their fingers and uttering the hoo-hoo 

 which expressed doubt, dislike and disgust. It was suspected that they had only 

 become accustomed to the sight, and to complete the experiment the snake was 

 again thrown in through the back door, when the terror of the two animals was 

 as great as on the previous occasion. 



It was quite clear that they possessed a limited means of vocal communica- 

 tion. Sounds, to the number of three or four, were uttered by one, which met 

 with a different response from the other, either by voice or action, and in which 

 it was quite possible for the human ear to detect a difference. 



The imitative habits common to the whole tribe of monkeys were strongly 

 marked in them, and made it relatively easy to teach them to use a spoon or 

 drink out of a cup, and to perform various small tricks. In cleaning the glass in 

 front of the cage with paper, the keeper generally threw two pieces on the floor 

 beside him, when each chimpanzee would take one of them and set to work pol- 

 ishing the glass in like manner, deriving, apparently, great satisfaction from the 

 performance. The delicacy of their taste became developed to an extraordinary 

 degree by the varied diet afforded them ; both were fond of the taste of sherry, 

 which was always put in their tapioca and corn-starch, but when brandy, whisky 

 and rum were substituted, they stuck out their under lip in disgust and refused 

 to eat it. 



For music they had no ear whatever ; the notes of an accordeon and violin 

 produced in them only distrust of the instrument, and when these were put into 

 their hands, their insatiable curiosity prompted only efforts to find out what was 

 inside. 



For many months Adam and Eve were the pets of the "Zoo"; few days 

 there were when they were not surrounded by a crowd of interested spectators, 

 some of whom, to a critical eye, were fully as amusing as the animals they came 

 to see. 



It is learned from African travelers that the native tribes inhabiting the range 

 of the gorilla and chimpanzee believe them to be human beings who have degener- 

 ated from their original state, and that out of pure laziness they refuse to speak, 

 in the fear that if their possession of the faculty should become known, they will be 

 set to work in the fields; indeed, the native name of the chimpanzee, Enge-e-cOy 

 means " hold your tongue," and evidently originated in this belief. It frequent- 



