THE P API ON. 67 



which were furnished with a safe home in or near their temples, liberally fed while living, and 

 honorably embalmed when dead. Many mummied f orms of these baboons have been found in the 

 temple caves of Egypt, swathed, and spiced, and adorned, just as if they had been human beings. 



Some authors say that the Thoth Baboon was an object of worship among the Egyptians, 

 but hardly with sufficient reason. Various animal forms were used as visible riving emblems 

 of the attributes of deity, and the qualities of the human intellect, but were no more objects 

 of idolatrous worship than the lion of England, or the eagle of America. 



The fur of the Papion is of a chestnut color ; in some parts fading into a sober fawn, and 

 in others warmed with a wash of ruddy bay. The paws are darker than the rest of the body. 

 When young, it is of a lighter hue, and deepens in color until it reaches its full age. In the 

 prime of existence its colors are the lightest, but as years begin to lay their burden on the 

 animal, the hairs begin to be flecked with a slight grizzle, and, in process of time, the snows 

 of age descend liberally, and whiten the wdiole fur with hoary hairs. 



The sense of smell is very largely developed in the baboons, their wide and roomy snouts 

 giving plenty of space for the olfactory nerve to spread its branches. Aided by this forma- 

 tion, they are enabled to distinguish between poisonous and wholesome food — much to the 

 advantage of their human neighbors, who profit by their intelligence, knowing that they may 

 safely eat any vegetable which a baboon will admit into its list of viands. What is good for 

 baboon is good for man, say they. 



As to the animal food in which these animals indulge, it might possibly be made use of 

 under the pressure of imminent starvation, but hardly under any circumstances less distressing. 

 It must require a very hungry man to eat a scorpion or a centipede, although ants and some 

 other insects are said to possess quite a delicate and almond-like flavor. 



As has already been mentioned, they are singular adepts at discovering the presence of 

 water, even though the priceless element should lie concealed under sand or stony ground. 

 In such a case of subterraneous springs, the baboons set regularly to w T ork, and, using their 

 hands in lieu of spades and mattocks, dig with wonderful celerity. While thus working, they 

 divide the task among themselves, and relieve each other at l'egular intervals. 



When the baboons move in parties, they employ an almost military mode of arranging 

 their numbers. In the advanced guard are the young males, who keep forward, well in front 

 of the main body, and run from side to side, for the purpose of reconnoitering the ground over 

 which they will have to pass. The females and their young occupy the centre, while the rear 

 is brought up by the old and experienced males. 



Thus, the more active and vigilant animals lead the way, the weakest are kept under pro- 

 tection, and the powerful elders have the whole of their charge constantly in view. In order 

 to insure the utmost precision in the line of march, several trusty animals are selected as 

 "whippers in," whose business it is to keep order, to drive stragglers back to their proper 

 position, to moderate the exuberant playfulness of the advanced guard, to keep a watchful 

 eye upon the weaker members of the community, and to maintain a correspondence with the 

 venerable chiefs in the rear. 



The number of individuals composing a troup is sometimes above one hundred, ten or 

 twelve being adult males, twenty or so, adult females, and the rest of the band composed of 

 the young of both sexes. 



The specimens of baboons that have been captured and domesticated, are generally taken 

 by a crafty stratagem. Jars of well-sweetened beer are placed near their haunts, and drugged 

 with some of those somniferous herbs which are so well known to the Orientals. 



The baboons, seeing the jars left apparently unwatched, come cautiously from their homes, 

 and assemble round the novel articles with much grin and chatter. They first dip in a cautious 

 finger, and taste suspiciously. Misgiving gives place to confidence, and they partake freely 

 of the sweet treachery. The soporific liquid soon manifests its power, and the baboons fall 

 easy victims to their captors. 



The two animals with which this history of baboons is closed, are removed from the pre- 

 ceding species, on account of various points in their conformation, and are placed in a separate 

 genus, under the name of Papio. 



