82 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



securing the choicest morsels both with hands and feet, 

 and then feeding with her mouth in the dish, using her 

 lips in the manner of the horse, and evincing the greatest 

 fear lest any portion should be taken from her; while the 

 Chimpanzee sat perfectly upright, taking small portions 

 gracefully between his thumb and forefinger, in the most 

 placid and gentle manner; nor was his rage ever excited 

 except by refusing him a part of an orange, of which he 

 might have caught a glimpse, or that he knew (which he 

 evidently did by the smell) was contained in your pocket. 

 Neither of these animals ever secured portions of food in 

 the cheek or pouch; nor did they appear to smell their 

 food before eating, as most of the monkeys do, except it 

 was some uncommon substance which they had not been 

 accustomed to eat. Both were in the habit of using a 

 glass in drinking, but they were never known to throw it 

 down; they invariably either gave it back, or set it down 

 in the most careful manner. The Chimpanzee, in parti- 

 cular, was attracted by the brilliancy of colours, always 

 getting up on the approach of any female whose dress was 

 distinguished by the gaiety of its hues. 



He likewise evinced great joy in being placed at a win- 

 dow, and would utter a scream of delight at the passing of 

 horses and carriages; but nothing could exceed his rage 

 when placed in a confined cage. He would then stand 

 erect, crying, and shaking the bars with all his strength, 

 until he obtained his release, when he would immediately 

 fly to the arms of his liberator; and, such was his love of 

 the society of those he knew, that the temptation of the 

 choicest fruits would not entice him to remain in the room 

 alone ; for, if at liberty he would run towards the door, 

 and try to get out first, or would embrace your knees, and 

 cry in the most piteous manner to be taken with you. 

 During the whole time they were together, I never knew 

 them attempt the least gambol or amusement of any kind, 

 either together or individually; nor did they take any no- 

 tice of other animals, as cats, monkeys, squirrels, &c, 

 that were placed with them ; but would sit for hours with 

 the utmost gravity, as if absorbed in the most intense 

 thought. At other times the male would examine your 

 person, pockets, and hands, with the most minute atten- 

 tion. Confinement seemed to be the most dreaded punish- 

 ment; and, when threatened with that, he would cling to 

 any one present for protection; and, at night, actual force 

 was required to confine him to his bed, the female gene- 

 rally retiring of her own accord many hours before him. 

 When called to by name, (Buck,) he generally answered 

 with a short cry, putting out his hands to be taken up. 



The instinct of providing and placing warm materials 

 for her bed was the most marked in the female, who 

 would be engaged for two hours at a time in dragging 



blankets from various parts of the room, smoothing and 

 changing their position, and beating any raised part down 

 with her knuckles; assuming at the same time a look of 

 gravit}' and an appearance of wisdom. This capacity of 

 providing and preparing a nightly lodging, seemed to be 

 almost extinct in the Chimpanzee, possibly from his so- 

 ciality and confidence in man, as he took no care in this 

 particular; but if no place were provided for him, and, 

 even when provided, if he did not like it, he would climb 

 into the bed of his keeper. The timidity of both animals 

 was remarkable, they being exceedingly alarmed even at 

 inanimate objects; a toy-dog, or a cast of one of their own 

 species, that was in the room, if removed the least towards 

 them, was sufficient to drive them to the farthest extremity 

 of the apartment, in their most nimble, though not very 

 quick pace; and the fear exhibited by the female, at the 

 sight of her deadly enemy, a boa constrictor, was most 

 acutely evinced. It would appear as if they had not the 

 power of distinguishing between the real and artificial, as 

 a toy-snake shown to her produced the same results. 



The hearing of both animals was remarkably acute, 

 catching the most indistinct noise at a considerable dis- 

 tance; and their knowledge of sounds was accurately 

 shown; as, on hearing the footsteps, on the stairs, of per- 

 sons with whom they were acquainted, they ran towards 

 the door before it was opened. 



They were in the daily habit of riding in a coach, and 

 on being seated, before the vehicle moved, they would se- 

 cure themselves by getting a firm grasp of the hold-straps 

 attached to the side of the coach. 



It would seem that they had some knowledge of time; 

 for, as the hour aptproached at which they were removed 

 to their nightly residence, they would of their own accord 

 get the blankets, and enfold themselves, in readiness to 

 depart; and if their removal were protracted beyond the 

 usual time, it required force to prevent them from going 

 to the door. The Chimpanzee having caught a cold, 

 which ultimately caused his death, he had a violent cough, 

 that in sound was remarkably human; and as, when a fit 

 of coughing came on, he was usually given some sweet- 

 meat or cordial to stop it, he soon adopted the cough as a 

 mode of obtaining those additional luxuries. 



Nothing more evinced the impression which the ap- 

 pearance of the two animals made upon the persons who 

 saw them, than the exclamation that usually followed the 

 first sight of them. The universal cry on seeing the 

 Chimpanzee, was, "What a nice little fellow!" or, 

 "What a little darling!" while his less favoured partner, 

 although of the softer sex, was generally saluted with, 

 "What a disgusting beast!" &c. During his illness, his 

 pitiable looks and evident sufferings, with his placidity and 



