22 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



Howler monkeys are social in their habits, and sometimes 

 congregate together in enormous numbers. Humboldt, the great 

 traveller, estimated that on one occasion at least two thousand had 

 assembled within the space of a square league. Their nocturnal 

 concerts are generally led by a single animal, the rest joining in 

 chorus. 



Spider monkeys are sometimes captured alive in a rather 

 singular manner. A large nut is hollowed out through a narrow 

 orifice, partly filled with sugar, and laid upon the ground near the 

 trees which the howlers are known to frequent. Before very long 

 a monkey notices the nut, and, with the usual curiosity of his race, 

 comes down from the trees to examine it. A moment later he has 

 discovered the nature of the contents, thrust his paw through the 

 opening, and grasped a large handful of the sugar. 



As soon as he clenches his paw, however, he finds that he can 

 no longer withdraw it. In vain he pulls and twists the nut about, 

 and beats it upon the ground in the hope of breaking it. The 

 hunters, who have been keeping watch from a place of concealment 

 close by, now rush out; the monkey, not having sense to let go 

 the sugar, vainly endeavours to reach the nearest tree, with his 

 paw still imprisoned within the nut. And in a minute or two the 

 chase is over, and the captive, bound and helpless, repents of his 

 foolishness too late. 



BABOONS 



In the preceding chapters we have read about two families of 

 the primates, namely, Apes and Monkeys, the members of which 

 are all very agile in trees, but extremely awkward and ungainly 

 upon level ground. Now we come to a third group of these 

 animals, which are excellent climbers, but are very active upon 

 the ground as well. 



These are the Baboons, of which about twelve different kinds 

 are l^cnown, almost all being natives of Africa. We may distinguish 

 them at a glance from all other monkeys, both by their dog-like 



