42 



THE APES AND MONKEYS. 



Like Aristotle, we call the Baboons Dog-headed 

 Monkeys, for the shape of their heads resembles that 

 of a rude, fierce Dog more than it does that of Man. 

 In reality the resemblance between the two animals 

 is but a superficial and unsatisfactory one, the head 

 of a Baboon being as much a caricature of a Dog's 

 head as the head of a Gorilla is a caricature of a 

 Man's. But in comparison with the other Monkeys 

 his snout is peculiar, and, therefore, we may safely 

 leave the designation which old Aristotle gave to 

 these animals. 



Physical The Dog-headed Monkeys are the 

 Characteristics largest in size, after the Man-shaped 



of Baboons. Apes. The body is of a strong, bulky 

 make and the muscular power is enormous. The 

 thick head is provided with a large, long muzzle 

 abruptly cut off at its end, often swollen or furrowed, 

 and endowed with a prominent, blunt nose ; the 

 teeth resemble those of a beast of prey on account 

 of the formidable ca- 

 nines, which on their 

 inner side are fur- 

 nished with sharp 

 edges. The lips are 

 very mobile, the ears 

 small, the eyes lie 

 deep in their sockets 

 and their expression 

 fully reflects the 

 Monkey's character 

 in its true light ; it is 

 cunning and brutal 

 to the extreme. The 

 limbs are short and 

 stout, the fore-paws 

 having five toes ; the 

 tail may be long or 

 short, smooth-coated 

 or provided with a 

 tuft; the cheek- 

 pouches are large, the 

 callosities are hid- 

 eous and of an enor- 

 mous size, and of a 

 very vivid color. The 

 long hair is some- 

 times developed into 

 a mane and is gener- 

 ally of an undefined 

 earthy or rocky color: 

 gray, gray-green, yel- 

 low or brownish-green. 



Homes and The Baboons are found widely spread 



Habits of about in Africa, Arabia and India. Dif- 

 Baboons. ferent countries possess their individual 

 species, but they may be common to several tracts 

 of country. 



The Baboons are, in the main, mountain Monkeys, 

 but undoubtedly several kinds also live in forests 

 and are better tree-climbers than one might suppose, 

 seeing them in a country devoid of trees. In the 

 mountains they go as high as 9,000 to 13,000 feet 

 above the sea-level, sometimes reaching the snow- 

 region ; but they seem to give the preference to 

 countries having an elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. 

 The oldest travelers assure us that mountainous 

 regions are their true home. 



The food of the Baboons consists principally of 

 onions, tubers, grass, fruit, eggs and insects of all 

 kinds. But we may safely assume that these strong 

 and agile fellows are not satisfied with small fry. 



CHACMA BABOON. Is very large, being about the size of an English Mastiff, and 



is possessed of great strength. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where its ferocity 

 brings terror to the Dogs, whom it does not hesitate to attack and frequently kill. It lives 

 in hilly places, and when not engaged in making forays upon a neighboring field, passes 

 much of its time sleeping in its hiding-place in the rocks. (Cynocefhalus porcarius.) 



and in their greed of animal food also attack larger 

 animals. According to Fisher, the Baboons in east 

 Africa not only steal chickens, but kill the small 

 Antelopes and even the larger Bosch-boks. In 

 plantations, and especially vmeyards. Baboons cause 

 the greatest.damage ; they are even said to under- 

 take their raids in an orderly, deliberate, and nearly 



military manner. • 



More than any other Monkeys, Baboons show, 

 by their gait, that they are reaMy quadrupeds. 

 The whole frame is adapted for progression on all 

 fours. They resemble awkward Dogs in their gait, 

 and even when they do stand erect they like to lean 

 on one haiia. When not hurried their walk is slow 

 and lumbering ; as soon as they are pursued, they 

 fall into a singular sort of gallop, which includes 

 the most peculiar movements of the body. Their 

 walk is distinguished by a certain bold swagger, 

 that has to be seen to be appreciated. 



Moral Their moral 

 Traits of traits do not 

 Baboons, contradict 

 their exterior in the 

 least. We will begin 

 a description of them 

 in Scheitlin's words : 

 "The Baboons are all 

 more or less bad fel- 

 lows, always savage, 

 fierce, impudent and 

 malicious; the muz- 

 zle is a coarse imita- 

 tion of a Dog's, the 

 face a distortion of 

 a Dog's face. The 

 look is cunning, the 

 mind wicked. They 

 are more open to in- 

 struction than the 

 smaller Monkeys and 

 have more common 

 sense. Their imita- 

 tive nature seems 

 such, that they barely 

 escape being human. 

 They easily perceive 

 traps and dangers, 

 and defend them- 

 selves with courage 

 and bravery. As bad 

 as they may be, they 

 still are capable of being tamed in youth ; but when 

 they become old, their gentle nature disappears, 

 and they become disobedient ; they grin, scratch 

 and bite. Education does not go deep enough with 

 them. It is said that in the wild state they are more 

 clever ; while in captivity they are gentler. Their 

 family name is 'Dog-headed Monkeys ; if they only 

 had the Dog's soul along with his head ! " 



One cannot contradict Scheitlin ; the picture he 

 draws is correct. The mind of the Baboon seems 

 to be the Monkey mind in its highest development, 

 but more in the bad than the good sense. We caji- • 

 not deny that they have a few excellent qualities ; 

 they are very fond of each other and their children ; 

 they also become attached to their keeper and make 

 themselves useful to him. But these good qualities 

 are in no way sufficient to counterbalance their bad 

 habits and passions. Cunning and malice are com- 

 mon traits of all Baboons, and a blind rage is their 

 chief characteristic. Their anger is as easily aroused 



