604 MAMMALIA. 



trees. If there is a young one, it goes with the mother. These 

 retreats are only built for a very temj^orary residence, and are not 

 used for more than eight or ten daj^s, and for the following reason. 

 When the Nshiego has ravaged a certain extent of country 

 around its habitation, it betakes itself to another quarter, where it 

 jirepares a new residence. 



This species is distinguished from the ordinary Chimpanzee 

 {Troglodytes nlger) by the absence of hair on the head; this is 

 why M. du Chaillu has proposed to name it the Bald Chimpanzee 

 [Troglodytes calnis). 



In one of his excursions, M. du Chaillu killed a female Nshiego 

 carrying her young one in her arms, which he took to his resi- 

 dence. In a few days it was so completely tamed that he could 

 allow it to wander at liberty without fear of it running away. He 

 could not move a step without being followed by the youngster ; 

 neither could he sit down without having' the animal climbins' 

 on his knees, or hiding its head in his bosom. The poor little 

 thing found extreme pleasui-e in being caressed and nursed. 



Tommy — this was its name — was not long before it contracted 

 a very bad habit : it became a thief. It watched for the moment 

 when the inhabitants left their cabins, and then it would steal 

 their fish or bananas. It made no exception even in favour of its 

 master, although its unfortunate passion had on several occasions 

 subjected it to severe corrections. 



Having remarked that the most suitable time for stealing 

 was the morning, it glided softly into its master's room, went up 

 to his bed to assure itself that his eyes were closed, and when it 

 had satisfied itself with this examination, hastened to carry off 

 some bananas. If, on the contrary, the sleeper moved in his bed, 

 the Monkey disappeared like a flash of lightning, and came in 

 again a few minutes afterwards to go through the same 

 manoeuvres. 



" If I opened my eyes," adds M. du Chaillu, " while it was in 

 the act of committing theft, it all at once assumed an honest 

 air and came to caress me ; but I could readily detect it dartino- 

 furtive glances towards the bananas. 



" My cabin had no door, but was closed by a mat. Nothino- 

 could be more comical than to see Tommy quietly raisin "■ a corner 

 of this mat to see if I was asleep. Sometimes I feio-ued to be 



