4 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



He had, moreover, ideas of his own ; when given a note-book and 

 a pencil, he would scribble on one page after another just as a child 

 does, and he would steal any key he could get hold of and try to 

 unlock the padlock of his chain with it. Another original idea of his 

 was to get hold of a whip or a strap, and therewith thrash another 

 Chimpanzee, Pat, of his own size, who, being spiteful, was always 

 tied up. Peter tyrannised over Pat very much, tried to shut him in 

 his box, and always kept him under whenever possible ; yet on occasion 

 he would side with him. 



Peter had previously been in a private owner's house for some 

 months before he came into Mr. Hamlyn's possession • but a previous 

 specimen Mr. Hamlyn had, Pansy, was trained on his premises 

 throughout, and was as civilised in his behaviour as Peter, though 

 not so widely accomplished. He met his death by taking a fatal chill, 

 owing to a practice he had of taking a sponge and washing the stairs 

 — a proceeding in which, needless to say, he received no encouragement. 



From instances like these, and other similar ones which have been 

 recorded, it would seem that Chimpanzees when young could be well 

 dealt with in much the same way as children, though their capricious 

 disposition, and strength and ferocity when roused, always make re- 

 straint desirable, and it would, be absolutely necessary when the animals 

 became fully adult. 



