Apes, Monkeys, and Lemurs 



15 



Photo by I. ikdland, F.Z.S.) {North Finchley. 



DIANA IIONKEY. 

 One of the most gaily coloured monkeys of Africa. 



The Baboons. 



Far the most interesting of the apes in 

 the wild state are the Baboons. Their dog- 

 like heads (which in some are so large and 

 hideous that they look like a cross between 

 an ill-tempered dog and a pig), short bodies, 

 enormously strong arms, and loud barking 

 cry distinguish them from all other creatures. 

 The greater number — for there are many 

 kinds — live in the hot, dry, stony parts of 

 Africa. They are familiar figures from the 

 cliffs of Abyssinia to the Cape, where their 

 bold and predatory bands still occupy Table 

 Mountain. They are almost the only animals 

 which the high-contracting Powers of Africa 

 have resolved not to protect at any season, 

 so mischievous are they to crops, and recently 

 to the flocks. They kill the suckling lambs, 

 and tear them to pieces for the sake of the 

 milk contained in their bodies. 



One of the best-known baboons is the 

 Chacma of South Africa. The old males grow 

 to a great size, and are most formidable 

 creatures. Naturally, they are very seldom 

 caught ; but one very large one is in the 

 Zoological Gardens, Eegent's Park, at the time 

 of writing. The keeper declares he w^ould 

 rather go into a lion's cage than into the den 

 of this beast when angry. Its head is nearly 

 one-third of its total length from nose to the 

 root of the tail. Its jaw-power is immense, 

 and its forearm looks as strong as Sandow's. 



told by ]\Ir. Bidcup : " The ajies of the 

 Eock, led by one particular monkey, were 

 always stealing from the kit of a certain 

 regiment encamped there. At last the 

 soldiers caught the leader, shaved his head 

 and face, and turned him loose. His friends, 

 who had been watching, received him with 

 a shower of sticks and stones. In these 

 desperate circumstances the ape sneaked 

 back to his old enemies, the soldiers, with 

 whom he remained." Lord Heathfield, a 

 former Governor of the Rock, would never let 

 them be hurt ; and on one occasion, when 

 the Spaniards were attempting a surprise, the 

 noise made by the apes gave notice of their 

 attempt. 



EARBARY APE. 



hist of the European monkeys ; on this side of tbt 

 it is only found on the Rock of Gihniltai 



[Atjerdeen. 



Mediterranean 



