128 WILD ANIMAL CELEBRITIES 



and over again when these things seem to 

 amuse or interest the onlookers. 



The keepers gave Polly an old brick to play 

 with, and it seemed to be a great pleasure to 

 carry this brick with much difficulty to a lit- 

 tle ledge high up at the back of her cage and 

 keep it there. Dohong usee to watch his op- 

 portunity and bring it down again, and in 

 this way they spent a great part of their time. 

 One day last summer, when a number of boys 

 were watching these big apes, Polly found her 

 brick at the bottom of the cage and with many 

 slips and struggles carried it half-way up 

 to the ledge. Then, while she twisted her 

 body to gain a footing the brick in some way 

 fell down, at which all the little boys laughed. 



Polly's keen eyes were on them in a mo- 

 ment. She considered a minute or two, 

 looked at the boys, and then picking the 

 brick up, took it half-way up and deliberately 

 dropped it again and, when the little boys 

 laughed again, she repeated this no less than 

 four or five times, evidently in some way 

 realizing that it was through her they laughed. 



