20 APES AND MONKEYS 



a vanishing "v." The sound is used with reference to 

 drink in much the same way as the other sound is used 

 with reference to food. 



So far I have not found any trace of the vowels "a," 

 "e," "i," or "o," sounded long, but in one sound of alarm 

 emitted under stress of great fear or in case of assault, the 

 vowel element resembles short "i." This sound is uttered 

 in a pitch about two octaves above a human female voice. 



All of the sounds made by monkeys and, so far as I 

 have observed, by other animals, refer to their natural 

 physical wants. They are not capable of expressing intri- 

 cate or abstract thoughts, for the animal himself has no 

 such thoughts. Their simple modes of life do not require 

 complex thoughts. 



A striking point of resemblance between human speech 

 and that of the simian is found in a word that "Nellie" 

 (one of my pets) used in warning me of the approach of 

 danger. It is not that sound elsewhere described as the 

 alarm sound used in case of imminent danger. This sound 

 is used in case of remote danger or in announcing some- 

 thing unusual. As nearly as can be represented by letters 

 it resembles "e-c-g-k." With this word I have often been 

 warned by these little friends. Nellie's cage occupied a 

 place near my desk. At night she would always stay 

 awake as long as the light was kept burning. Having 

 always kept late hours myself, I did not violate the rule of 

 my life in order to give her a good night's rest. About 

 two o'clock one morning, when about to retire, I found 

 Nellie wide awake. I drew a chair near her cage and sat 

 watching her pranks. She tried to entertain me with bells 



