146 APES AND MONKEYS 



I do not wish to appear sentimental by offering a rebuke 



to those who indulge in the sport of hunting ; but much 

 cruelty could be obviated without losing any of the pleas- 

 ure of the hunt. I have always made it a rule to spare 

 the mother with her young. Whether or not animals feel 

 the same degree of mental and physical pain as man, they 

 do, in these tragic moments, evince for one another a cer- 

 tain amount of concern. This imparts a tinge of sympathy 

 that must appeal to any one who is not devoid of every 

 sense of mercy. It is true that it is often difficult — and 

 sometimes impossible — to secure the young by other 

 means ; but the manner of getting them often mars the 

 pleasure of having them ; and while Aaron was to me a 

 charming pet and a valuable subject for study, I confess the 

 story of his capture always touched me in a tender spot. 



I mav here mention that the few chimpanzees that reach 

 the civilized parts of the world are but a small percentage 

 of the great number that are captured. Some die on their 

 way to the coast, others die after reaching it, and scores of 

 them die on board the ships to which the}- have been con- 

 signed for various ports of Europe and other countries. 

 Death results not often from neglect or cruelty, but usually 

 from a change of food, climate, or condition ; yet the crea- 

 ture suffers just the same whether the cause is from design 

 or accident. One fruitful source of death among them is 

 pulmonary trouble of various types. 



One look at the portrait of Aaron will impress any one 

 with the high mental qualities of this little captive ; but to 

 see and study them in life would convince a heretic of his 

 superior character. In even- look and gesture there was a 



