162 APES AND MONKEYS 



to it — sometimes almost in contact. He would quietly 

 gaze at the image and then reach his hand around the 

 glass to feel for it. Xot rinding it, he would peep around 

 the side of the glass and then look into it again. He 

 would take hold of it and turn it around, lay it on the 

 ground, look at the image again, and put his hand under 

 the edge of the glass. The look of inquiry in that quaint 

 face was so striking as to make one pity him. But he was 

 hard to discourage. He resumed the search whenever he 

 had the mirror. 



Elisheba never worried herself much about it. When 

 she saw the image in the glass she seemed to recognize it 

 as one of her kind ; but when it vanished she let it go 

 without trying to find it. In fact, she often turned away 

 from it as though she did not admire it. She rarely ever 

 took hold of the glass, and she never felt behind it for the 

 other ape. 



Altogether Elisheba was an odd specimen of her tribe 

 — eccentric and whimsical beyond anything I have ever 

 known anions: animals ; vet, with all her freaks, Aaron 

 was fond of her and she afforded him company ; but he 

 was extremely jealous of her, and permitted no stranger 

 to take any liberties with her with impunity. He did not 

 object to their doing so with him. He rarely took offense 

 at any degree of familiarity, for he would make friends with 

 an\- one who was gentle with him ; but he could not tol- 

 erate their attentions to her. She betrayed no sign of 

 affection for him except when some one annoyed or vexed 

 him ; but in that event she never failed to take his part 

 against all odds. At such times she became frantic with 



