1 8 THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 



"water," and from this and other tests I at last 

 determined that it meant "drink" in its broad 

 sense, and possibly "thirst." It evidently ex- 

 pressed his desire for something with which to 

 allay his thirst. The sound is very difficult to 

 imitate and quite impossible to write exactly. 



On one of my visits to the Chicago garden I 

 stood with my side to a cage containing a small 

 Capuchin, and gave the sound which I have trans- 

 lated " milk." It caused him to turn and look at 

 me, and on repeating the sound a few times he 

 answered me very distinctly with the same, pick- 

 ing up the pan from which he usually drank, and 

 as I repeated the word he brought the pan to 

 the front of the cage, set it down and came up to 

 the bars, and uttered the word distinctly. I had 

 not shown him any milk or any kind of food; 

 but the man in charge, at my request, brought 

 me some milk, which I gave to him. He drank 

 it with great delight; then looked at me and 

 held up his pan, repeating the sound. I am 

 quite sure that he used the same sound each 

 time that he wanted milk. During this same 

 visit, I tried many experiments with the word 

 which I am now convinced means " food" or 

 "hunger." And I was led to the belief that he 



