THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 19 



used the same word for apple, carrot, bread, and 

 banana ; but a few later experiments have led me 

 to modify this view in a measure, since the pho- 

 nograph shows me slight variations of the sound, 

 and I now think it probable that these faint in- 

 flections may possibly indicate a difference in the 

 kinds of food he has in mind. However, they 

 usually recognize this sound, even when poorly 

 imitated. I am impressed with the firm belief 

 that in this word I have found the clew to the 

 great secret of speech ; and while I have taken 

 only one short step in the direction of its solution, 

 I have pointed out the way which leads to it. 



In the fall of 1891 I visited New York for the 

 purpose of experimenting with the monkeys in 

 Central Park. Early one morning I repaired to 

 the monkey-house, and for the first time ap- 

 proached a cage containing five brown Capuchins, 

 whom I saluted with the word which I have 

 translated "food," and which seems to be an 

 "open-sesame" to the hearts of all monkeys of 

 this species. On delivering this word one of 

 them responded promptly and came to the front 

 of the cage. I repeated it two or three times 

 and the remaining four came to the front, and as 

 I thrust my fingers through the bars of the cage 



