THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 45 



also called the attention of the keeper to this act, 

 and he assured me that he had repeatedly wit- 

 nessed the same. What the subject of his speech 

 was or the cause which brought it about I am 

 not able to say, nor can I say with certainty to 

 what extent he explained; but that it was an 

 apology or explanation of some kind, at least, I 

 have not the slightest doubt. I do not believe, 

 of course, that his speech contained any details 

 concerning the offence ; but that it expressed re- 

 gret, penitence, or submission does not, to my 

 mind, admit of a doubt. I have seen a few other 

 cases somewhat similar to this, but none of them 

 comparing, in point of polish and pathos, to that 

 of Nemo in his unique little speech. 



Nigger was of this same species; he was in 

 poor health most of the winter, being afflicted 

 with some spinal trouble; but notwithstanding 

 his affliction, he was a good talker. His infirm- 

 ity, however, placed him at the mercy of the 

 other inmates of the cage, and as monkeys are 

 naturally cruel and entirely destitute of sym- 

 pathy, the daily life of Nigger could not be ex- 

 pected to be a very happy one. Owing to this 

 state of facts Nigger usually kept to himself and 

 was not intimate with any other monkey in the 



