48 The speech of monkeys. 



In this cage, containing five brown Capuchin 

 monkeys, it was not difficult to see that Mickie 

 ran things to suit himself. McGinty was the 

 only one of the four in the cage with him that 

 ever contested any right with Mickie, and for a 

 long time it was a question in my mind who was 

 to win in the end. The next to him in authority 

 was Dodo, who never attempted to control Mickie 

 or McGinty, but always made Nemo and Nigger 

 stand about. Fourth in line of authority was 

 Nemo, who always resented any offence from 

 others by making Nigger take a corner; and the 

 only victims that Nigger had were the little 

 white-faces, which never fight anything and are 

 always on the run. When it was finally decided 

 between Mickie and McGinty that Mickie should 

 be captain, McGinty readily accepted the place 

 of first lieutenant, which rank he has continued 

 to hold without challenge. When once the 

 question is settled among a cage of simians, the 

 debate does not appear to be renewed at any 

 future time. They never go to court with their 

 grievances, and rarely appeal a second time to 

 force when the question has once been decided 

 against them. Some human beings might profit 

 by studying this trait of monkeys. 



