4 THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 



conduct of a number of monkeys occupying a 

 cage with a huge, savage mandril, which they 

 seemed very much to fear and dislike. By means 

 of a wall the cage was divided into two compart- 

 ments, through which was a small doorway, just 

 large enough to allow the occupants of the cage 

 to pass from one room to the other. The inner 

 compartment of the cage was used for their win- 

 ter quarters and sleeping-apartments ; the outer, 

 consisting simply of a well-constructed iron cage, 

 was intended for exercise and summer occupancy. 

 Every movement of this mandril seemed to be 

 closely watched by the monkeys that were in a 

 position to see him, and instantly reported to the 

 others in the adjoining compartment. I watched 

 them for hours, and felt assured that they had a 

 form of speech by means of which they com- 

 municated with each other. During the time I 

 remained, I discovered that a certain sound 

 would invariably cause them to act in a certain 

 way, and in the course of my visit I discovered 

 that I could myself tell by the sounds the mon- 

 keys would make just what the mandril was do- 

 ing — that is, I could tell whether he was asleep 

 or whether he was moving about in his cage. 

 Having interpreted one or two of these sounds, 



