THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 55 



graceful manner go through with the most 

 indescribable contortions. She would sway her 

 body from side to side, turn her head in the most 

 coquettish manner, and move her folded hands 

 dramatically, while her face would be adorned 

 with a simian grin of the first order, and the 

 soft, rich notes of her voice were perfectly mu- 

 sical. She would bend her body into every grace- 

 ful curve that can be imagined, move her feet 

 with the grace of the minuet, and continue her 

 fervent speech as long as the object of her ado- 

 ration appeared to be touched by her appeals. 

 Her voice would range from pitch to pitch and 

 from key to key, and with her arms folded she 

 would glide across the floor of her cage with 

 the grace of a ballet-girl ; and I have seen her 

 stand with her eyes fixed upon her keeper, and 

 hold her face in such a position as not to lose 

 sight of him for a moment, and at the same time 

 turn her body entirely around in her tracks with 

 such skill as no contortionist has ever attained. 

 During these orations I have observed the little 

 tears standing in the corners of her eyes, which 

 indicated that she herself must have felt what 

 her speech was intended to convey. These lit- 

 tle creatures do not shed tears in such abundance 



