120 THE SPEECH OE MONKEYS. 



arms in search of the other monkey. It is sur- 

 prising to see how she will adjust her reach as 

 you change positions with the glass. Of course, 

 as you remove the mirror from her the image is 

 removed accordingly, and she extends or con- 

 tracts her reach to suit that distance. 



This is not, however, an evidence of her math- 

 ematical skill, since to her mind the image is 

 doubtless a real thing, and she is governed by 

 the same instinct or judgment in reaching for 

 it as she would be if it were real. More than 

 any other, the spider-monkey seems to admire 

 herself in the glass; notwithstanding she is 

 about the homeliest of all the simian tribes, yet 

 she will sit for hours in almost perfect silence 

 and gaze upon her image. 



