The Chimpanzees at the Ci?icinnati Zoological Garden. i8r 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHIMPANZEES {^TROGLO- 

 DYTES NIGER) AT THE CINCINNATI 

 ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. 



By Charles Dury. 



July 12, 1889, the Garden receiYed, by purchase, a pair 

 (male and female) of these interesting animals. They were 

 not related to each other and were nearly of the same 

 age, then about two and a half years old. Being born of 

 " poor but honest parents," their education up to this time 

 had been considerably neglected. By reason of family like- 

 ness, it was suspected that they belonged to the illustrious 

 family of " Rooney," and by this name they have been always 

 known. To teach them good manners, and educate them in 

 the many human-like actions with which they haYe since 

 entertained and amused the thousands of visitors who have 

 seen them, was the first task of their keepers. Chief of these 

 was to make them eat properly with knife and fork. It took 

 about three months of unceasing work to accomplish this. 

 At first the keepers held their fingers closed on the knife and 

 fork, and all food had to be taken in that way. There was 

 always a disposition to drop the knife and fork and return to 

 primitive methods, cramming in the food with the fingers, 

 like children when learning to eat at table. By constant, 

 patient teaching on the part of the keepers, the use of the 

 knife and fork was acquired. To teach them to drink from a 

 cup, without spilling the liquid was equally difficult. Their 

 favorite drink was sweetened black tea, with an egg beaten 

 into it. They never drank water, always being suspicious 

 that it contained medicine. For breakfast, they took one-half 

 pint each of milk, with soda crackers and bananas. Their 

 dinner consisted of boiled rice (one pint to each) and tea. A 

 nicely roasted pigeon was given to the male ; he smelled it 

 and tasted it, but afterward used it for a foot-ball. They 

 never could be induced to eat meat. When honey was spread 



