Quadrupeds. 



7987 



It appears that they are of the species commonly called the 

 Barbary Ape or Magot (Macacus Inuus), which though universally 

 so called, is not, I believe, in reality a true ape, for it has something 

 more than the rudiments of a tail, every vestige of which the true 

 Simians entirely want. From time immemorial these monkeys have 

 had a footing on the rock, and must have had their origin on the 

 opposite coast of Morocco, for they do not exist in a wild state in any 

 other part of Europe; but at what period they came over the sea is 

 not so easy to determine, neither is it very apparent how they came, 

 unless we accept the somewhat romantic Moorish tradition, that they 

 pass backwards and forwards to the coast of Morocco by a subter- 

 ranean passage under the Straits ! ! but be that as it may, there they 

 undeniably are. though sadly reduced in number, for a little band of 

 four only has for some years constituted their whole force. They are 

 seldom seen, unless when the wind changes, but being delicate, and 

 very susceptible of any sudden rise or fall of temperature, the shifting 

 of the wind from E. to W., or vice versa, is sure to put them on the 

 move, when they may generally be seen changing their quarters to the 

 leeward side of the rock. They are very active, and prefer the higher 

 and steeper precipices for their abode, where they live in undisturbed 

 possession of the many caves and hollows in the loose rocks which 

 compose the summit. That they have no difficulty in finding a suffi- 

 ciency of food on the rock is manifest from their apparently good 

 condition. There are many plants growing luxuriously among the 

 loose stones, whose leaves and fruits they eat, more especially the 

 sweet roots of the palmito, or dwarf palm, which is very abundant 

 there, but they vary this diet with coleopterous and other insect food, 

 which is always abundant in southern latitudes ; and they are also 

 said, I know not with what tiuth, to descend at times and rob the 

 gardens of the town below, when darkness favours such marauding- 

 forays, and ripe fruit presents temptation enough to overcome their 

 natural love of retirement. They are generally supposed to be ex- 

 tremely shy, and to scamper away on the least alarm; but my informant 

 denied this, and, in proof of his assertion, pointed out some rocks 

 where he had seen them sitting that morning and staring at him, by 

 no means disconcerted at the British uniform or the gaze of the ser- 

 geant, while they remained for a considerable time within twenty-five or 

 thirty yards below the parapet of the flagstaff on which he was leaning, 

 and only moved away leisurely at last. At the same time the fact of 

 their being so seldom seen, unless during their migrations to the 

 opposite side of the rock, seems to indicate a very retiring, unfamiliar 



