7088 



Quadrupeds. 



disposition, while the fact of their not being hunted, but, on the con- 

 trary, strictly preserved from the slightest molestation, would in time 

 give a certain degree of boldness to the most timorous animals; so 

 that, though they have learned confidence from protection, they are 

 undoubtedly by nature extremely timid. From what date such pro- 

 tection has been afforded them my informant could not say, though 

 he had understood they had always been strictly preserved during 

 British occupation of the rock ; but from the year 1855 the quarter- 

 master has not only ttken them under his special care, but has also 

 instituted a systematic registering of their appearance and numbers, 

 and, with this object in view, has provided the signal master with a 

 book, which he showed me, wherein might be seen very carefully 

 entered the details of the dates of their appearance, and their numbers 

 during the last six years. From a careful examination of this very 

 interesting register I found that they were seen, on an average, once 

 Id ten days, sometimes rather oftener; that they moved in summer as 

 much as in winter, always anxious to avoid the wind, from whichever 

 quarter it blew; and that in 1856 they numbered ten, but have 

 gradually dwindled down to four, the sad remnant which now exists, 

 and which bids fair to die out altogether, as it is supposed that the 

 only individuals left all belong to one sex. 



Such is the present condition of the apes at Gibraltar. That they 

 are almost an m institution," and certainly the greatest lions of the 

 place, is notorious; but there is a certain prospect that, unless 

 replenished in numbers, they will in the course of a very few years 

 become as extinct on the rock as the great bustard is on Salisbury 

 Plain. But among the many British officers quartered at Gibraltar, 

 keen sportsmen and probably enthusiastic naturalists as many are, is 

 there no one patriotic enough and energetic enough to import a few 

 apes from the opposite coast of Barbary, with which there is weekly 

 communication at least, and whence all the beef which feeds those 

 bold Biitons is derived r Can no one be found to purchase, if but 

 half-a-dozen, and turn them loose among their congeners on the rock ? 

 [A subscription for an object of such general interest, set on foot 

 among the officers of the five regiments generally in garrison would be 

 certain to be responded to, to the full extent required.] Then we 

 might hope they would once more flourish, and continue for genera- 

 tions to come to pilfer and chatter and grin and giimace, as only 

 monkeys can do. But it does seem to me a subject of sincere regret 

 that for lack of a little timely precaution this interesting order of 



