PREFACE 



The present work is the natural product of some 

 years devoted to a study of the speech and habits of 

 monkeys. It has led up to the special study of the 

 great apes. The matter contained herein is chiefly 

 a record of the facts tabulated during recent years 

 in that field of research. 



The aim in view is to convey to the casual reader 

 a more correct idea than now prevails concerning 

 the physical, mental, and social habits of these 

 apes. 



The favourable conditions under which the writer 

 has been placed, in the study of these animals in 

 the freedom of their native jungle, have not hitherto 

 been enjoyed by any other student of Nature. 



A careful aim to avoid all technical terms and 

 scientific phraseology has been adhered to, and the 

 subject treated in a simple style. Tedious details 

 are relieved by an ample supply of anecdotes taken 

 from the writer's own observations, and most of 



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