III. 



THE DROLLEST BABY. 



Baboons are almost the ugliest of the mon- 

 keys to look at. They have dog-shaped heads, 

 with eyes deep-set and close together, and their 

 faces have ridges and swellings and queer colors, 

 so that they are really hideous, to our notions. 



But, in spite of their looks they are most in- 

 teresting animals, because they are so fond of 

 each other, and so amiable and full of fun in 

 babyhoodc Dreadful-looking old fellows, that 

 look as if they could easily eat up a baby, are 

 extremely fond of the little ones, and as tender 

 and careful as any human nurse. 



Some droll stories are told of baboon babies 

 in menageries. In one place there were two 

 mothers with infants, and the others of the tribe, 

 when allowed to go in the cage occupied as a 

 nursery, gathered about the mothers, put their 

 arms fondly around them, and begged by their 

 actions to hold the baby a little. The mothers 

 allowed them to do so, and the little ones were 

 passed around among the visitors, each one 

 holding a baby a few minutes carefully, and 

 then passing it on. At last, after every one had 



