92 
VERTEBRATA. 
THE BLACK MACAKE. — (See p. 93.) 
Genus MAGOT : Magus — pithecus of tlie ancients. The magots greatly resemble the macakes, 
the chief difFerence being that the former have only a rudimental tail, two or three inches long. 
The Magot, Magus sylvanus, or Macaciis muus, called the Barlary ape^ is the only species of the 
genus. It is about eighteen inches long ; its head is large, its snout large and long, its nose flat, 
its face and ears of a livid flesh-color, its body thick, and its limbs well knit. Its cheek-pouches 
are capacious, and its teeth large and strong. The upper parts are of a golden yellow, traversed 
by slight black bands ; the lower are yellowish gray. It is a native of Barbary, and is among 
the most robust of the monkeys, bearing transportation to temperate chmates with little injury. 
It is one of the monkeys most commonly taken to Europe, and is an indispensable accompaniment 
of perambulating menageries. Its turn for mimicry is well known. 
Caubasson relates a laughable anecdote of one of these animals, which he brought up tame, and 
which became so attached to him as to be desirous of accompanying him wherever he -went : 
when, therefore, he had to perform divine service, he was under the necessity of shutting him up. 
One day, however, the animal escaped, and followed the father to church, where, silently mount- 
ing on the top of the sounding-board, above the pulpit, he lay perfectly quiet till the sermon 
began. He then crept to the edge, and overlooking the preacher, imitated his gestures in so gro- 
tesque a manner that the whole congregation were unavoidably excited to. laughter. Caubasson, 
surprised and displeased at this ill-timed levity,, reproved his auditors for their inattention ; and on 
the obvious failure of his reproof, he, in the warmth of zeal, redoubled his actions and his vocifera- 
tions. These the ape so exactly imitated,, that all respect for their pastor was swallowed up in the 
scene before them, and they burst into a loud and continued roar of laughter.. A friend of the 
preacher at length stepped up to him, and on pointing out the cause of this improper conduct, it 
was with the utmost difficulty he could command a serious countenance while he ordered the ape 
to be taken away. 
In their native state, the magots are among the liveliest and most intelligent of monkeys. They 
have the wit and courage to frighten and in some degree to command the huger animals of the 
forest, as the elephant and rhinoceros, by pursuing them with hideous cries and throwing down 
branches of trees upon them. When living near the abodes of man, they make great depreda- 
tions by stealing the fruit. When engaged in their thefts, they station sentinels on high places, 
which give the alarm by loud cries, in cases of danger. Their most dangerous enemies are those 
which steal upon them at night, as the lynx, cerval, and other animals that seek their prey in 
darkness upon the trees. They are social in disposition, and live in large companies. The mothers 
are tender of their young, rearing them with care, loving and caressing them, and defending them 
unto death. 
