Chap. 80.] 
APES. 
347 
only animals that have the hair the contrary way, the points 
being turned towards the head. There are the dama also,^^ 
the pygargus,-^ and the strepsiceros,'^^ besides many others 
which strongly resemble them. The first mentioned of these 
animals,^^ however, dwell in the Alps ; all the others are sent 
to us from the parts beyond sea. 
The different kinds of apes, which approach the nearest to 
the human figure, are distinguished from each other by the 
tail.^^ Their shrewdness is quite wonderful. It is said that, 
imitating the hunters, they will besmear themselves with 
bird-lime, and put their feet into the shoes, which, as so many 
snares, have been prepared for them.^^ Mucianus says, that 
they have even played at chess, having, by practice, learned 
to distinguish the different pieces, which are made of wax.'^^ 
22 Cuvier remarks, that there is some doubt respecting the dama of 
Pliny; he is, however, disposed to regard it as a species of antelope. 
Ajasson, vol. vi. p, 464, 465 ; Lemaire, vol. iii. p. 554. — B. 
23 The term pygargus is derived from the words Truy?) dpydg, denoting 
white buttocks." Probably a kind of gazelle. 
24 u "WTitii twisted horns." It is probable that Pliny intended to desig- 
nate a species of antelope, — B. See B. xi. c. 45. 
25 In this division Pliny, probably, included what he has termed the 
"caprgea," the rupicapra, and the ibex. — B. 
26 Some of these animals are entirely without a tail, and this circum- 
stance has been employed to form the primary division of the simise into 
the two species, those with and those without tails. We have an epi- 
cercopithecus eram" — If I had but a tail, I should be a monkey." B. 
iv. Ep. 102.— B. See B. xi. c. 100. 
27 We learn from Strabo, Ind. Hist. B. xv., that, in catching the monkey, 
the hunters took advantage of the propensity of these animals to imitate 
any action they see performed. "Two modes," he says, are employed in 
taking this animal, as by nature it is taught to imitate every action, and to 
take to flight by climbing up trees. The hunters, when they see an ape 
sitting on a tree, place within sight of it a dish full of water, with which 
they rub their eyes ; and then, slyly substituting another in its place, full of 
bird-lime, retire and keep upon the watch. The animal comes down from 
the tree, and rubs its eyes with the bird-lime, in consequence of which the 
eyelids stick together, and it is unable to escape." ^lian also says. Hist. 
Anim. B. xvii c. 25, that the hunters pretend to put on their shoes, and 
then substitute, in their place, shoes of lead ; the animal attempts to imitate 
them, and, the shoes being so contrived, when it has once got them on, it 
finds itself unable to take them off, or to move, and is consequently taken. 
2S There has been some difficulty in ascertaining the exact reading here ; 
CHAP. 80. (54.) APES. 
referred to. Si mihi cauda foret, 
