HABITS OF THE COMMON BABOON. 
151 
of the body, but it has no tuft. They have no mane, and the muzzle is not so prolonged as in the 
] lamadryas and Cliacma Baboons ; nevertheless, the cheeks are rather swollen, and in this there is 
a faint resemblance to the Mandrill, but they are not coloured, and the muzzle is thin beyond them, 
a: id as it were truncated. The ears are visible, and are black and hairless, but are somewhat 
p minted. All the underneath of the body and the under part of the limbs are covered with hairs of a 
brown colour. Some are of a greenish hue, and the hairs are not of one colour. 
Buffon had one that was full grown, and it was as savage as well could be. It exhibited all 
the ferocity of disposition and intractability of nature common to the rest of its kind when full grown. 
“ It was not,” says he, u altogether hideous, and yet it excited horror. It appeared to be continually 
in a state of savage ferocity, grinding its teeth, perpetually restless, agitated by unprovoked fury. It 
was obliged to be shut up in an iron cage, of which it shook the bars so powerfully with its hands as 
to inspire the spectators with apprehension. It was a stout-built animal, whose nervous limbs and 
compressed form indicated great force and agility ; and although the length and thickness of its 
shaggy coat made it appear to be much larger than it was in reality, it was nevertheless so strong and 
active that it might have readily resisted the attacks of several unarmed men.” 
But although thus ferocious in old age, they are amusing, tractable, teachable, and even affec- 
tionate when young ; they know and like their master, are orderly when with him, can be taught all 
sorts of tricks, and they even like the young of other animals as pets. There are of course all sorts 
of stories told about them, some of which are true, for they were told by reliable naturalists from the 
results of their own experience, but the majority have too much of the wonderful in them, and are 
clearly the results of Eastern imaginations. A distinguished naturalist and traveller took much 
pains with some Baboons, and learned much of their habits and curious tricks, and his first pupil 
was amusing enough. Of course Baboons differ like higher animals in their temper and lightness 
of disposition ; some are grumpy and stupid, and others are as friendly and frolicsome as a genially- 
disposed Dog. One of these last came into his hands, and was, for a Baboon, quite amiable -looking, 
full of vivacity, and possessed of a vast amount of animal spirits and talent for the mischievous. He 
had a place set apart for him near one of the gates of the establishment in Egypt, where he acted as 
a sort of watch-dog. This duty lie performed to perfection, and no one dared to attempt to enter 
without his leave. To those whom he knew he was polite, but to all others he was quite the reverse. 
Walking backwards and forwards in great ire when disturbed by anybody unknown to him, he 
finally stood stiffly on three of his legs, and hammered away at the floor with the knuckles of the 
other, just as a man raps a table when in a pet. His eyes glared, and lie gave tongue in a Here 
growling bark. 
Sometimes he would put on a most enticing look, and seem most kindly disposed, seeking 
as it were the friendly notice of people ; then out would come his hand for something nice to be 
given him, and if refused all his good looks departed, and he behaved more like a devil than a 
watch-dog, rushing at his enemy, and endeavouring to bite and scratch. He was on good terms 
with all the animals of the neighbourhood, but took a great dislike to some Ostriches which wandered 
about, and often came close to him, not apparently that they were necessarily unbeloved by Apes, but 
because they did him some very evil services most unintentionally. He liked to get on a wall under 
a quantity of straw, which protected him from the sun, and there he dozed away. Now the Ostrich 
has a very bad habit of trying to swallow or peck at everything ; nothing comes amiss so that it 
can be swallowed ; and they one and all are constantly poking here and poking there for most curious 
titbits. This was the case with the Ostriches in the Baboon’s neighbourhood, and it now and then 
happened that as they were on the search for a novelty they noticed his fine stout tail hanging from 
the top of the wall. Of course the first Ostrich which was near gave it a good peck with his strong 
beak, and doubtless a good pull also. This was a most uncalled-for liberty, and not only woke up 
the sleeper, and hurt him, but also offended his dignity. He awoke full of rage, and before the 
Ostrich could give a second peck at the gristly morsel the furious Baboon rushed from under the 
straw, seized his enemy by the neck, and cuffed his head most soundly. He hated Ostriches ever after. 
The same Baboon was taken on board a boat with the travellers, and exhibited a great fear of the 
water. After a while he got a little accustomed to it, and gradually was tempted to touch it. He 
used to go the whole length of his cord, which kept him safe and sound, and, clinging on, would 
