THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS 
243 
attracted by little 4 Darwin,’ who was uttering a 
strange sound, which I had never before heard one 
of his species use. I did not recognize the sound at 
first, but very soon discovered that it was intended to 
imitate the sound of the Capuchin, in response to which 
I always gave ‘Puck’ a nice morsel of food. After 
this I always gave him some in acknowledgment of 
his efforts, and I observed from day to day that he 
improved in making this sound, until at last it could 
scarcely be distinguished from that made by the 
Capuchin.” 
This may explain the mistake as to the “ Simian 
tongue.” Professor Garner also wishes to get rid of 
the notion that monkeys can carry on a connected 
conversation. “Their speech is usually limited to a 
single sound or remark, which is replied to in the same 
manner.” What Mr. Garner now claims for monkeys’ 
speech is, that it is voluntary, deliberate, and articulate ; 
that the sounds are always addressed to some certain 
individual with the evident purpose of having them 
understood, and that they wait for, and expect an 
answer, and if they do not receive one, frequently 
repeat the sounds, which they do not utter when alone. 
He further finds that they understand the sounds made 
by other monkeys of their own kind, and usually 
respond to them with a like sound, and that the sound 
is interpreted to mean the same thing , and obeyed in the 
same manner by different monkeys of the same species. 
The words which we have placed in italics are, of 
course, the most important part of the conclusion. 
