240 
THE STORY OP THE MONKEY . 
They are found over the whole of Africa; but, as is so generally the case, 
are represented by a greater variety on the west coast than elsewhere, and 
it is also in that region that the most hideous representatives of the group 
are to be found. 
While agreeing with the gelada baboon in the great length of their 
snouts, the true baboons are readily distinguished by the nostrils being 
placed at the very extremity of their snout; indeed, in the Arabian baboon 
they actually project slightly beyond the upper lip, as is the case in most 
dogs. This canine form of countenance led the ancient Greeks and Romans 
to apply the name dog-headed to these animals. This great prolongation 
of the snout shows that the baboons are the lowest of the Old World 
monkeys, and they bear the most marked signs of relationship with the 
inferior orders of mammals. 
In addition to their long snouts, baboons are likewise distinguished by 
the large proportionate size of their skulls, this being most markedly the 
case with some of the West African forms. Moreover, the bones forming 
the upper jaws are greatly inflated, so as to- give a swollen look to this part 
of the face in some of the species. They may also carry prominent oblique 
ridges, which form the support for the peculiar fleshy tumor-like structures 
occurring in certain West African examples. 
In all the baboons the callous places on the buttocks are unusually large, 
and may be very brightly colored. The tail is never very long, and often 
very short. .The arms and legs, or, as they may be better termed, fore- and 
hind-legs, are nearly equal in length, and are thus far better adapted for pro¬ 
gress on the ground than for climbing. Indeed none of the baboons 
appear to be adepts at climbing, and many of them pass almost their 
whole time on the ground. Several species of this group show an especial 
predilection for rocky ground, and are accustomed to go in large troops— 
this association behig probably necessary for defence against the attacks 
of leopards and other flesh eating animals. 
Their defence does not, however, rest solely on the strength of numbers; 
for the male baboons, which are considerably superior in size and strength 
to their consorts, are armed with tusks of the most formidable dimensions. 
Indeed, a bite from one of these animals must be almost, if not quite, as 
severe and dangerous as a leopard’s; and there are instances on record where 
leopards have been successfully attacked and mastered by a few old male 
baboons. 
The mandrill, which is the most conspicuous of the baboon tribe, is a 
