248 
THE MONKEY TRIBES 
every morning, I should never get an egg, I endeavored to accomplish 
my purpose in another manner; I trained one of my dogs, as soon as 
the hen cackled, to run to the nest and bring me the egg without 
breaking it. In a few days the dog had learned his lesson; but Kees 
as soon as he heard the hen cackle, ran with him to the nest. A contest 
now took place between them, who should have the egg; often the dog 
was foiled, although he was the stronger of the two. If he gained the 
victory he ran joyfully to me with the egg and put it into my hand. 
Kees, nevertheless, followed him, and did not cease to grumble and 
make threatening grimaces at him till he saw me take the egg,—as if 
he was comforted for the loss of his booty by his adversary's not 
retaining it for himself. If Kees had got hold of the egg, he endeav¬ 
ored to run with it to a tree, where, having devoured it, he threw down 
the shells upon his adversary, as if to make game of him. Kees was 
always the first awake in the morning, and, when it was the proper 
time, he awoke the dogs, who were accustomed to his voice, and, in 
general, obeyed without hesitation, the slightest motions by which he 
communicated his orders to them, immediately taking their posts about 
the tent and carriage, as he directed them." 
The Gorilla is an interesting member of the monkey family 
and is the largest of all the known apes, his appearance being repulsive 
in the extreme. The enormous head joined to the huge body by a thick, 
short neck, the immensely lengthened arms, and the feeble, crooked 
legs, together with a countenance in which the lowest animal passions 
are forcibly portrayed, unite in forming a creature of the most forbid¬ 
ding appearance. But little is known of the habits of this animal as 
yet; and although many stories are told of its ferocity and untamable 
disposition, and although it is said that the natives of the Western 
Equatorial Africa, where the gorilla is found, are afraid to enter the 
woods where he roams at large, yet we cannot but believe he will prove 
as harmless in character as the other large apes are known to be. He 
feeds upon roots and different vegetables that he easily finds growing 
wild in his native woods; and whenever molested, endeavors by all the 
means in his power to escape from his pursuers, only standing on the 
defensive when wounded, or when retreat has been made impossible. 
If angered, or in the act of protecting his young, the great strength 
