Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-03-22
HOW APEs CATCH GRABS.

HOW APES CATCH CRABS.
A traveller in Java relates the following anus
ing scene, which he witnessed IN the company OF
some of the natives:
{ Aftefsxalking close up TO the old campaign,
they were upon the point Of turning back, when
e young fellow emerged from the thlcket. and
said a few words to the mandoor. sEa
The latter turned with laugh to Frank, and
asked him if he had ever seen apes catch crabs,
Frank replied in the negative, and the mandoor
linking his hand, led him gently and cautiously
through the deserted village, to . spot hlch the
youngg fellow had pointed out, and were the old
man had formerly planted hedges, rendering it
an easy task for them to approach unobserTed.
At length they reached the boundary Of the
former.settl etnent-a dry, sandy strip of beach.
where all vegetation ceased, and only single
pandanus tree, whose roots were thickiy inter
laced withcrecping plants, formed as 1t were the
Gdyanccd post OF the vegetab kingdom. eiind
this thcN cTawlett along and cautiously raising
their heads, they saw several apes, at distance
Of two or tfireethundredS spaces, who were par
ticulaly looking for something as they walked up
aud down the beach, while others stood motion
less.
IT was the long tailed, brown variety, and
Frank was beginning to regret that he had not
his telescope with him, to watch the motion of
these strange beings more closely, when one of
them, tremendous large fellow, began to draw
nc: rer to them. Carefully examining the ground
0Yer,wLicIl lac went with all fours, he stood at
intervals to scratch himself or to snap at some
insect that buzzed around him.
He came SO close that Frank fancicd that he
must scent them, and give the alarm to the other
monkeys, when suddenly passing over little
elevation covered with withercd reedy grass, he
here discovered party of crabs, parading up
and down on the hot sand With bound ne
was amongst them, but not quick enough to
catch single one; for the crabs, though appar-
quantity Of small holes or cavities, which made
the ground here resemble seive, and the ape
could not thrust his claws after them, for the
oriEcc was too narrow.
The mandoor nudgcd Frank gently to draw
his attention, and they saw the ape, after crawl
ing up and down the small strip CT land, and
pccping into the various holes with his nose
close to thcground, suddenly set himself very
grayeIy by one Of them, which he fancied most
suitable. He then brought round his long tail
to the front, thrust the end oft into the cavity,
until he met with an obstacle, and suddenly made
r face which so amused Frank that he would
have laughed loudly, had not the mandoor rails
cd his finger warninsly-an directly the ape
drew his tail with jerk. AT the end oft, how
ever, hung the desired booty, fat crab, by one
Of its claws, and swinging it around on the
ground with such violence as to make it loose its
hold, he took it in his left paw, picked up
stone with the other, and after cracking the
shell, devoured the savory contents with evident
satisfaction.
Four or five he thus caught in succession, on
each occasion when the crab nipped him making
a face of heroic resignation and pain, but each
time was successful and he must have found in
the dainty dish and the revenge for the nip,
abundant satisfaction for the pain he endured,
Or else he would not have set to work again SO
soon.
Thus then the ape, quite engaged with the
sport, and without taking his eyes off the ground
had approached TO within about twenty PAGES of
the party concealed behind the pandanus tree.
Here, agair, he ground was full of holes, and
looking out the one he conjectured to be the best
be threw i'll his line once more, and probably felt
that there was something alive within, for he
awaited the result with signs OF the most eager
attention.
The affair." however, lasted longer than he an.
tfcipatcd, but being already well filled by his
past successful hauis, he pulled up his knees,
laid his arms on them, bowed APP his head, and,
half closing his eyes, he assumed such resign
ed and yet eXQuiSitcly comical a face as only
an ape is capable Of putting on under these cir
cumstauces.
But his quiet was destined to he disturbed in
a manner as unsupported as it was cruel. He
must have discovered some very interesting OBJ
icct in the clouds, for he was siareing up there
fixctilv, when he uttered loud yell. let hold Of
made bound in the air as if the ground under
him was growing red hot. AT the end of his tail,
however, hung gigantic crab, torn with des-
peI.tc energy from his hiding place, and Frank,
who could restrain himselfno longer, then burst
into laugh.
The mandoor at first retained his gravity; but
when the ape, alarmed by the strange sound,
looked up and saw men, and then bounded away
at full speed, with his tormentor still dangling
at the end OF his tail! the old man could no long
er refrain either, and they both laughed till the
tears ran down their checks.
The ape, in the mean while, flew across the
narrow strip of sand, followed by ali the others,
towards the jungle. and in moment after not q
single one was visible.
PRuxrxc AID CrLrrnE or CrRRAxrs.-No
fruit pays better for good culture than the cur
rant, yet none is more generally neglected. As
there is likely to be q scarcity Of summer fruits
this year, owing to the destruction Of the peach
and cherry bnds etc, all who have currant
bushes should bcstow upon them special atten-
ton, so as to increase their frllitfulncss. Old