The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-05

would appear to be quite still in the air;
at other times they would soar. They
were so high that do not see how they
could possibly see the trees; everything
must have been in a maze to them; monk
eys, of course, could not be seen. They
were, no doubt, amusing themselves;
and l wondered if they tried to see how
near they could 60 to the sun. Some at
times flew so high that lost sight of
them.
In the afternoon ! thought I would
ramble around. | took double barrel,
smooth bore gun, and loaded one side
with bullet, in case should see larger
game; the other barrel | loaded with
shot No. 2. Then l carefully plunged
into the woods till reached the banks
OF little stream, and there | heard the
cry of the mondi (COlObus Satanas),
which is one of the largest monkeys of
these forests. From their shrill cries l
thought there might be at least half
dozen. l was glad indeed that l had
one barrel with big shot. If the mondis
were not too far off, would be able to
get fair shot to kill one.
l advanced very cautiously until got
near to them. could then see their
big bodies, long tails, and long, Jet
black, shining hair. What handsome
beasts they were! what nice-looking
mutf their skins would make, thought.
just as l was considering which of
them | would fire at, | saw some big
thing, like a shadow, suddenly come
down upon the tree. Then heard the
Tapping of heavy wings, and also the
huge bird, with breast spotted some
what like leopard, raise itself slowly
into the air, carrying the monkey in its
powerful, finger-like talons. The claws
OF one leg were fast in the upper part of
the neck of the monkey; so deep were
they in the flesh that they were COM
pletely buried and few drops of blood
fell upon the leaves below. The other
leg had its claws quite deep into the
back of the monkey. The left leg was
kept higher than the right, and l could
see that the great strength of the bird
was used at that time to keep. the neck
and also the back of the victim from
moving. The bird rose higher and
the monkeys tail swayed to and fro,
and then both disappeared. twas guam
ionien. Its prey was, no doubt, taken
to some big tree where it would be de-
voured.
The natives say that the first thing the
guanionien does is to take out the eyes
of the monkeys they catch. But it must
be a fearful struggle, for these mondis
are powerful beasts, and do not die at
the eagles will. There must be great
trial of strength, for if the monkey is
not seized at an exact place on the neck
he will turn his head and then inflict a
fearful bite on the breast of the eagle,
or on his neck or leg, which disables his
most terrible enemy, and then, both fall
ing, meet their death.
looked on without firing. The
monkeys seemed paralyzed with fear
when the eagle came down upon them,
and did not move after the bird of prey
had taken one of their number and then
decamped, When l looked for them
they had fled to parts unknown to me in
the forest. l was looking so intently at
the eagle and its prey that for while
had forgotten the mOndis. l do not
wonder at it, for monkeys could see
often, but it is only once in great
while that such a scene as ! witnessed
could be seen by a man. 1t was grand,
and l wondered not that the natives
called the guanionien the leopard of the
air. Paul du CAdiIlu.