Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-25
Notes at the Geological Garden.

An old monkey sat costly asleep in q
snug corner, with friend nesting
against him and indulging likewise in a
comfortable snooze. Presently young
sky-larker approached them somewhat
timidly, and squatting beside the friend,
sat quiet for some seconds, then sud-
denly, as if possessed by some ma
licious inspiration, he reached his arm
out cautiously behind the slumbering
friend and gave the elderly monkey a
whacking box on the ear. He, waking
in just wrath and unsuspicious of the
truth-for the culprit was now sham.
ming sleep and looked the picture of
innocence - flew upon his friend
with an indictment for assault, and
chivied him with monster clamor
round and round the cage, while the
cdlprit sat regarding them and jabber-
ing with JOY. Some little time after,
the performance was repeated, the old
monkey and friend having settled in
their corner, and assault and the wrong
full punishment occurring as before.
Once again the trick was tried, but the
friend, who had twice suffered, was
shamming sleep this time, and caught
the culprit in the act, and with the help
of the old monkey gave him a good
drubbing, which, indeed, he well de-
served.
have seen many interesting infants
ut the Zoo, and heard much converse.
ton evoked on their account What q
fuss was made aboutthe hippopotamus,
and how the baby tapir was idolized
last winter, until the Jumbo worship
put its tiny .snout quite out of Joint!
A baby elephant would doubtless draw
all London to its cradle, and who
would fail to hail with Joy an infantine
girailep But rs far rs my affections
have at present been extended to babies
geological, l think that baby monkeys
have most won my admiration, if not,
indeed, my love. Few infants can be
prettier than a baby kangaroo, seen
peeping slyly forth from the snug ma
ternal pouch. Even this, however, is
not so sweet sight rs that of small
monkey squatting pick-a-back upon its
mother, with its long, lean little arms
tightly clasped around her neck. To
see her give it suck is one of the
grotesquest and yet tenderest of sights;
and if she allows you the great honor of
hand-shake with her offspring, you
will not soon forget the softness of the
tiny slender fingers, or how clingingly
they clutch.
The study of zoology is made easy at
the Zoo, and few steps from the mon
lighthouse will bring you to the lions,
whose solemnity of countenance and
dignified demeanor present a striking
contrast to the restless little mischief
loving creatures you have left. A Ito N
always looks majestic except, perhaps,
when snarling and snuilling over bone
he has way of gravely gazing into
space, as though his brains were occu-
pied by great affairs of State. Yet the
king of beasts is somewhat of coward
so hunters have dcclared; and despite
of all his dignity, fear he may be
hen-pecked like many weaker crea-
ture. L have often seen his majesty
submit to much ill-treatment at the
paws of his good queen, and the other
day she actually jumped over his royal
back while he lay enjoying his slumber
in the sunshine, and on his growing a
remonstrance she gravely slapped him
on the cheek. Whether this was done
in fun-although she looked too grand
creature to condescend to jokc-or
whether she desired to try her hus-
bands temper as fine ladies often do,
or possibly to draw his notice to the
fact that some remarkably fine plump
children were close before his nose, are
points which must remain forever wrap
ned i'm doubt. All Me Year Rohjld