The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-23
Chimpanzees at Play.
The Fear They Felt at Seeing 6 Doll Baby
and Their Subsequent Vandalism.

The keeper Of the chimpanzees at the FOOL
ogical Garden placed doll baby in their
cage the other day, says the Philadelphia
Press. The funny little men are very fond
of new playthings, are very curious about
strange objects and are generally rather tim
id in approaching anything that has SEM
blance Of the terrible in its make up. The
doll was placed on the floor of the cage lean
ing against the wall. Il was clothed in a
red dress that attracted the attention of the
chimpanZees in a moment At first they
stood at a respectful distance and .shoohoed''
at it TO show that they had not fallen in
love with It at first sight. Then they began
to stamp on the floor to scare it away.
Finding this unavailing, the big one dashed
up to within foot or two OF the passive
baby, stamping and chatting, but finding
that the strange thing did not bulge, she
incontinently turned tail and fed The lit
tie one was not to be ouidone, although she
was evidently greatly in fear of It. So she
took her blanket and held it up before her
while she approached; bnt che did not 90
far After little the big one got up cour-
age enough to get quite near, so that pick
ing up ia long straw she could tickle the
new conner under her chin. The doll never
stirred. The end Of the straw was examined
and smelt of by the two animals, and, moth
ing specially harmful being found, they ven
tured to touch it. This was too great a test
of courage, and both scampered to the top
of their cage. They could not be induced to
go back for some time, but, after awhile,
curiosity got the better Of fear, and they
returned TO the inspection, which was most
" confined to sitting in front Of 1t and max
ing faces at it,
Tom Manley, the keeper, tied the figure toa
swinging rope. He had hardly left when they
dashed to the top Of tie cage, and. perchine
on the beam, began to pull up the rome.
They then shook the rope violently. and
actually laughed to see the red-robed indj-
vidual cut up in its performance on the slack
rope. 1t finally slipped out from the knot
and fell to the floor, causing another STAN
pede. By that time, however, thew had rot
somewhat familiar with the stranger, and
the big one dragged it by the hem of its gar
ment to the box ip which they Sleep They
placed it inside and at once executed war
dance on the top. The little one stopped
her noisy sister with a cuff and drew out
the unfortunate. Then. sittingon the floor.
she held it in her arms as if it had been a
real baby Of her own. After making evident
fun OF this soft-heartedness, the other pulled
the doll away and deliberately sat upon its
nSt@13 Db.hnAhN thN VSdJ WIN bbC pdtiH6 DI
her hands. While she was endeayoring TO
regain the plaything the dress did not long
remain intact. After this they hauled the
body about the cage, up the tree and onto
the cross beam, and then threw II on the
ground. One piece of the dress they used
to make necktie, and another was turned
INTO head-dress, which one Of them
adorned herself with before the mirror in
the corner Of the cage.
The chimpanzees are doing remarkably
well, and have now been kept here fol eight
months, longer than these animals have ever
been kept in this country before. They are
fed on milk, sweet potatoes, homemade
bread, some broiled chicken, and once In
while an orange. Their keeper believes In
giving them good supply of rich food that
can be easily digested. few days more
will get them through the cold weather,
and when the Summer comes they can be
easily cared for The temperature is now
kept at 81 degrees.