Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-09-26
NV Monkeys.

, Molly wa, greatly frightened AZ
nm that l shot off one day at some
snarrows. He hid at once in the straw
Of his cage, and never left it until the
1,n was hung ND again. After that l
Rad only 10 touch the stock, to make
him hide again, when nothing could be
seen in the straw, except 4 par OF
sharp ewes watching all my motions.
Just a touch of my finger or of a cane
upon the cock of the gun was enough
to deprive him of all quiet. l used to
carry on nv watch-chain a little pistol,
on which a percussion cap would make
a tolerably loud report. The monkey
had not vet found this out, and, sitting
on nv knees. would amusc itself with
licking the silver barrel.
One day in his presence | put a per-
cussion cop on the nipple of the pistol.
The monkey observed my movements
with great attention, but without SEEM
inc disturbed by them. But when the
cock, being raised, made two clicks,
Molly dropped his eyebrows, While he
continued sitting quietly. When the
explosion took place, his fright was UNI
bounded. Crying loudly, and full Of
anguish, he fell from my knees, ran
across several rooms, leaped out
of the window, chung to a water
pipe. slid down to the street
and hid himself in a ditch in a
neighboring garden. His nervousness
lasted a long while, and l had to take
off my watch chain to appease it.
From that day he was IN such fear of
the little pistol hat to take hold of the
chain was enough to make him disap-
pear in the straw. But he very soon
learned by experience that the source
of the detonation was not in the chain
but in the pistol, and could easily dis
tinguish it from the other appendages
afraid at all. Sitting on the straw in
his cage, he would attentively watch
my movements while | WAS handling
these appendages. The closer my
fingers approached the formidable OBJ
ject, the greater became his anxiety,
and with his eyes riveted upon the in
strument and with tense ears, he would
dance continuously in the cage, al
ready to go under the straw. He
would assure himself beforehand, for
greater security, that the cage door was
we'll shut: and one day, when the bolt
had not been pushed in, he leaped out
from the cage, which did not seem safe
enough for him, and went and hid him
self under the bed in the next room.
AS 1 gradually removed my hand from
the pistol, l would receive chuckles of
appreciation; and. with his lips pushed
forward and tho, muscles OF his ears
moving by Jerks, he would manifest a
very great 10y.
The rhesus, q balloon, three Java
monkeys and q yajou were drawn in
crayon for an illustrated magazine in
pictures having q striking resemblance
to the originals. l gave each monkey
his portrait. The rhesus and the Java
monkeys recognized the pictures at
once, and acted precisely as if they
were before a looking-glass. The rhe-
sus grinned, then laughed, and at last
turned his back to the picture, uttering
grunts Of satisfaction. as if he expected
to be scratched. The Java MONKEYS
stared at the picture; with the skin of
their toreheads drawn back, their lips
pushed out and constantly moving,
they regarded it from Il distance and
close up, to find out what it was. The
other species likewise re ognized the
nature of the pictures. but without ex-
hibiting as strong excitement as the
two species mentioned. The least in
telligent of the number was the saiou,
which. examining the portrait from the
head down and moaning, stretched its
hand toward it. trying to tear it with
his nails. Evidently it did not recog.
niZe the portrait either as one of itself
or OF another monkey, while it took in
pictured insects very we'll, and was
frightened at the sight OF the painting
or drawing Of q yiper.-Popuiar SCI
ence Aonthly.