Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-03
APEs PIsHING FoR CRAes.
A Java Species That Sacrifices IFS Com
fort TO ITS Palate

fort TO Its Palate.
They have on the coast Of Java g pecu-
liar long-teiled ape and sand crab that
grows TO extraordinary size and possesses
great strength in its claws" said gentle
man who lived in Java years ago. The
apes are particularly fond Of the crabs.
which are very shy and wonderfully quick
IN their movements. They live in deep
holes in the sand, bnt spend much of their
time on the outside OF their holes, where
they run and hop about. They range in
size from that Of silver dollar 10 that Of
our edible crabs. Their claws are not
large, but have a grip that IS vise-like.
The apes make daily raids On the
heunts OF the crabs, and OCCASION
ally succeed, by creeping s.ealthily
to within few feet Of a group Of
them, in springiug upon their and captur-
ing one before they have scanapered TO their
holes. Usually, however, the crabs are so
wary that while the ape IS still in the air
during his spring toward them they have
separated and disappeared into the ground.
The ape finding himself too slow to make
capture, then resorts to bit of strategy
to secure dinner. His mode of final
capture intiicts upon him pang of physi-
cal suffering which is frequently more than
he can bear. but his love for the crab az q
morsel Of food is so strong that he never
hesitates 10 accept the personal discomfort
which its capture involves, and usually
bears it With stoicism which might in
spIre admiration If Il were not for It's com
ical side.
When the ape finds that he is foiled in
his effort to capture q crab By springing at
group, he backs himself I'D to a hole into
which one has Disappeared Sitting down.
he thrusts his long tail into the hole. The
Grub, 10 punish such unWonted intrusion,
seizeS the end Of the tail in its strong claws
the moment it approaches near enough.
Any one who may have been 50 fortunate
as TO hide himself in the bushes, un0bserved
by the ape making the raid, Will have a
hard time 10 restrain his laughter when the
critical moment OF contact between the
crabs claw and the apes tail is reached.
There is look Of conical suspense on the
apes face Us he thrusts his tail down into the
hole. When the crab closes on the tail the
expression OF content departs. The ape
gives an involuntary start, and then setties
back on his launches, while he closes his
teeth together with determined air. and
eventually springing forward, out comes the
tail from the hole, with the crab dangling
to II. Immediately the ape switches his
tail forward and brings the crab TO the
ground with a force thar stuns it and causes
It TO drop its grip. With stone the ape
soon i picking out the meat and proceed
ing with his meal.
One day ! was watching a large ape
fishing IN thisWay for crabs. The apes are
as Shy IS the creatures they hunt so per
sistenly, and the least sound from the
brush will send them scaInpering away.
The ape / was watching made a dismal
failure oil his attempt to spring on crab,
ana at once proceeded to tish one out of a
hole. He selected hole into which had
seen very large crab disappear, and | an
hcipated lun. The apes tail had gone its
full length into the hole before his face in
dlcated that the crab had made the connec-
ton. Suddenly he gave start and q yell.
he bent his body nearly double, and
slapped his hands on his knees and wagged
his mead, With his teeth closed tight and his
lips drawn down, while on his face was a
look Of agony and despair doublv
intensified. He made several ATTEMPTS
to Withdraw his tail butfel back each time
and hOwled as the crab drew it taut.
Tears actually ran down the luaicrous lace
OF the suffering ape, and when he clapped
both hands 10 his forehead aud swayed his
body 70 and sro like "a little old man tor
tured by the toothache, bowling dismally
theNhile, could 10 longer restrain my
self, and yelled with laughter. This
heightened the ape, and he gaye a quick
spring forward. Out came the crab and
away went the ape The crab hung to the
tail and rs far as | could see maintained
It's hold, in spite of the way It was dashed
and trailed as the ape few over the ground,
yelling OF every jump. He disappeared in
the thick brush. but how he divested him
sell OF the crab l never knew. II New
York SIM