Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-13
APES FISHING FOR CRABS.
A Java Species That Sacrifices Its Comfort
to Its Palate--An Able Bodied Crab.

A Java Species That Sacrifices Its Comfort
to Its Palate--An Able e-Bodied Crab.
"They have on the coast OF Java a
peculiar iong-tailed ape, and sand
crab that grows to an extraordinary
size and possesses great strength in its
claws" said a gentleman who lived in
Java years ago. "The apes are par
ticularly fond of the crabs, which are
very shy and wonderfully quick in their
movements. They live in deeu holes
in the sand, but spend much of Their
time on the outside OF their holes,
Where they run and lop about They
range in size from that OF silver dol
lar 10 that of our edible crabs. Their
claws arc not large, but have a grip
that Is visc-like. The apes make daily
raids on the haunts Of the crabs,
and casionally succeed, by creeping
stealtlily to within few feet OF a
group Of them, in springing upon them
aud capturing one before they have
scampercl to their holes. Usually,
however, tine crabs are so wary that
while tho ape is still in tho air during
his spring toward them, they have sep
aratel and disappeared into. tue
ground. The ape, finding himself too
slow to make capture. then resorts to
bit OF strategy to secure dinner. His
mode OF final capture nilicts upon him
a pang OF physical suffering which is
frequently moro than he can bear, but
his love for the crab as morsel of food
is so strong that he never hesitates to
accept the personal discomfort which
its capture involves, and usually bears
1t with stoic!sm which might inspire
admiration If it were not for its conf
cal side. o
when the apo finds that he Is foiled
in his effort to capture q crab by spring
ing at a group, he backs himself up to
a hole into which one has d sappeared.
Sitting down, he thrusts his long tail
into the hole. The crab, to punish
such unwonted intrusion, seizes the end
OF the tail in its strong claws the mo-
ment 1t approaches near enough. ANY
one who may have been so fortunate
as TO hide himself in the bushes unob-
served by the ape making the raid, will
have hard time to restrain his laughter
when the critical moment of contact
between the crabs claw and the apes
tail is reached. There is look OF
comical suspense on the apes face as
he thrusts his tai down into the hole.
| When the crab closes on the tail the ex-
preston of suspense departs. The ape
gives an involuntary start, and then set
ties back on his launches, while he
closes his teeth together with deter
mined air, and eventually, spring ng
forward, out comes the tail from the
hole, with the crab dangling to it. In
stantly the ape swishes his tail forward
and brings the crab to the ground with
force that stuns 1t and causes il to
drop its grip. With a stone the ape
smashes the shell OF the crab, and is
soon picking ont the meat and proceed.
ing with his meal.
"0ne day l was watching a
large ape fishing in this way fol
crabs. The apes are as shy as
the creatures they hunt so persistcntly,
and the least sound from the brush will
send them scampering away. The ap(
was watching made dismal failur,
OF his attempt to spring on crab, ant
at once procec cded to fish one out of {
hole. He selected hole into which
had seen very large crab disappear
and anticipated fun. The apes tai
had gone its full length into the hole
before his face indicated that the crat
had made its connection. Suddenly he
gave start and yell. He bent hi.
body nearly double, and slapped hi.
hands on his knees and wasged hi.
head, with his teeth closed tight ant
his lips drawn down. while on his face
was look of agony and despair doub
ly intensified. He made several at
tempts to Withdraw his toll, but fel
back each time and howled as the cral
drew II taut Tears actually ran dowr
the ludicrous face Of the suffering ape
and when he clapped both hands to hi
forehead and swayed his body t
and fro like little old man tortured
by the toothache, bowling dismally thl
while, | could no longer restrain my
self, and yelled with laughter. Thi
frightened the ape, and he gave quicl
spring forward. Out came the cral
and away went the ape. The cral
hung to the tail, and as far as coulc
see maintained its hold, in spite of tn
way 1t was lashed and trailed as the APP
flew over the ground, yelling at ever
jump. He disappeared in the thicI
brush, but how he divested himself Q
the crab l never knew. IN Y Sun.