The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-12-03
APES FISHING FOR CRABS.
Java Species that Sacrifices Hts Comfore
to Its Palate.

'They have on the coast of Java q
peculiar long-tailed ape, and a sand
crab that grows to 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 arc
very shy and wonderfully quick in
their movements. They live in deep
holes in the sand, but 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 dol
lar to 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 haunts of the crabs, and
occasionally succeed, by creeping
stealthily to within few feet of q
group of them, In springing upon them
and capturing one before they have
scampcred 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 a bit of strategy to secure dinner.
His mode of final capture infiicts upon
him pang of physical suffering which
is frequently more than he can bear,
but his love for the crab as a morsal of
food is so strong that he never hesitates
to accept the personal discomfort
which its capture involves, and usually
bears it with a stoicism which might
inspire admiration if it were not for its
comical side.
''When the ape finds that he is foiled
in his effort to capture a crab by
springing at group, he backs himself
up TO hole into which one has dis
appeared. 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 moment it approaches near
enough. Anyone who may have been
SO fortunate as to hide himself in the
bushes unobserved by the ape making
the raid, will have Il hard time to re-
strain his laughter when the critical
moment of contact between the crabs
claw and the apes tail is reached.
There is a look OF comical suspense on
the apes face as he thrusts his tail
down the hole. When the crab closes
on the tail the expression of suspense
departs. The ape gives an involuntary
start, and then settles back on his
launches, while he closes his teeth to-
gether with determined air, and
eventually springing forward. out
comes the tail from the hole with the
crab dangling to it. Instantly the ape
swishes his tail forward and brings the
crab to the ground with force that
stuns it and causes it to drop its grip.
With a stone the ape smashes the shell
of the crab, and is soon picking out
the meat and proceeding with his
meal.
'One day was watching a large
ape fishing in this way for crabs. The
apes are as shy as the creatures they
hunt so persistently. and the least
sound from the brush will send them
scampering away. The ape ] was
watching made dismal failure of his
attempt to spring on a crab, and at
once proceeded to fish one out of a
hole. He selected hole into which
had seen very large crab disappear,
and anticipated fun. The apes tail
had gone its full length into the hole
before his face indicated that the crab
had made the connection. Suddenly
he gave a start and yell. He bent
his body nearly double, and slapped
nlS QanOS on MS knees ana WapgeQ MS
head, with his teeth closed tight and
his lips drawn down, while on his face
was p look of agony and despair
doubly intensified. He made several
attempts to withdraw his tail, but fell
back each time and howled as the crab
drew it taut Tears actually ran down
the ludicrous face of the suffering ape,
and when he clapped both hands to his
forehead and swayed his body to and
fro, like little old man tortured by
the toothache, bowling dismally the
while, could no longer restrain my
self and yelled with laughter. This
frightened the ape. and he gave quick
spring forward. Out came the crab.
and away went the ape. The crab
hung to the tail, and as far as could
see maintained its hold, in spite of the
way it was lashed and trailed as the
ape flew over the ground, yelling at
every jump. He disappeared in the
thick brush. but how he divested him1
self of the crab 1 never knew. IN 2
San. )
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