West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-09-25

Nu'ihf olhNN lt NlSl'hoNo lNH Nohtt ~
three ccnts cup. - san Francisco
Chronicle
APES FISHING FOR CRABS.
\ Java species That Sacrifices Its Comfort
10 Its faiatc--Au Able Bodied Grab.
"Thcy have ON the coast OF Java
peculiar long-tailcd ape. and sand
crab that grows 60 an extraordinary
size and possesses great strength In its
claws said a gentleman who lived In
Java years ago. 'Tho apes arc par
ticularly fond Of the crabs. which are
very shy and wonderfully quick in their
movements. They live In dccu holes
IN the sand, but spend much of their
time on the outside of thcir 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 arc not large, but havo grip
that IL visc-liko. Tho apes make daily
raids on the hauutS of the crabs,
and occasionally succeed. by creeping
stcalthily TO within fow feet of a
group OF them, in spriuging upon thcm
and capturing one before they have
scampcrcd to th2r holes. Usually.
however, tine crabs are SO wary that
while the ape is still i'm the air during
his spring toward them, they have sep
nrated and disappeared into the
ground. The ape, finding himself too
slow TO mako n capture. then resorts TO
n bit of strategy to secure n dinner. His
mode of final capture innicts upon him
II pang OF physical suffering which Is
frequently more than he can bear. but
his love for the crab rs n morsel of food
is so strong that he never hesitates to
accept the personal discomfort which
its capture involves, and usually bears
1t with a stoicism which might inspire
admiration If ii wore not for It's conf
cal side.
when the ape finds that he Is foiled
IN his effort TO capture "a crab 10y spring
my at group, he backs himself up to
hole into which one has Disappeared
Sitting down, he thrusts his long tail
into the hole. The crab. 20 punish
such unwonted intrusion, seizes the end
OF the tail in its strong claws tho mo-
ment IL approaches near enough. Anv
ono who may have been so fortunate
as 60 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 ape 4
tail is reached. There Is n look of
comical suspense on tho apo & face as
he thrusts his tail down into tho hole.
when the crab closes on tho tail tho OK
preston of suspense departs. The ape
gives an involuntary start, and then set
Ties back ON his launches, while ho
| closes his teeth together with n deter
mined air, and eventually, springing
forward, out comes the tail from the
hole, with the crab dangling to IL. In
stantly the ape swishcs his tail forward
and brings the crab to- the ground with
a force that stuns IL and causes il tu
drop its grip. With stone the ape
smashes the shell of the crab, and is
soon picking out the meat and proceed
ing with his meal
"One day was watching "A
large ape fishing in this way for
crabs. The apes are as shy rs
the creatures they hunt so persistently,
aud the least sound from the brush will
send them scampering away. The ape
was watching made n dismal failure
OF his attempt 20 spring on a crab, and
at once proceeded TO fish one out Of o
hole. He selected a hole into which /
h"u 9ccu u very large GRAD disappear,
and ] anticipated fun. The apes tail
had gone its full length into the hole
| before his face indicated that tho crab
had made its connection Suddenly hs
| gave n start and n yell He bent his
| body nearly double, and slapped his
hanGs on his knees and wa@ged his
head, with his teeth closed tight and
his lips drawn down, while on his face
/ was look Of agony and despair doub-
/ ly intensified. He made several at-
| tcmpts 10 withdraw his tail, but fell
| back each time and hOwled as the cral
I drew 1t taut Tears actually ran down
the ludicrous face of the suffering ape.
and when he clappcd both hands 10 his
/ forehead and swayed his body "a
and fro like n little old man tortured
/ by the tOothache, bowling dismally tho
/ while, J could no longer restrain my
self, and yelled with laughter. Thi.
/ frightened the ape. and ho gave auick
/ spring forward. Out camo the crat
/ and away went the ape. The crnt
| hung 10 the tail and rs far ~ could
| see maintained its hold. i'm spite Of the
way 10 was lashcd and trailed as tho ape
llew over the ground, yelling 40 over,
Jump IIc disappeared i'm the thick
I brush bat how he diyested himself oI
the crab ! never know. IN y. SIM.