Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-03
APES FISHING FOR CRABS.
A Java Species That Sacrifices Its
Comfort to its Palate.

"They have on the coast of Java a
peculiar long tailed ape, and sand crab
that grows to extraordinary size and
possesses great strength IN its claws" :"
said gentleman who lived in Java
years ago. The apes are particularly
fond of the crabs, which are very shy
and wonderfully quick in their move
ments. 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 a silver dollar to that OF
our edible crabs. Their claws are not
large, but have grip that is wise like.
The apes make daily raids on the haunts
of the crabs, and occasionally succeed,
by creeping stealthily TO Within few
feet of group of them, in spring
ing upon them and capturing one before
they have scampered TO their holes
| Usually, however, the crabs are so wary
that while the ape is still in the air du-
ring 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 a dinner.
HIS mode Of final capture inaicts upon
him a pang Of physical suffering which
is frequently more than he can bear,
but his love for the crab as mOrsel of
food Is 50 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 It's cOmieal
side.
"When the ape finds that he is foiled
III his effort 10 capture a crab by spring
Ing at group, he backs himself up to
hole into which one has disappeared.
Sitting down he thrusts hislOng tail into
the hole. The crab to punish such un-
wonted intrusion, seiZes the end of the
| tail IN its strong claws the moment 1t
approaches near enough. Anyone who
may have been so fortunate as to hide
hlmself IN the bushes unobServed by the
ape making q raid, will have q hard
| time to restrain his laughter when the
critical moment Of contact between the
crabs claw and the apes tail is reached.
/ There is loos of cCmical suspense on
| the apes face IS he thrusts his tail down
| the hole. Wien 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 together with
a determined air, and eventually spring
ing forward, out comes the tail from
the hole with the crab dangling to it..
Instantly the ape switches his tail for
ward and brings the crab to the ground
with force that stuns it and causes it
to drop its grip. With a stone the ape
snashes the shell of the crab, and is
soon picking out the meat and proceed
ing with his meal.
lone day was watching large ape
fishing in this way for crabs. The apes
are as shy as the creatures they hunt SO
i persistently, and the least sound from
! the brush will send them scamper;ng
4 away. TIE ape rs Watching made
dismal failure Of his attempt to spring
on crab, and at once proceeded to fish
one out of hole. He selected a hoe
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. Sud-
denly he gave start and a yell. He
bent his body nearly double, and slapped
his hands on his knees and wagged his
head, with his teeth closed tight and his
lips drawn down. while on his face was
a look of agony and despair doubly in-
tenslied. 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 lu-
dicrous face of the suffering ape, and
when he clapped both hands TO his fore
head and swayed his body to and fro,
like little old man tortured by the
toOthache, bowling dismally the while,
l could no longer restrain myself and
yelled with laughter. This frightened
the ape, and he gave quick spring for
ward. Out came the crab, and away
went the ape. The crab hung to the
tail, and as far could see maintained It's
hold, in spite cf the way 1t was lashed
and trailed as the ape flew over the
ground yelling at every jump. He DIS
appeared in the thick brush, but how
he divested himself of the crab never
knew"