Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-09-14

JayA'S ANGLING APES.-Fhere Ia
ana cies of large ape in the island of Java.
He is about the sizs of email! chimpapzae,
and, when full grown. his dark face is en-
clrced with bushy white beard and whisk
ers, giving it very Whimsical expression,
lud,crousY like that of little old man.
Ee is not at ell wild, and be seems to have
some idea of practical joking, which leads
him occasionally to descend to the lower
ooush Of high tree in the evening, and
hold cut his paw, 10 apparent tnendllness,
to any one who happens to be near. per-
son who s not familiar with the queer
brute's tricks is apt to suppose that tue
monkey desires to shake bis hand, and
goes uuder the tree for the purpose OF meet
ing he amicable advance bali way. De is
Fortunate if he escapes clap on the Iace
At ell events the paw is Withdrawn before
the human fingers touch it, and the ape, Sit
ting a few feet above the range OF mans
spring, scratches bis ribs and gibbers insult
ingly The long tail is sometimes lowered
instead of the hand, and then the chances
of the creature dealing malicious stroke
are greatly Increased, for the caudal appen.
pare is extremely 1.-the and flexible, and s
of as much service to its owner as fifth
limb. 1t is noticeable thing about these
tails that they are nearly always badly
Scared at the extremity, and frequently
neer wounds quite fresh and still bleeding.
The monkeys use their tails as fishing lines,
and with them catch the crabs that infest
the coasts of the island These crabs are
about Inc sizs of the hard shell crustacea OF
he same species that are offered for sale in
our markets, and the apes are their
only enemies, for no one else on The
Island cares to eat them. They live in
holss several yards above high water mark,
aud when they emerge to search for food
they look cautiously around to see whether
an ape is near II they see one or suspect
his presence they GO back, and they are 80
quick in their movements that the monkey
has no chance of catching them. But the
animal has perfect passion for crab meat,
and bis appetite must be gratified at any
perscnal sacrifice. Goiug to a hole into
which he has seen a crab retreat, he inserts
his tail as far as it will extend which is gen.
rsi! 10 the end of the cavity. Any person
80 cealed in the vicinity and watching bim
at such moment sees the funniest specta-
Gle imaginable. The fisher sits perfectly
still, with his mouth wide open, an express
sion Of anxious expectancy on his face, and
artieipstory tears gathering in his eyes. be
never has long to walt tor JeVa's crao 10
very much like the swapping turtle 10 liz
disposition. In few minutes the monkeys
mouth closes with snap, the teeth are
clenched tightly, the eyes shut, and the wa
ter that has risen to them trickles down the
hairy cheeks The contortions of the coun-
seuance speak of torture heroically endured;
for the animal has bite, and he is waiting
for the prey to take fast hold. Then the
tail, with the doomed crab cliDging o its
tip, is jerked swiftly from the hole, whired
around for couple of seconds to give 1t im-
petus, end brought down on the ground
with a crash that breaks the crabs she'll as
though it were badly guarded head at
Donny brook Fair The apes meal is served
He picks out the meat with his claws, only
interruptiug his enjoyment Of the repast now
and then to moan in self-commiserstion
and moiste1 his wounded tail with his
toneue.n