The National tribune., 1890-11-13

aud when the mimetic propensities of the crea-
ture could have had no share in the adoption
OF this very efficient auxiliary To its naturally
Imperfect locomotion on the ground. These
apes are much hunted for two reasons: one
that they inilict great loss upon the natives by
their marauding excursions into cultivated
lands. and. again, because whenever il is possible
10 transport the young TO any point where there
are foreigners, these may be sold
DR. Schwoinfurth describes his observations
of this kind Of sport among the Man MAN.
There the hunters, armed with spears, assemble
in some forest tract along whose pathways
snarcS have previously been set. and ascending
the trees among whose foliage chimpan2oes are
CONCEALED,
they drive their game into the requisite posi-
tion for noosng themselves during their flight.
Many are destroyed in this manner. the adults
being Immediately spcared and il there is an
opportunity TO sell them, the young taken cap
tive.
Young apes of this species are said 10 be doc
lie. atiectionate and quick 10 learn. Moro than
this, they seem TO acquire n rudmeutary cul-
lure, apparently approaching the significance
OF many acts, and making use of what has
heen taught gained by observation appropri-
ately, aud To the furtherance of their own ends.
Capt. Payne, tor instance. saw tame chin
panzee BROUGHT on board ship IN the River
Gambia, who at once spontaneously shook
evident intention of ingratiHtng itself in their
favor by this means. Others who were present
on the same occasion received no recognition,
but were subsequently taken into favor while
still others, at no time during the long voyage
to England, met with any return to their civil
tiles. but manifcsat ons of disfrust and dislike.
Moreover, this animal, who was frequently in
vitcd 10 dine in the cabin, conducted itself with
the incest proprietyr using knife and fork,
aud
TAKING WINE LIKE CHRISTIAN.
The chmpanzee says Meuault. is "more gentle
IN appearance, more graceful in form and more
civilized in manners than the orang outan."
But we may conclude from the evidence that 10
is not SO highly endowed. IL displays par
TALLY for bright c0lors and is SAID Ia be greatly
attracted by women who are gaiy dressed.
Looking out of s-window constitutes one OF the
chief enioyments of domesticited animals of
this species, and the habit points TO some ex-
tent. AT least, 10 the existence of that rational
curiosity which is one of the unfAling Charac-
teristics Of intelligence both in men and other
animals.
In common with authrGpoids at large the
chimpauzees habits while free have been very
imperiectty observed. nor are the true places
which the great apes occupy III the lnlll-lore
and religions of their respective countries
determined. In India eutellus monkeys are
sacred to Hanuman tthc monkey god on nc
count Of the services rendered by this deity 10
Kama while lac was at war with the giant king
of Ceylun tRavana), who had carried of his
wife ScCta.
No one has, however inquired the reason
why rows of suko skulls ara preserved in the
villages of certain forest tribes in AFRICA yet il
would be well worth while 10 discover, If posi-
BILE, what place IN the negro mind is occupied
by animals who impressed the earlier PoTtu-
guese and other colonis's Of the coast 50 deeply.
1t remains 10 say that chimpanzccs have on
various OCCASIONS exhibited an originality in tho
adaptation OF means TO ends that implies very
CONSIDERABLE sAGAcITY.
Some years ago In the Museum Of Natural
History at Paris, keeper shut one If them
Tor punishment in rSOm by itself. lie locke
one door aud hung the key on a nail while the
other shut with catch Nothing appears to
he more intolerable 10 these creatures than
entire solitude, aud in consequence, 50 goes the
story, this one made many complete hut useless
explorations Of the apartment in hopes az dis
covering some way al exit Then il devoted
It's attention To the key, after which il jumped
until exhaustion put an end To It's cnleavors in
tins direction Finally, however, alter
sHRIEKING WITH Distress
and rage for awhile, an inspiration visited tho
prisoner. and Selling upon a iarge chair il
dragged it under the nail, clint Il upon the
high lack got the key, unlocked the door aud
made It's escape.
Ii has often been said, in the course of these
papers, that the doctrine Of iusiiuct AZ an en-
dOwment IS erroneous sna that MI the higher
mAmmalia might be credited with any act
which was not obviously impossible Books
devoted to anecdotes illustrative OF the intolli-
gence Of animals are usually worthless but
there is nearly as much difference in dispo.
siiion and capacity between bigh-clsss nam.
mails as there is between utter savages, excep-
honal instances of saRacity among the former
need not be dislrnsted on account OF their
anteeedent improbabiity.