The morning call., 1893-04-16
MONKEYS ARE DELICATE.
At Least They Die Off Rapidly When
Kept in Cages.
Cincinnati rimes-Star.


Perhaps you have noticed" said Super
intendent Stephan of the Zoo, that with
all the trained and educated animals exhib-
tied at the circus and museums there is
seldom performing monkey. Yet the
monkey learns tricks readily and Is almost
human sometimes in its actions"
The reporter had noticed it, and the fact
established the superintendent proceeded
with the explanation.
There is single reason for It," he con-
tlnue1. ''aud that is the extreme delicaey
of the monkeys organization. monkey
In exercising Will get overheate0, and put
into Its cage VIII seek cool corner. 1t
catches cold which develops into con-
sumption, and just as likely as not the ami
NAL Is dead IN day. sun they often linger
Tor year. Often monkey will cough like
human, and again | have had them die
suddenly without exhibiting any sign of
disease. but upon dissecting them l have
found their lungs entirely gone. The
monkey does not get on we'll in our climate
unless be is kept in warm inclosure.
Inc average circus will start out in the
spring with 100 monkeys, and will be doing
remarkably well If it comes back at the
close of the season with twenty. The
average life of one of the beasts in cap
tlvlty Is two years, though we have several
here fifteen years old. Even our hardy old
beasts, however, would not last long in
circus cage: Tue great trouble with the
monkey is that he is curious to see everv-
thing, and the moment his cage is opened
in the menagerie he is at the front, clinging
to the bars, reaching out for peanuts and
candy. There is usually a crowd about
MIN, and thaT warns him up. When the
ring performance begins there is a rush
from the menagerie. leaving it bare and full
draGghts As result, he catches cold.
suppose there are about 500 MONKEYS in
the United States. ali told. and as half of
them die every year, 1t makes the monkey
trade Somew hat lively. There are three bir
dealers in Europe who supply most Of the
wild animals for the whole world Hagen
bach of Hamburg has trappers all over Asia
and Africa. He supplies us. Then there is
Cross OF Liverpool and Jamrock of London.
The monkeys are captured in bamboo cage
traps. Food is placed inside and they 60 In
forit. Then many are captured while young
by shooting the mothers. At the least alarm
the mother takes refuge In flight, springing
wliu!y from tree TO tree, paying no attention
to the young. which cling around her waist
for dear life. 1t is very easy to shoot the
mother without injuring the young. Again.
steel traps are SET, having the jaws wrapped
with cloth so as not to injure the legs of the
captlVes. There Is no danger in the business
so long as the monkeys do not get cornered
and scream. When they do that the whole
tribe comes to the rescue, attacking the
hunters and biting furiously.
The smaller ones are easily beaten off.
put Win ln5 apes these encounters are
dangerous. Take those chimpauzees that
roam the wilds of Africa. They are as big
as man and far more powerful. When n
hunter encounters one OF them he must do
one of two things Immediately. He must
scare the beast by some wild motion or he
must kill him instantly. They are easily
scared, but wound one aud their cries attract
herds of companions that will set upon the
hunter and tear him to pieces. They don't
mind being shot at. so if n hunter cannot
kill all IN sight or disable them he is dead
man. There are numerous cases on record
where hunters have been literally ehewed
into little bits by the beasts. would rather
meet lion any time than wounded ape,"