The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-01-03
GENUINE BABOONS.
Rare Geological Attraction in the
"Jardin."
GREAT INTEREST TO NATURALISTS.
Whiskered Quaptet.-They Display
Strategic Shrewdness and Precau-
ton in War and Pillaging.

The Jardin d. Acclimatation, of
Paris, contains rare attraction this
wear. Its directors have succeeded in
adding four genuine Hamadryas
balloons to its extensive geological col
lection.
| But few of these animals have been
captured alive and sound, and even
after having been caught the exper-
fence has been that they would soon
languish away on account of their
morose and apathetic temperament.
Gagged alone, or even in Paris, they
have displayed, during the entire period
of their captivity, ferocious and VIC
ious disposition both toward their keep
ers and the visitors. Partisan natural
lists expect better things from the Ham
adryas now in the Jardin, as there are
four Of them in one cage, where the
surroundings have been made to cores
pond as nearly as possible to their
native haunts, 50 that they may feel
nearer at home and not get so lone
some.
Nothing is more hazardous than
hunt of these animals-not so much
because of their savage malice as be-
cause of their banding together in such
large numbers. The name Hamadryas
is misnomer, because, far from in
habiting the forests or feeding in trees,
they select, like the ibex, the highest
mountains, and are usually found in
deep clefts in cliffs and rocks. What
is known of these animals is for the
most part derived from ancient Cartha-
ginian and Egyptian records, which in
many particulars have been found
erroneous by modern geological investi-
cations, which have also been hindered
much by the seclusive and nocturnal
habits of this species and on account
of their scarcity in captivity.
"Relying upon the information con-
tanned in so-called scientific text
books" writes M. Henry Coupin in
"Le Monde Illustre," II expected to
find a lot of horrible. uncanny creatures
in the Jardin, with an ungovernable
ferocity.
Whatever the cause, whether a
natural one or resulting from the rein
ing influences of our modern civiliza.
ton, or from fear of the great crowds
that gather around their cage, my i'm
pressions were entirely different Those
four magnificent cynocephalean (dog
headed, balloons appear very demurt
and peaceful and with their little eyes
and long side-bangs resemble more a
quartet Of aged students, rendered my
opic through the perusal of much litera
ture, and always plunged in profound
meditation. From time to time the,
will wake long enough from thei
apathetic reveries to eXterminate few
fleas on one another's backs, a tasl
which they perform with comical de
liberation and precision.
"Their utilization to the canine fam
lily is evinced by their curious cry,
melange of a sonorous bark and hol
low grunt. But in many other respect
they approach the dog i'll habit and con
struction, as, for instance. in thei
gait and attitude, in the shape of thei
heads, and long shouts. So long a
they are not leased they seem quiet
but as soon as their temper is ruttle
and they suspect an enemy their carni
, vorous character comes to the surface
Then they utter terrible cries an
seem as furious as lions.
''The Hamadryas Of the Jardi
d 'Acclimatation were captured in tn
; wilds Of Abyssinia, where they wer
found in lofty cliff. The entire ban
of long-whiskered foragers of whic
they formed part were killed, and on
quartet Of Juveniles was found cover
: ing in the cleft.
1.-THE old males are mainly disti1
guished by their long hairy shouldt
capes. These names are found on tt
females and young also, but are parti
s ularly we'll developed in the old male
q The latter also wear stately side-whi
h kers, somewhat slate-colored, whic
!. have fantastic aspect on their dan
{ tiesh-colored faces. Their whiske,
n stand so stiffly outward that they al
s pear to have been combed and pomade
@ by tonsorial artist. The anlm
0 measures as a rule from ~ to fe
from head to tip of tail, and it's fur an
IS tufted tail are of an ash-gray color.
a I'm their wars upon other animal
V in their pillaging expeditions and corr
% field robberies they display considerab
IS stratagem. lnstinctively they seem
have learned that there is power
|. unity, so they never undertake an
is thing alone, and in military order eat
a baboon has his place in the ranks, a
q cording to age. sex, and strengt
n Only the very young and the sick a
h left behind in the clefts.
THE named elders always serve
d scouts and leaders, both in war and
r, pillaging expeditions. The femal
d watch with great solicitude over the
e young, who romp and amuse ther
a selves like little children. Nor do al
,r of them dare to go out alone very f
d to procure food At meal times Il
n whole troupe goes out together; Il
l. males pluck the corn or wheat and t.
ID females search for water. Enough
Q stored in the large cheek pouch
l. wherewith to feed the Young. Aft