Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-07-18

10 = small scope Of country along the
equator in West Central Africa. Its
habitat does not extend 10 the coast.
but stops ~ the edge 81 the delta liues.
Ii ii uncertain how FAR II extends 10
ti& Interior. I found very few OF the
net.ves ~ the lows country that knew
,hs native name OF the animal. aud
rsost u them assured tne that i lived
iaf away in the hin country: bai near.
II every on~ 81 tbs negroes from the
Interior knew the creature and ia
name. aud some II them related very
strange stories regarding its habits
Tho drawings used IN illustrating
this urtisle were taken from life. In
his general appearance the iksnsia 10
lA3 a miniature brAr. II u from THIS
fact that III. name. .'srcotrbus has
tsen conferred upon him. Every move
neat 10 exactly like that Of h~Ar. the
ears. n0s~ aud tail are also like those
Of s~ar Tho eyes ARE large. "x.
treuisly o.nyex and protrudinx; they
are rsund. like the eye. Of lemur.
aud are well adapted 20 the owners
neciurnai habits: but they are not
elsar OF pronounced IN color. but have
harry or smoky look. The teeth are
small and white. and the creature 10
bot svsrss 10 using them la very
spitsfnl way. The CANNES are conlcai.
fhs incisors Hike thoss Of human be-.
inx except In sine.
The most singular physical features
arr the hands and feet. which are
shown In the drawings. The hand ~ q
perfect human hand in every respect.
rrcrpt ia. want Of an index nnEer.
AZ the end Of the mctRearpai bone.
where the nrst Anger Joins the hand. "
imoks exactly as u the finger had 0scn
amputated IN . most skliifui manner.
having no scar OF marx The thumb
IA quite perfect and normal Ia size.
The great toe projects from the aide
Of the font hut the angle between u
and tile other is very much wider than
u Is In the foot Of monkey. In fact,
The thumb IL almost ~ right angle
70 the sides ot the foot. The nthrr
four toes are In line like those nf a
human font but the first OF item.
which Corresponds TO the second toe In
a man. " armed with long. siiarp.
black claw rs may he ssen IN the pict.
utr The other toes have perfect nails.
like those ~ the human foot. The IN.
step IN higher than that Of the monkey
o. apes in general.
remarkable trait Of the animal n
tho immense graspins power OF the
foot, The hand possesses great pre-
hehsilt power. but II IL not 60 be cont
JARED with that Of the foot Ikanda,
The native name. n also applied TO q
Inlser. aud means 'the grssper.
The body II covered with dense
growth Of soft hair. almost like FUR
" Is dark In color. but somewhat light
81 on the under side of the body. The
nose IL quite bare aud very black.
have never Seen two ~ these ami
mails In the adult state. but apparently
They grow to- he fourteen or fifteer
inches Ia length. The specimen had
was only eight or nine inches long
The body Is relatively heavy and the
lllllls arr short.
TIE lkanda II nocturnal In hahlt
turing the day he rarely stirs unless
uistnthtdi hut ti. natives shy that ~
sleeps with his eyes open" ny which
thot mean 10 convey the idea that ~
y watcbful and alert. am iilrline,
10 Doubt this. for he will not fee AZ tn
approach of HARM II he has occasion
70 niore about during the day. Ills mo
uon u very slow and deliberate. n
night, however, he moves with iittl'
more sIpel
While sleeping. they crouch In IN,
iork Of a tree, selecting n bow which
lney can grasp with the feet. The!
always lie upon the upper side Of IN
.imb with the hend toward the top o
mestrce; but they sometimes rest th
poas upon the base OF the spinal col
nmn, stretching out the arms at ful
length, and resting the chin on III
breast, In this position they will u
Tor hours.
Asa rule. they walk on all tours, bu
.ney have a habit OF standing erect O
,neir hind legs. They rarely do this
however without holding by thei
nands to some object.
IN eating they always take their foo
"a one hand, just as child would
anu u II happens to be anything tina
TICKS to the hand, when they hav
clean.
ihe specimen that l had was fon
VI several kinds of fruit, but the foo
mat he appeared 10 like best was
eer'aln Kind or green grasshopper yer
'o ,,, In that part OF Africa.
"hlie he preferred this particula