The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-04
COLONY OF BABOONS.
New York Boasts Valuable Additions to
the Central Park Zoo.


the Central Park Zoo.
From the Chicago Tribune.
An interesting colony of balloons has
recently taken up quarters in the me-
nagerie of Central Park. New York,
where all interested in the study of
simian characteristics nave the oppor-
tunity of observing them. These ami
mails are balloons of the hamadryas va
rtety, and natives of Abyssinia, that
region of Africa which is of the great
est interest to the civilized world at
present. Their importation was attend
ed with considerable difficulty, as they
inhabit a region that is seldom reached
by white men, and are guarded with
an almost superstitious reverence by
the natives. They are, besides, hard
to import. as they readily succum to
the hardships of a sea voyage.
The new arrivals are all young and
not full grown. They have long gray
hair. long arms and legs, and are re-
markedly active. They are rather thin.
Their faces are free from hair and are
pale in color. In shape the faces are
long and thin, and give the owners a
decidedly thoughtful and somewhat
world weary expression. In spite of
their appearance, however, they take
a very keen and fresh interest in life
and all the affairs of the world. so far
The himadryas is at once the most
refined and dignified of the monkeys
In appearance. He Is without the
coarseness OF the longer apes and with
out the ludicrous characteristics of the
smaller ones. When you look at his
grave and reverend features IL is hard
to believe that he is forever contem-
plating some mischief. At a moment
when his thoughts seem to be intent on
4, se al 81 - e
whom he has been torn, he will lean
forward and help himself to handful
of feathers from a woman's Easter
bonnet.
The species are found in many parts
of Africa. The members are noted for
their gregarious, garTulous and socia-
bic habits. They dwell in well-organ-
lied communities. which have been de-
scribed by natualists as villages. Usu-
ally they make their home in a rocky
place. They go forth in parties TO for
age and TO plumber. They are fond of
many forms OF vegetables, including
corn, cabbages, melons and oocoanuts.
Cultivated products have had a con-
siderable attraction for them. as the
South African farmers have discovered
to their cost.
II is pretty we'll authenticated that
when the balloons go trespassing on
private property they establish senti-
nels to give warning to the plunderers
of the approach of a man. They have
extraordinary powers of sight and
hearing, which give them a great adj
vantage in this sort of work.
When they are engaged in stealing
melons, pumpkins or other heavy arti-
cles, they establish a chain of workers.
extending from the cultivated field to
some safe retreat. Then the workers In
the field pick the pumpkins and they
are passed along from hand to hand.
These balloons have often been do
mesticated and then they make very
intelligent members of the household,
even more so than dogs. But they must
be expected to depart occasionally from
the strict paths of probity. farmers
wife left a tame hamadryas watch
pot I'm which a chicken was boiling.
The smell was too appetizing for his
honesty and he raised the lid and pick
ed a small piece of chicken. He contln-
ued the process until only the skeleton
of the bird remained. Knowing there
would be trouble when his mistress re-
turned, he slipped out into the farm
yard and procured the dead body of
crow which he had been saving for a
little banquet OF his own. He plucked
the feathers and with a sigh of reluc-
lance, dropped IL into the pot. Then
he went on watching as II nothing odd
had happened.
These balloons in their wild state are
the noisiest of monkeys. They utter a
sound very much like a dogs bark. 1t
is plain that they are able to make
good many things understood to one
another They hold a sort of parlia-
ment, In which they sit around and vo-
ciferate and gesticulste with as much
energy as the members OF the French
chamber OF deputies.
A hot debate in the baboon parlia-
ment on the question OF melon culture
is very entertaining.