Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-09-25
Balloons At Home.

| we Cdn only learn Ine ndture dno dis
position of an animal like the baboon
from study of its behavior in wild
state. Few persons ever have chance
for such study, and accordingly an in
telligently observed account OF the ami
mails actions becomes OF interest. The
author OF animal Life in Africa" Maj.
]. Stevenson Hamilton, furnishes the fol-
lowing results of his personal inveStiga-
| tons:
II is most interesting and instructive to
watch, from some concealed position,
the social life of troop OF baboons, who
fancy themselves to be unobServed.
Perched about at intervals among the
rocks are some OF the older males, evi-
dently on the lookout for danger. Behind
them walk and squat heterogeneous
mass OF females and of young animals.
The females employ themselves in vari-
Gus family tasks, and the youngsters,
playing and squabbling, chase one anoth-
round 10 Shrill accompaniment OF chat
tering screams.
Possibly two of the latter, in the course
Of rough and tumble, jostle against one
OF the older males. Immediately the lat
ter's attitude OF dignified quiescence van-
ishes, and he turns with roar upon the
imprudent Juveniles, who hastily retreat
with Shrieks OF fear. Now and then
mother finds it necessary 10 chaStiSe her
offspring, or to wreak vengeance upon
one or other OF the unattached hobblede-
hoys who, she gueSseS, meditates impoS-
ing upon or injuring it. The air reSounds
with squeaks. shrill cries, and occasional
bass gruntS.
Suddenly from one OF the guards comes
single deep, hoarse bark, and instantly
there is silence. The females catch up
their young offspring; the rest OF the band,
with one accord, Scuttle out right and
left, and in moment there is nothing TO
be seen except one or two OF the larger
males, who walk quietly off, now and
then stopping to glance back; and TO
utter their resonant warning barks.
If you run quickly forward and climb
TO some coign of vantage, you will per-
hapS be in time TO see the whole band
Scampering off. The infants cling to
their mothers backs, the unattached
juveniles race ahead, and the three or
four fathers OF families bring up the rear
at a more deliberate pace.
Apparently, however, The cunning OF
the baboon has limits, as the occasional
success OF one OF the methods OF catch
ing them alive proves. The practise is
to put a few mealies, or some similar
delicacy, inside an ordinary gourd, and
leave an opening in the gourd only large
enough TO admit the open hand OF the
animal
The first party that comes along soon
discovers the hidden treasure. Some Of
the smaller ones are probably wranging
over 1t, when big male steps up, drives
them all away, and begins TO examine
the gourd on his own account. After
turning il round and round, and inspect
ing it from all sides, he at last Squeezes
his hand into the hole, and graSpS the
prize. Presently, TO his annoyance, he
finds that, although he could put his hand
in with struggle, it is quite impossible
10 Withdraw it, clenched and full Of meal
les. He gets angry, and struggles fur
iously, but Intellectually, until the watch
ers arrive on the scene and make him an
easy prisoner. 1t never occurs to him to
open his hand and let the mealies go, but,
growing and roaring with rage and fear,
he grips them until the punishment for
his greediness overtakes him.