The Tomahawk., 1917-12-27
APES THAT RESEMBLE Men
Almost Human Characteristics Of the
Maias, Gibbon and Macaque
Found in Borneo.

The Sarawak region in BOrneo,
ruled over by the Brooke family, is a
famous hunting ground Of naturallsts,''
says the New York Evening Post. One
of the best books on zoology and BIZ,
ology Of the island that has yet ap-
peared comes in Robert w. G. Shell
ford's "A Naturalist in Borneo."
Shelford was for seven years fol-
lowing 1897 the curator Of Ratah
Brooke's museum, and, an active and
indefatigable curious man, he has ex-
traordinary opportunities Of studying
the wild life Of the island.
The most interesting Of Borneo's
animals are the mammals and espe-
cially the simians; and here Mr.. Shell
ford offers some information that is
quite new upon the maias-as he In
sists what is ordinarily called IN
orang-utan should be called-the glib
bon, and the macaque. The first is
not easily studied. II want to know
how many wives he keeps and how
he treats them," one EnglishmaR
asked; but until men can acquire ar
boreal habits such things will remain
mysteries. The maias are quick trav-
elers in the tree-tops, they love
swampy regions, where men can move
but slowly, and they are remarkably
inconspicuous in the foliage. They are
fruit eaters Of dainty habits, and
seldom stay long in one locality. Each
night they make small nest by bend
ing down small branches, to form
platform in the fork of bOugh, and
with the feet and hands tightly clasp.
ing the limbs go to sleep. A young
maias that Shelford kept as pet al
ways slept in an empty room furnish
ed with an iron bedstead. ION the
steel laths Of this the ape would SOL
EMMY climb every evening at about
80; he invariably sprawled on the
fiat of his back, pulled over his head
and chest a piece Of sacking with
which he was provided, and with
hands and feet got good grip on the
posts and frame of the bed. In few
minutes he would be asleep and his
snoring was so loud that it could be
heard nearly all over the house" The
maias make good pet, being clean
ly, affectionate and more intelligent
than any other animal except man.
Mr.. Shelford gives the impression that
watching a young maias is like watch
ing baby not quite so young; the in
terplay of reason and instinct is much
the same.
The gibbon has less intelligence, but
is distinguished by the musical morn
ing cry with which the jungle fairly
| rings at dawn-a cry more powerful
than the song Of birds to bring tho
| sluggard out to enjoy the most salu-
brious part of the Bornean day. But
the macaque has apparently, again.
a good deal of sense. He alone OF
the three will, given bowl of water.
lift it with his hands and drink man
fashion. He can also be trained to
pick coconuts, the modus operandi be-
ing very simple. A cord is fastened
about the monkeys waist and he Is
sent I'D n palm. where he begins laying
hold of the nuts If the owner thinks
n particular nut ripe he shouts and
down it comes; if it is unripe, he
| plucks the cord and the monkey goes
on to another. Sometimes the cord Is
dispensed with entirely and the mon
kew submits to his masters vos<<'.
something like gee and haw probably
representing ripe and unripe resaec-
lively. We are not told that snv mac
aaues have been developed vhicn are
able to use a trustworthy judgment OF
their own as to the ripeness of COCO
nuts; but the practice Of eugenics
upon a few generations Of these mon
keys should do as much.
The king Of Siam has q bOdyguaru