File:Brehm's Life of animals - a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia (1896) (19792002563).jpg

Title: Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia
Identifier: brehmslifeofanim1896breh (find matches)
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; Pechuel-Loesche, Edward, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals; Animal behavior
Publisher: Chicago : Marquis
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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Text Appearing Before Image:
THE APES AXD MONKEYS. Social Life The social of life of the Apes. Apes is a very attractive one for every observer. There aie but few kinds which live singly; the majority prefer to live in small troops or bands. Each of these latter selects a permanent home of greater or less extent. The choice as a rule falls on a country that seems favorable in all respects. There must be something to eat, or else they emigrate. In a poor country, forests near human dwellings seem to be regarded as paradisaical; the for- bidden tree does not trouble the Ape's con- science, so long as the apples on it are tooth- some. Plantations of t corn and sugar- cane, fields of onions, orchards and banana trees are preferable to anything else ; villages also are liked, where anybody chastising the robbers has to dread the superstition of the in- habitants. As soon as the band has come to a conclusion about a place of habitation, the real life of the Monkeys be- gins, with all its joys and sorrows, its quarrels and its cares. The oldest and strongest male is made the chief, this dignity is not conferred by universal suffrage, but by long and hard fights with the other aspirants, that is, with all the old males. The longest teeth and the strongest arm prevail. Whoever does not sub- ject himself good-nat- uredly, is brought to his senses by a few cuffs, bites and scratches, and the crown is to the strong • in his teeth is wisdom. The language of Apes is by no means a poor one, for each Ape has the most varied sounds for his dif- fering emotions. Man soon learns to recognize the significance of these sounds. The cry of terror, which also includes an invitation to flee, is especially expressive ; it is hard to de- scribe, and still harder to imitate ; one can only say that it^consists of a succession of short, vibrating and inharmonious gurgling sounds, whose meaning
Text Appearing After Image:
A FAMILY OF GORILLAS. This picture represents a family ol Gorillas, the month or two old baby in th-3 foreground, at the leet of its watchful mother, while the ever-alert father is keeping guard from a perch ot strong vines. The mothers iace is placid, because she knows the father's ear is never closed and that his mighty ami will protect her and the helpless little one. whose dreamy face expresses entire satisfaction. It is a most graphic and faithful delineation ot a lite-like scene in the great hot forest in Equatorial Africa, and portrays in pleasing measure the home life ot these creatures so greatly resembling Man. Fierce and intractable as is the Gorilla, he is kind to his wife and children, protecting them from all enemies and careful in providing for their comforts. (Gorilla gim.\ the Monkey makes still clearer by grimaces. As soon as this note of alarm is sounded, the whole band starts to flee ; the mothers call their children, and holding them fast, hurry on to the next tree or rock". It is only when the chief recovers his spirits that the band gathers again and returns. Courage and The Apes undeniably have courage. Fighting The stronger ones boldly resist the ter- Qualities. rible beasts of prey and Man, and are

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