File:Brehm's Life of animals - a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia (1896) (20404394612).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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THE DOG-SHAPED MOXKEYS—BABOOX. 4T Hamadryas When a troop of these Baboons are see a Dog or a Leopard. Then the old males raise Watching for sitting still, they all keep perfectly their terrible roaring noise, beat the earth with one Enemies. silent until something happens. The fore-paw, show their teeth, and with flashing eyes approach of a Man or herd of cattle, when perceived gaze down from the rock, ready to rush at the enemy. Brehm's First The first troop I met was just rest- bv one of them, is noted by a queer sound, which may best be compared to the barking of certain Dogs, and probably is uttered only with a view of attracting the attention of the troop. At the dan- gerously near approach of Man or of a beast of prey, entirely different and varying sounds are made by the members of the colony. The babel of voices in an excited band of Hamadryas is most fitly com- pared to the grunting and squeaking of a large number of Pigs. There are also a few deep sounds, reminding one of the roaring of a Leopard, or the low grumble of an Ox. The Monkeys roar, growl, bark, shriek, grunt and squeal in chorus. All the
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BRILL. The Drill his prominent check hone? and ridge? above, the same as the Mandrill, but the vivid color- ing is lacking. It is smaller than the Mandrill and its hair is greener, while underneath it is whiter and more silvery. The whiskers which are heavy are brushed back and the small beard is orange colored. It is a native of the coast of Guinea and its habits are simil ir to those of the Mandrill which it so closely resembles. It is sometimes seen in cap- tivity in the United States as well as in Europe. (Cyitocefihalus Uucophaevs.) fighting males come to the edge of the rock and attentively look down to acquaint themselves with the danger ; the young ones seek the protection of the older ones ; the little ones cling to their moth- ers' breasts or jump on their backs, and then the whole band gets in motion, and hurries along, run- ning and hopping on all fours. A native does not frighten the Hamadryas. He goes past them and drinks out of the same river with them, but a white Man arouses their suspicion, though one cannot exactly say that they flee before him. More, even, than other Monkeys these Bab- oons have a confidence and hopefulness which never despairs of finding a way of escape when danger is most imminent. It is entirely different when they Experiencs with ing from a morning's wanderings. Hamadryas. The Monkeys were sitting on the crest of a mountain, the ascent to which was very steep on both sides. I had seen the large forms of the males at a great distance, but had thought them to be pieces of rock, for these Monkeys, in repose, present an impassive appearance. A re- peated bark told me the truth. All the heads turned to look at our party. Only the young ones went on playing, and several females did not im- mediately give up their occupation, which consisted of carefully looking over the fur of one of the old ntlemen. Probably matters would not have gone any farther, if we had not had two Dogs " _ "": along, beautiful, slender . greyhounds, accustomed to hunt the Hyena and the Wolf. They an- swered the Monkey-cries by a loud bark, and im- mediately a commotion ensued among the Bab- oons. They seemed to know of .1 better and more secure abode, and slowly tiled along the mountain-crest, till they disappeared from view. But at the next bending of the valley we saw the whole troop, all in a row, hanging on to a seem- ingly vertical wall of rock in a manner which I have been unable to solve to this day. This scene seemed too inviting to be left undisturbed. The pity that stirs the heart of every one who hunts small Monkeys because of their human-like ap- pearance did not trouble us in the slightest, for the Hamadryas look like furious beasts of prey. Unfortunately the rock was too high for our bul- lets to reach them, but we determined to at least disturb them. The effect of the first shot was indescribable. A deafening roaring, howling, barking and shrieking immediately followed ; then the entire line began to move, as easily and securely as if the animals were on level ground. We could not understand how they obtained a foothold. But it would seem that a narrow edge of stone is considered safe and comfortable travel- ing ground by them. We fired about six shots in all ; but we were unable to take good aim, because our surprise at the situation had robbed us of our equanimity. Still our bullets were aimed well enough to in- crease the excitement of the creatures to a demon- stration of terror. It was extremely ludicrous to

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