Imatges de pàgina
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Holland, or the most distant islands of the Ind an Ocean, are annually receiving so much new and correct illustration, the most remarkable species of the brute creation, inhabiting a comparatively neighbouring country, should have remained for about 2000 years under the shade of an almost fabulous name, and that the "wild man of the woods" should express all we yet really know of the African orangoutang in the adult state.

Africa produces many other species of the monkey tribe. The promontory most familiar to the Mediterranean voy ager, called Apes' Mountain, not far from the opposing point of Gibraltar, is so called from the occurrence of these animals; and the rock of the last-named fortress is itself the only strong-hold which they possess in Europe. They do not, however, occur in desert countries, commonly so called; that is, the open sandy plains of Africa are altogether unfitted for the dwellings of these pigmy people. Apes of all kinds are a sylvan race. Their structure being such as to render them unfit for the exercise of rapid movements, either on all-fours or in an upright position, the inclined and densely intermingled branches of trees are their favourite places of resort. Their feet in climbing being equally useful with their hands, great additional power and activity are thus derived. Among the shady and otherwise unpeopled arbours which skirt the banks of the yet mysterious rivers of Africa, they dwell in single pairs or in congregated troops, according to the instincts of each particular kind; and seated on the tops of ancient trees, or swinging from pendant boughs, they play their fantastic tricks, secure alike from the wily serpent during the day, and the panther which prowls by night.

The pigmy of the ancients is a small Ethiopian species, resembling the Barbary ape, but smaller in size, not much exceeding the dimensions of a cat. Its tribes were formerly alleged at certain seasons to wage a bloody war with

cranes.

The callithrix, or green monkey (Simia Sabaa), is not unfrequently exhibited in menageries, where, however, its beautiful colour usually fades into a dingy olive. It occurs in various parts of Africa, both along the western and eastern shores. The name of callithrix, which signifies beautifu hair, was employed by Homer to denote the more ornamental

colouring of the coat of various animals. It was applied by Greek authors, some centuries posterior to the time of Homer, to certain monkeys, and is now used specifically to distinguish the species in question. M. Adanson informs us that the woods of Podor, along the river Niger, are filled with green monkeys. He could discover them only by the branches which they cast down from the tops of the trees; for they were otherwise so silent, as well as nimble, that he could scarcely obtain a glimpse of them in their natural positions. After he had shot two or three, the rest became alarmed, and endeavoured to shelter themselves behind the trunks and larger branches. Some descended to the ground; but the greater number of those that remained unwounded, sprung with great activity from the top of one tree to another. "During this operation," says the traveller, "I continued to shoot, and in the space of twenty fathoms I killed twenty-three in less than an hour, and not one of them uttered the smallest cry, though they frequently assembled in troops, grinded their teeth, and assumed a threatening aspect, as if they meant to attack me."

The white-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista of Desmarets) inhabits the coast of Guinea. When taken young it is easily tamed, and is then exceedingly lively and diverting. The adult animals in the wild state are cunning and fierce, and avoid the vicinity of mankind.

The amount of species in this order of animals is so great, that, even confined as we are to those of a single continent, a volume would scarcely suffice for the most superficial sketch of their history, were we to include the whole of the African species. We must therefore be very brief in what remains to be told of one or two additional kinds. Next to the magot or Barbary ape, one of the best known in Europe is the mona or varied monkey. It is native to the northern parts of Africa, and appears to have been known to the Greeks under the name of kebos. species is of an affectionate nature in confinement, and is more than usually susceptible of education. Some consider him synonymous with the Abyssinian ape described by Ludolphe, which that author saw in great troops turning over stones, with entomological zeal, in search of worms and insects.

This

It was probably a species allied to that last mentioned in

Its habits, of which an amusing though tragical account is given by Le Vaillant. In one of his excursions he killed a female monkey which carried a young one on her back. The young one continued to cling to her dead parent till they reached their evening quarters, and the assistance of a negro was even then required to disengage it. No sooner, however, did it feel itself alone than it darted towards a wooden block, on which hung the peruke of Le Vaillant's father. To this it clung most pertinaciously by its fore paws; and such was the strength of this deceptive instinct, that it remained in the same position for about three weeks, all this time evidently mistaking the wig for its mother. It was fed from time to time with goats' milk, and at length emancipated itself voluntarily, by quitting the fostering care of the peruke. The confidence which it ere long assumed, and the amusing familiarity of its manners, soon rendered it the favourite of the family. The unsuspecting naturalist had however introduced a wolf in sheep's clothing into his dwelling; for one morning, on entering his chamber, the door of which he had imprudently left open, he beheld his young favourite making a hearty breakfast on a very noble collection of insects. In the first transports of his anger he resolved to strangle the monkey in his arms; but his rage immediately gave place to pity, when he perceived that the crime of its voracity had carried the punishment along with it. In eating the beetles, it had swallowed several of the pins on which they were transfixed. Its agony conse quently became great, and all his efforts were unable to preserve its life.

Baboons are fully more characteristic of Africa, as a generic group, than any other of the quadrumanous order. With the exception of the dog-faced baboon (Cynocephalus hamadryas), a native of the environs of Mocha, and other eastern shores of the Red Sea, we are not acquainted with any species of the genus which is not of African origin. They are, without doubt, notwithstanding their approxima tion in some respects to the human form, the most disgusting of the brute creation. Perhaps it is this very resemblance which excites our dislike. In spite of their occasionally brilliant colouring, and the length and beauty of their fur, there is an expression of moral deformity in their aspect which is exceedingly revolting, and they seem pos

sessed of all the most odious and degrading propensities of the most God-forsaken of the human race. No other spe cies exhibit so strong a concentration of the animal propensities. They are the most sensual of the brute creation.

The strength of some baboons is enormous. By muscular energy alone, and without the assistance of their huge tusks, they will tear the strongest dog to pieces in a few minutes. During one of Mr. Burchell's hunting parties, two of his dogs were seized by baboons (Cercopithecus ursinus); one of them was killed on the spot by having his jugular artery bit through, and the other was severely disabled, and a part of his ribs laid bare. Fortunately, with all their fierceness, their propensities are not carnivorous, otherwise the most dreaded of the feline race would prove less formidable foes. In a state of nature they feed principally on roots and fruits, although the eggs and birds probably also form a part of their sustenance.

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As in the present summary we are guided rather by zooogical than geographical principles, with a view chiefly to avoid the repeated mention of the same animal, a necessity from which we could scarcely escape were we to trace successively the natural history of each African district, instead of that of the species or genera themselves in systematic progression,-we shall proceed to the next group in our scientific arrangements, that of the LEMURS.

This singular tribe of animals inhabits the great island of Madagascar, and the not distant island of Anjouan, one of the group of the Comora archipelago,—countries usually regarded as belonging to the African division of our globe. In common with apes and monkeys, they are quadrumanous animals, that is, possessed of the power of prehension both with their fore and hind feet. They differ, however, among other characters, in having a rather long and pointed nail, instead of a flattened one, on the first finger of the hind foot.

The ring-tailed lemur (L. catta, Linn.) is the most beautiful of the genus. Its motions are characterized by a great degree of elegant lightness: its manners are mild, and its nature very harmless. Its size is equal to that of a large cat, and its wool is extremely soft and fine. The tail is about twice the len th of the whole body, and is marked

by numerous rings of alternate white and black. In the wild state it is gregarious, travelling in sma'l troops of thirty or forty. When taken young, it is easily tamed. It delights in sunshine; and in a state of domestication prefers the fireside to most other places. Its general attitude resembles that of a squirrel; and it feeds on fruits. In captivity it becomes more omnivorous, and shows no distaste to animal food. The voice of the ruffed lemur is remarkable for its extraordinary strength, which strikes with fear and astonishment those who hear it for the first time. It may be likened to that of the Beelzebub or howling monkey, which fills the woods of Guiana with its dreadful cries. The power of voice in both cases no doubt proceeds from a peculiar structure of the larynx.

Allied to the lemurs, and till lately generically classed with these animals, is the indri, which, according to Sonnerat, the natives of Madagascar domesticate and train up as we do the dog to the sports of the field. It is a large animal, measuring about three feet and a half in length; its prevailing colour is blackish, with the visage and lower part of the abdomen gray, and the rump white. It is distinguished by having no tail. Its voice resembles the crying of an infant, and its manners, like those of its conge ners, are mild and docile.

The last of the quadrumanous tribe peculiar to Africa, which we shall take occasion to mention, are the galagos. The Senegal galago is about the size of a common rat. They dwell on trees like monkeys and squirrels, are mild in their manners, and feed on insects, which they catch in their fore paws, and devour with great avidity. The great galago inhabits the eastern coast of Africa, and a species occurs in the island of Madagascar.

We now approach the more carnivorous tribes; and, passing over the genus Galeopithecus, the distribution of which is confined to Asia and its islands, we enter upon the Vespertiliones, or great family of the bats, now divided into many genera. Of these the greater proportion belong to South America and the East Indies; so that our notice of the African species may be short, without being really much curtailed. Several species occur along the western shores; but the most remarkable is the great pat of Madagascar, described by Edwards, and regarded by some as

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