Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1878 — Au Interesting Group of Monkeys. [ARTICLE]

Au Interesting Group of Monkeys.

Four chimpanzees and one orangoutang may now be seen at the New York York Aquarium. A more interesting group of animals it would be difficult to imagine, although the thoughtful spectator can scarcely help feeling a little uncomfortable when he looks upon these creatures so like and yet so unlike man. The oldest of the chimpanzees is nine years old, the others are four years younger. The nine-year-oldcr is three feet high, his younger fellows are a foot shorter, but do not think any less of themselves on that account. They look like a lot of very old men, wizened and shrivelled by the lapse of two or three centuries, but tvith the glittering eyes and agility of youth. They teaze each other just like children, and cry when they are cross or hurt, in tones that are startlingly human. Their affection for their keeper is ridiculous. They cry if he does not pay attention to them, and, at a word from him, leap into his arms and nestle closely to his breast. Their caresses are grotesque, but fervent, and it is scarcely too much to say that they behave as if they knew that they were orphans in a strange land and utterly dependent upon the kindness of their captors. Tuck, the sister of the lamented Nip, is getting better. It will be a great triumph for the Aquarium if the managers can cure her entirely. Hitherto every captive chimpanzee has died Yvlien attacked by consumption; perhaps Tuck may be the exception which proves the rule. She and her sisters regard the orang-outang with disdain. They are, in their own eyes at least, the aristocrats of the monkey world, and do not consort with a fellow who has not toe or finger nails. Beside, tjic orang is a surlv-looking creature, and tvould be very likely to use his teeth in the discussion of any social topic, and these are arguments of which nis more delicate companions do not approve. The chimpanzees • eat very much the same kind of food as human children. Their bill of fare includes sago, bread and honey, dry bread, Vice and tea, and other dishes well known in the nursery. But thev are not gross enough to eat meat, although some of them may have lived among cannibals. But then a cannibal monkey would have to eat monkey, and although a few travelers have asserted that roast ape is good, it is to be noted that no one ever eats it if he can get anything else.—V. Y. Evening Post.