Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/133

 On one occasion a large snake climbed high into a tree after some monkeys. It had almost reached its prey when its presence was discovered. Immediately the forest resounded with yells of rage and fright. The snake drove two of the monkeys to the topmost branches where, in their terror, they took enormous leaps to the next tree. Their spring swayed the branch so much that, for a wonder, the snake lost its hold and fell to the ground upon some rocks and was very badly injured. The monkeys seeing that their enemy was disabled, soon scrambled to the ground to get stones and sticks and dirt and then pelted the snake until they killed it. But it is only once in a blue moon that the monkeys have such luck as this The monkeys also hate the jaguar and tiger, and often when they spy one of the great cats, they follow it from tree to tree pelting it with branches and sticks. The screams and yells and chattering warn every creature within hearing and the best thing the big cat can do is to get away as quickly as possible.

All people who have the misfortune to live near any place where monkeys are numerous declare that they are great nuisances. They will tear the thatch from the bungalows, steal the washing put out to dry and ransack the vegitable garden as though there were no such thing in the world as "mine and thine." One gentleman, who lived in India, told the writer that in his garden were two enormous peach trees, the fruit of which was excellent. The tree itself needed no tending, but it was necessary to keep two natives on watch continually to scare the monkeys off. The little creatures could not be shot as they were sacred, and it was unlawful to kill them. Sometimes monkeys oranize in great bands and raid a garden and carry everything away. While the watchmen are busy chasing off one branch of the mauranders another will swarn over the fence and in the twinkling of an eye do all the damage.

Monkeys will live in cold climates, but they have to be protected against damp for they get chilled very easly. There are a few wild apes left on the Rock of Gibraltar but this is very far north for them to be found. They must have been there since the Straits were formed, or else they may have escaped from the Moors. In Spain there is a legend that the monkeys formed themselves in a mighty rope by holding tails. Then the monkey rope in Africa swung back and forth till the end fellow caught hold of Gibraltar. All the others crossed on this living bridge. Then the African end let go. Since the Philippine Islands have become part of the United States, we can boast of having monkeys, for there are thousands there, but none even in the hottest parts of the United States.