ner:--"The monkey is a very extraordinary animal,
which closely resembles a man in his shape and appearance, as perhaps
you may have observed. He is always found to inhabit hot countries, the
forests of which, in many parts of the world, are filled with
innumerable bands of these animals. He is extremely active, and his
fore-legs exactly resemble the arms of a man; so that he not only uses
them to walk upon, but frequently to climb trees, to hang by the
branches, and to take hold of his food with. He supports himself upon
almost every species of wild fruit which is found in those countries, so
that it is necessary he should be continually scrambling up and down the
highest trees, in order to procure himself a subsistence. Nor is he
contented always with the diet which he finds in the forest where he
makes his residence. Large bands of these creatures will frequently
sally out to plunder the gardens in the neighbourhood, and many
wonderful stories are told of their ingenuity and contrivance." "What
are these?" said Tommy. "It is said," answered Mr Barlow, "that they
proceed with all the caution and regularity which could be found in men
themselves. Some of these animals are placed as spies to give notice to
the rest, in case any human being should approach the garden; and,
should that happen, one of the sentinels informs them by a peculiar
chattering, and they all escape in an instant." "I can easily believe
that," answered Harry, "for I have observed, that when a flock of rooks
alight upon a farmer's field of corn, two or three of them always take
their station upon the highest tree they can find; and if any one
approaches they instantly give notice by their cawing, and all the rest
take wing directly and fly away." "But," answered Mr Barlow, "the
monkeys are said to be yet more ingenious in their thefts; for they
station some of their body at a small distance from each other, in a
line that reaches quite from the forest they inhabit to the particular
garden they wish to plunder. When this is done, several of them mount
the fairest fruit-trees, and, picking the fruit, throw it down to their
companions who stand below; these again cast it to others at a little
distance, and thus it flies from hand to hand till it is safely
deposited in the woods or mountains whence they came. When they are
taken very young they are easily tamed, but always retain a great
disposition to mischief, as well as to imitate everything they see do