y of the arms and
hands, give to these creatures a resemblance to humanity as striking as
it is disgusting."

"Then follows an account," the gentleman went on, "of the peculiarities
of different kinds of baboons, which you would not understand."

"But can't you tell me something about them yourself, father?"

"I know very little about the creatures, my dear; but I have read that
they are exceedingly strong, and of a fiery, vicious temper.

"They can never be wholly tamed, and it is only while restraint of the
severest kind is used, that they can be governed at all. If left to
their own will, their savage nature resumes its sway, and their actions
are cruel, destructive, and disgusting."

"I saw the man at the menagerie giving them apples," said Minnie; "but
he did not give them any meat all the time I was there."

"No; they subsist exclusively on fruits, seeds, and other vegetable
matter. In the countries where they live, especially near the Cape of
Good Hope, the inhabitants chase them with dogs and guns in order to
destroy them, on account of the ravages they commit in the fields and
gardens. It is said that they make a very obstinate resistance to the
dogs, and often have fierce battles with them; but they greatly fear the
gun.

"As the baboon grows older, instead of becoming better, his rage
increases, so that the slightest cause will provoke him to terrible
fury."

"Is that all you know about them?"

"Why, Minnie, in order to satisfy you, any one must become a walking
encyclopaedia. What other question have you to ask?"

"Why, they must have something to eat, and how are they to get it unless
they go into gardens?"

Mr. Lee laughed aloud. "I rather think I should soon convince them they
were not to enter my garden," he said, emphatically. "But seriously,
they descend in vast numbers upon the orchards of fruit, destroying, in
a few hours, the work of months, or even of years. In these excursions,
they move on a concerted plan, placing sentinels on commanding spots, to
give notice of the approach of an enemy. As soon as he perceives danger,
the sentinel gives a loud yell, and then the whole troop rush away with
the greatest speed, cramming the fruit which they have gathered into
their cheek pouches."

Minnie looked so much disappointed when he ceased speaking, that her
mother said, "I read somewhere an account of a baboon that was named
Kees, who was the best of his kind that I ever heard of."

"Yes,