MONKEYS AS BOTANISTS.

Mt Benger Mail, 16 November 1938, Page 1

MONKEYS AS BOTANISTS.

Two monkeys are now fully trained and employed by the Botanic Gardens in the Straits Settlements to collect specimens of florvers, fruits, twigs, and leaves from the tall trees which have been so far almost unobtainable because of their remoteness from the ground. Already the monkeys have succeeded in disclosing facts about flowers and fruits hitherto unknown to botanists because they had lain hidden beyond their reach in the tree tops. The- monkeys, which have entered Government service, are Beroks or pigtailed monkeys. This kind of monkey has been always used by the natives to collect coco-nuts. They are captured when very young, and trained carefully for their job of twisting off the coconuts and dropping them to the ground. They have also been used to pluck mangoes and other products. Once

shown what to seek they quickly find it. Their aptitude for learning is wonderful. Botanists quickly conceived the idea of training them still further; and the two Beroks which are now in commission have come to understand 12 words of Malay. Those words are used to direct them towards the particular plant specimen which the observer on the ground desires to possess. To prevent those valuable servants from disappearing in the tree tops, they are tied to a 180 ft string, which is manipulated on the principle of the fishing rod. -