Page 5 Advertisements Column 3

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1919, Page 5

A Rhodesian reader sends the Morning Post a note on the almost human intelligence shown by South African baboons. A troop of baboons has its own particular district, on which no other troop will encroach. The baboon is a great pest owing to its habit of raiding ripening crops. Scouts always precede a raiding party, and send back warning if the field is guarded. Sentries are posted in trees round the spot chosen far the raid while the troop gets to work ont the grain. The sentries are relieved ftom time to time to enable them to join in the feast. Meetings of the patriarchs are held in the evenings on the rocks of the top of the home kopje. These old fellows sit' round in a solemn circle* apparently discussing the affairs of the tribe. Youngsters butting in are promptly cuffed and sent about their business. Baboon mothens put their naughty babies across their knees and spanb them, just as a human mother spanksher troublesome offspring, and the cries of the punished one greatly resemble those of human infants. The correspondent, whilst watching baboons, frequently found himself imagining that he was witnessing a scene from the lives >«f eur ancuterik