THE ORANG-OUTANG AND THE BAGPIPES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2416, 25 October 1892, Page 4

THE ORANG-OUTANG AND THE BAGPIPES.

A correspondent of the Spectator, who has been making experiments with various instruments on animals in the Zoological Gardens, writes as follows with rogard to one of his latest tests :

Our first visit was paid to " Jack," the young red orang-outang, which, since the death of " Sally," the chimpanzee, claims the highest place in animal organization among the inmates of the Zoo. He is a six-months-old baby, of singularly grave and deliberate manners, and perhaps the most irresistibly comical creature which has ever been seen in London. He is extremely well-bebaved, not in the least shy, and as friendly with strangers as with his keeper. His arms are as strong as those of a man, while his legs and feet seem to be nsed less for walking th»n as a subsidiary pair of arms and hands, tie is thus able, when much interested, to hold his face between two hands, and to rest his chin on a third, which gives him an air of pondering reflection beyond any power of human imitation. "He knows there's something up," remarked the keeper, as we entered the house, and the ape came to the bars and sat down to inspect his visitors. As the sounds of the violin began, ho suspended himself against the bars, and then, with one hand above his head, dropped the other to hi 3 side, and listened with grave attention. As the sound iti creased in volume he dropped to the ground, and all the hair on his body stood up with fear. He then crept away on all fours, looking over his shoulder like a frightened baby; and taking up his piece of carpet, which does duty for a shawl, shook it out, and threw, it completely over his head and body, and drew it tightly rouud him. After a short time, as the music continued, he gained courage and put out his head, and at last threw away the cloak and came forward again. By this time his hair was lying flat, and fear had given place to pleasure. The piccolo at first frightened the monkey, but he soon held out his hand for the instrument, which he wa3 allowed to examine. The flute did not interest him, but the bagpipes—reproduced _ on the violin—achieved a triumph. He just flattened hi 3 nose against the bars, and then, scrambling to the centre of the cage, turned head oyer heels, and lastly, sitting down, chucked handfuls of straw in the air and over his head, " smiling," as the keeper said, with delight and approval.