B116

Page 76.

[of baboons] Alvarez who was in Africa and even in Abyssinia at about the same time as Alpinus, informs us that he has seen the Mantelpavians in enormous herds, and gives a very good description of their character and way of life.

"They leave", says he, no stone lying, when two or three of them cannot turn one over as many place themselves around it as have room, turn it over and seek for their favourite food

[in margin in Darwin's handwriting:] Turn stone in together

B116v

They also like to eat ants; in order to catch them, they place a hand turned up upon the heaps, till the hand is covered, then carry it quickly to their mouth and lick the ants off. If great care is not taken, they lay waste the fields and gardens.

But they do not go into the plantations without a scout, but if he has given them the sign of safety, the whole band forces its way into the garden or enclosed field and leave nothing standing.

At first they are quite quiet, and if an imprudent young one makes a noise he receives a box on the ear, as soon however as they lose their fear they show their joy at their good fortune in piercing screams

Reference:

Brehm, Alfred Edmund. 1864 Illustriertes Thierleben: eine allgemeine Kunde des Thierreichs. 4 vols. Hildburghausen: Verlag der Bibliographischen Instituts, vol. 1. [Darwin Library-Down]