THE NATURALIST ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
[To THE EDITOR OH THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—In your article on " The Naturalist on the Battlefield " in the Spectator of January 13th, you mention the case of the intelligent railway baboon, and wonder whether be is still living. He died some years since. He was not at De Aar Junction, but at Uitenhage, near Port Elizabeth. His master was an old railway servant, who had lost both his legs. His faithful baboon was in the habit of palling or pushing him down the line on a trolley, and then turning the points for him, and taking him back home. The baboon is very common in this western province of the Colony, and does not by any means remain in the mountains. Last week I saw a troop of some fifty or sixty gleaning in a cornfield not one hundred yards from the railway line. They were most_bold, and appeared to be not in the least disturbed by the passing train. Their depredations on growing produce are very great, and they are very artfid, as they invariably post sentries to warn them of their enemies' approach. It is a common saying among the Dutch farmers that they are capable of every human accomplishment except speech, and they would speak only they know that they would then be made to work ! I presume that the word " aarvogel" in your article is nothing but a misprint. It should, of course, be " aasvogel," which means " carrion bird."—I am, Sir, &c.,
BERNARD PRICE,
Acting Chaplain to Forces.
D.E.O.r.R. Camp. South African Field Force, Touws River, Cape Colony.
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