The Barbary Ape is the only Monkey found in Europe, and differs from
almost all others belonging to the Macaques, in being without a tail.
When full grown it is from three to four feet high. Its general color is
olive green and grey; the face is of a dirty flesh color, with brown
spots, very much wrinkled, and surrounded with dirty grey hair.
It usually goes on all fours. The young animals are very intelligent and
gentle, and they are well known throughout Europe as objects of
exhibition and amusement.
The Barbary Apes prefer to live in rocky places and on the mountains. In
their native home they live upon pine cones, chestnuts, figs, melons,
nuts and vegetables which they carry off from gardens near their homes,
although great care is taken to exclude these mischievous animals. While
they are committing their thefts, two or three mount to the summits of
the trees, and of the highest rocks to keep watch, and as soon as these
sentinels see any one, or hear a noise, they utter a cry of warning, and
immediately the whole troop take to flight, carrying off whatever they
have been able to lay their hands on.