The Entellus Monkey is a native of India. It is not small, by any means, measuring nearly thirty-six inches in length, not counting the tail. They belong to the family of Indian monkeys that is sacred. This fact makes them very bold and impudent. They enter villages, sit in the porches and sills (preferably those of the pastry-cook and corn - sellers), and from there steal when the master's back is turned, while the poor pastry-cook is not allowed to revenge himself, but simply sighs and keeps a better watch.
The origin of this monkey-reverence is said to lie in the fact that its skeleton bears some resemblance to man, and long ago the natives believed that the souls of the departed came back, and were reincarnated in the monkeys. To molest one would rouse the whole village to fury, and there were many instances on record where hunters came to grief by doing so.
Though these monkeys live a secluded life under human protection, there is always one deadly enemy on the watch, the snake, which crawls stealthily after them among the branches. The monkey, grown careless through life with man, falls an easy victim to the snake's fangs. When a snake is discovered, the whole neighborhood boils with excitement, and the yelling band pelts and harasses the invader, always keeping well out of its way, however. Occasionally the tables are turned, for if a monkey finds a snake asleep in a high tree, it creeps down to assure itself that it is no trick. Then it will do one of two things, either push the snake off suddenly from its perch, hoping that the fall will injure it, or, boldly seizing it behind the head, scamper with it to the ground. There it will dash its head against a wall or among stones, pausing every once in awhile to see how the work is progressing. Once the fangs are crushed, so as to be harmless, the poor reptile is thrown among the young monkeys, who torment it still further, until it is dead. When the entellus monkey is not living near a village, it carries on its raids in much the same manner among the jungle-folk. Should a tiger appear, the monkey climbs to the highest branches, and from there insults the royal beast below.
The long tail of the species does not seem to be of much benefit to the owner, unless, perhaps, for balancing purposes ; but as a fifth arm it is never used. The general color of this monkey is a dark grayish-brown, although when young it is several shades lighter. The hands and feet are black, and there is also some black around the head.
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| One the entellus monkey is safe up a tree, it will torment all of it's enemies below. | | | | |
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"The Monkey at the Zoo'' sheet music
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