Baboon

a large, shaggy, fierce member of the monkey family. There are several species in the rocky parts of Abyssinia, Arabia, North Africa, and Cape Colony. The baboon has a prominent snout, a low forehead, and a profile to which the name "dog-faced" has been applied. It has a heavy mane. The face and the buttocks are bare, and are highly colored-blue, scarlet, and pink. The arms and legs are nearly of a length, permitting it to go on all fours, which it does with a galloping motion, making unexpected speed, especially in climbing among the rocks. The baboon feeds in flocks. It lives chiefly on fruits, roots, birds' eggs, and insects. It fills its large cheek pouch greedily with food before it begins to eat, in order that it may be able to carry away a supply in case of sudden alarm. A baboon has been seen to put eight eggs into its cheek-pouches at once; then take out the eggs, one by one, break the shell at the end, and deliberately suck their contents. The baboon is about the size of a mastiff. The visit of a troop of these animals is greatly dreaded by the African planter; for the baboon is voracious, destructive, and filthy beyond description. It is the most repulsive of the monkey family. It is strong, sullen, not easily tamed, and seems to have no redeeming quality. See Monkey