BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. 
ZOOLOGIA. 
Class I. MAMMALIA. 
Subclass I. MONODELPHIA. 
Order I. PRIMATES. 
OnE of the most striking characters of the Mammalian fauna of Central America is 
the presence of Monkeys, a group which, in the New World, is entirely confined to 
the Neotropical Region. Both the families, and six out of the ten genera, of American 
Monkeys are represented within our limits by at least eleven species. 
The existence of these animals north of the Isthmus of Panama, though long over- 
looked by zoologists, was recorded by several of the older voyagers, of whom William 
Dampier and Lionel Wafer may be specially mentioned. Some of their quaint obser- 
vations seem worthy of being reproduced; and they may best be given here, as it is 
not always possible to determine the exact species to which they refer. 
Thus Captain Dampier, in his “Two Voyaces to Campeachy; with a Description 
of the Coasts, Product, Inhabitants, Logwood-Cutting, Trade, &c. of Jucatan, Cam- 
peachy, New Spain, &c.” (* Voyages,’ vol. ii.: London, 1729), has the following passage 
(pp. 59, 60) :— 
“The Monkeys that are in these Parts are the ugliest I ever saw. They are much 
bigger than a Hare, and have great Tails about two Foot and a half long. The under- 
side of their Tails is all bare, with a black hard Skin; but the upper-side, and all the 
Body is covered with coarse, long, black, staring Hair. These Creatures keep together 
20 or 30 in a Company, and ramble over the Woods; leaping from Tree to Tree. If 
they meet with a single Person they will threaten to devour him. When I have been 
alone I have been afraid to shoot them, especially the first Time I met them. They 
were a great Company dancing from Tree to Tree, over my Head; chattering and 
making a terrible Noise; and a great many grim Faces, and shewing antick Gestures. 
BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Mamm. Vol. 1, Sept. 1879. B 
