ATELES. Tt 
from the dark ornatus form of Geoffroy’s Monkey has already been alluded to, namely 
the sharp definition of the colours of their upper and lower parts. The former varies 
considerably, being almost uniform dull black in one Vera-Paz specimen, and strongly 
washed with rufous on the flanks and loins in others from the same province. The 
extent of the pale colour on the breast and throat, inside of the limbs, and under 
surface of the tail is most variable both in Mexican and Guatemalan examples; and 
therefore the distinctions between Professor Schlegel’s A. fuliginosus and A. pan prove 
to be neither constant nor correlated with geographical distribution. 
As shown by the localities quoted above, the Mexican Spider-Monkey is found in 
Guatemala from coast to coast; for Mr. Sclater was misled by an imperfect skin when 
he stated that the form found on the Pacific slopes was A. ornatus (=A. geoffroyi)*. 
Mr. Salvin informs me that when he and Mr. Godman were in Guatemala together 
they never themselves actually came across any individuals of Ateles, though they 
passed some time in forests frequented by them. A single skin was all they obtained 
in Vera Paz, though the species is said to be by no means uncommon in the forest 
country in the northern part of that Department. On the Pacific side Mr. Salvin passed 
near a troop when riding from Retalhuleu to Huamuchal, but did not actually come up 
with it; but near the same spot, on the return journey, a collector employed by him 
secured the specimen now in the British Museum. During his first visit to Guatemala 
in 1858 Mr. Salvin once came near a troop at the summit of the ridge of mountains 
which connects the Volcan de Fuego with the main Cordillera. This was at an eleva- 
tion of about 8300 feet above the sea. Indian hunters always spoke of Monkeys 
(doubtless of this species) being found in these upland forests. 
During Mr. Salvin’s last visit to Guatemala (in 1873-74) he met with Ateles vellerosus 
in numbers in the forests of the Volcano of Atitlan. On the 22nd January 1874 
he made an expedition from the village of San Agustin, with the object of ascertaining 
the most practicable part to attempt an ascent of the mountain. On this occasion he 
ascended to a height of about 6000 feet, and during the last 1000 feet or so met with 
several troops of Ateles in the tops of the higher trees of the forest. One of these, 
the specimen now in the British Museum, he shot. ‘These parties of Monkeys were 
usually about twenty in number and of all ages. On approaching them they did not 
evince any alarm, but kept uttering a constant querulous sort of bark, and moved from 
time to time so as to get a better view of the intruder. A few days afterwards, during 
an excursion to the same volcano, when the summit, 11,800 feet above the sea, was 
reached, numerous troops of Ateles were seen in the forest from an elevation of 7000 
feet to as low as 2500 feet, on the outskirts of the coffee-plantations of San Agustin. So 
far as Mr. Salvin could observe with his glass, these Monkeys showed no variation in 
colour, being dark above and light beneath; but the trees in which they were found 
were very.lofty, and the foliage so dense as to make it difficult to observe them 
accurately. 
C 2 
