30 TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



from the mouth of any one who sent smoke towards it 

 and grinding it on the ground. When several bananas 

 were given it, it held one with its hands and the rest 

 with its feet. It was gentle and affectionate to its 

 master and some others, and liked to lick their hands or 

 face; but it was very hostile to a young Indian, and 

 when in a passion would rub its hands together with 

 extreme rapidity. 



The douroucoulis, or night apes, are, as their name 

 implies, truly nocturnal animals, passing the whole day 

 rolled up asleep, within some hollow tree. Their great 

 eyes, which are said to be luminous at night, seem to 

 suffer much from strong daylight. Humboldt, who kept 

 one for five months, tells us that it slept regularly for 

 from between some time after dawn (at nine o'clock at the 

 latest) till seven in the evening. At night they are as 

 active as other apes are by day, and will make a great noise 

 with their cries. They are reported to be exemplary 

 monogamists. 



We have more than once spoken of those graceful 

 little animals, the squirrel monkeys or " saimiris." They 

 are slender in form, with pretty rounded faces and long 

 heads, which contain more brains in proportion to their 

 bulk than does the skull of man himself. Their brilliant 

 colouring also makes them attractive, and they are said to 

 be affectionate and sensitive as well as gentle, their eyes 

 filling with tears if treated harshly. They are greedy 

 pursuers of insects, and have a somewhat singular taste, 

 as spiders, which they are very dexterous in catching, are 

 their supreme delight. 



The last set of monkeys we have to enumerate is 

 one which differs greatly from all those hitherto 

 noticed. It is composed of the marmosets, or ouistitis, 

 a numerous group of very small animals exclusively 



