NATURAL HISTORY. 



21 



Monkeys are said to use this member for hooking out objects 

 where a hand could not be inserted. The tail is of considerable 

 use in climbing among the branches of trees ; they coil it 

 round the boughs to lower or raise themselves, and often will 

 suspend themselves entirely by it, and then by a powerful 

 impetus swing off to some distant branch. The habits of ail 

 the Spider Monkeys are very similar. They are extremely 

 sensitive to cold, and when chilly are in the habit of wrapping 

 their tail about them, so that this useful organ answers the 

 purpose of a boa as well as a hand. They will also, when 

 shot, fasten their tail so firmly on the branches, that they 

 remain suspended after death. The genus is called Ateles, 

 or imperfect, because in most of the species the thumb is 

 wanting. The Coaita inhabits Surinam and Guinea. 

 Several genera are omitted. 



MYCETI:S. (Gr. /uvi^Tv/r, a howler.) 



Urslnus (Lat. Ursa, a bear Bear-like), the Ursine Holder. 



The HOWLING MONKEYS are larger and more clumsy than 

 the Spider Monkeys, and are chiefly remarkable for the pecu- 

 liarity from which they derive their name. These 



