384 Savage and Wyman 



suit of food and solitude, according to the force of circum- 

 stances. We more often see them in elevated places ; but 

 this arises from the fact that the low grounds being more 

 favorable for the natives' rice-farms, are the oftener cleared, 

 and, hence, are almost always wanting in suitable trees for 

 their nests. The same remark holds also in respect to the 

 fruit trees upon which they depend for subsistence ; except 

 perhaps the Elais guiniensis or ' Pahn tree.^ This is pro- 

 tected from the destructive effects of the fire with which the 

 land is cleared, by the peculiar arrangement of its leaf stalks. 

 It is seldom that more than one or two nests are seen upon 

 the same tree or in the same neighborhood ; five have been 

 found, but it was an unusual circumstance. 



" They do not live in ' villages,' as stated by some in re- 

 spect to other localities. They are more often seen in pairs 

 than in gangs. They are more numerous in the months of 

 September, October and November, when the natives ' leave 

 the hush,^ that is, have gathered in their rice-crops, being the 

 less exposed to interruption in their habits. Then, also, is the 

 season when the greatest number of fruits come to maturity. 

 The cherries and plums, both acid and sweet, are then ob- 

 tained in abundance. 



" When at rest, the sitting posture is that generally assumed. 

 They are sometimes seen standing and walking, but when 

 thus detected they immediately ' take to all fours,' and flee 

 from the presence of the observer. Such is their organization, 

 that they cannot stand erect, but lean forward. Hence, they 

 are seen when standing, with the hands clasped over the occi- 

 put or the lumbar region, which would seem necessary to 

 balance, or ease of posture. 



" The toes of the adult are strongly flexed, and turned in- 

 wards, and cannot be perfectly straitened. In the attempt, 

 the skin gathers into thick folds on the back, showing that 

 the full expansion of the foot, as is necessary in walking, is 

 unnatural. The natural position is upon ' all fours,^ the 

 body anteriorly resting upon the knuckles. These are greatly 

 enlarged, with the skin protuberant and thickened like the 



