CEBUS 85 



There are seven males all with the hair short and lying flat on the 

 head like the typical form. In the absence of any other character to 

 support a distinctive rank, the skulls also showing none, it would seem 

 proper to consider imitator as a synonym of C. capucinus. That this 

 peculiarity of bushy tufts on the heads of the females only is not 

 restricted to this animal, the males not possessing them, is seen in the 

 females of the species I have called C. apiculatus, which have tufted 

 heads, the males not. This fact alone with no other characters, would 

 hardly be deemed sufficient for the examples to be given a distinct 

 specific rank. 



Belt, who met with this species in Nicaragua, says (1. c.) that 

 sometimes a troop of the White-faced Cebus would be met rapidly 

 running away, throwing themselves from tree to tree. It feeds on 

 fruits, but is also constantly searching for insects in the crevices in 

 trees and among withered leaves, and the largest beetles are seized and 

 munched with avidity. It also is very fond of eggs and nestlings. It 

 is an intelligent and mischievous animal, and he had one as a pet 

 for a long time, whose antics were very amusing. At first it was kept 

 chained but it would open the links and go directly to the nests of the 

 fowls, and break every egg it could get; after a day or two it would 

 permit itself to be captured. 



When there were young ducks about, it would hold out a piece of 

 bread in one hand and a duck being tempted to approach within its 

 reach, it would seize it with the other and kill it by biting the breast. 



When any one fondled him, he would pick his pockets diligently, 

 pulling out letters and taking them from the envelopes, and anything 

 eatable at once disappeared in his mouth. Once he took a bottle of 

 turpentine from the pocket of a medical officer, drew the cork, held it 

 first to one nostril, then the other, made a wry face, recorked it and 

 returned it to the doctor. When he was about to be punished for some 

 of his misdeeds, he would try to intimidate by uttering a shrill threaten- 

 ing note and showing his teeth. His notes varied from a gruff bark to 

 a shrill whistle and by them his owner could tell whether he was 

 hungry, or eating, frightened or menacing, even without seeing him. 

 Once near Juigalpa, Belt saw a troop of this species on the ground 

 among low scattered trees. Their attitudes were amusing as some 

 stood upright trying to get a better view of the intruder, while others 

 arched their backs like cats. They remained quite still, watching, but a 

 few steps towards them sent them scampering away, barking. Belt 

 misnames them C. albifrons, but that species is not found in Central 

 America. 



