338 ANIMALS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD OF EGA. Cunap. XII. 
It was in this way that my compadre discovered the colony from which 
the one given to me was taken. I was obliged to keep my pet chained 
up; it therefore never became thoroughly familiar. I once saw, how- 
ever, an individual of the other species (N. felinus) which was most 
amusingly tame. It was as lively and nimble as the Cebi, but not so 
mischievous, and far more confiding in its disposition, delighting to be 
caressed by all persons who came into the house. But its owner, the 
Municipal Judge of Ega, Dr. Carlos Mariana, had treated it for many 
weeks with the greatest kindness, allowing it to sleep with him at night 
in his hammock, and to nestle in his bosom half the day as he lay read- 
ing. It was a great favourite with every one, from the cleanliness of 
its habits and the prettiness of its features and ways. My own pet was 
kept in a box, in which was placed a broad-mouthed glass jar ; into this 
it would dive, head-foremost, when any one entered the room, turning 
round inside, and thrusting forth its inquisitive face an instant after- 
wards to stare at the intruder. It was very active at night, venting at 
frequent intervals a hoarse cry, like the suppressed barking of a dog, and 
scampering about the room, to the length of its tether, after cockroaches 
and spiders. In climbing between the box and the wall, it straddled 
the space, resting its hands on the palms and tips of the outstretched 
fingers, with the knuckles bent at an acute angle, and thus mounted to 
the top with the greatest facility. Although seeming to prefer insects, 
it ate all kinds of fruit, but would not touch raw or cooked meat, and was 
very seldom thirsty. I was told by persons who had kept these monkeys 
loose about the house, that they cleared the chambers of bats as well as 
insect vermin. When approached gently, my Ei-a allowed itself to be 
caressed ; but when handled roughly, it always took alarm, biting 
severely, striking out its little hands, and making a hissing noise like 
a cat. As already related, my pet was killed by a jealous Caiardra 
monkey, which was kept in the house at the same time. 
I have mentioned the near relationship of the night apes to the 
Sai-miris (Chrysothrix), which are amongst the commonest of the 
ordinary monkeys of the American forests. _This near relationship is the 
more necessary to be borne in mind, as some zoologists have drawn a 
comparison between the Nyctipitheci and the Microcebi, Nycticebi, and 
Loris, nocturnal apes of the Lemur family inhabiting Ceylon and Java, 
and it might be erroneously inferred that our American Ei-ds were 
related more closely to these Old World forms than they are to the rest 
of the New World monkeys. The Nycticebus of Java has also large 
nocturnal eyes, short ears, and a physiognomy similar to that of our 
Nyctipitheci; resemblances which might seem to be strong proofs of 
blood-relationship, but these points are fallacious guides in ascertaining 
the genealogy of these animals; they are simply vesemblances of analogy, 
and merely show that a few species belonging to utterly dissimilar 
families have been made similar by being adapted to similar modes of 
life. The Loris and their relatives of Tropical Asia have six incisor 
teeth to the lower jaws, and belong, in all other essential points of 
structure, to the Lemur family, which has not a single representative in 
the New World. The Ei-ds have teeth of the same number, and growing 
in nearly the same position, as their near relatives the Sai-miris. I 
