On a neiv Species of Monkey. 339 



accustomed to so strong a stimulus : an observation so much 

 the more curious, that the pimelodes of the same species, 

 which inhabit the brooks in the vicinity of the city of Quito> 

 Hve exposed to the brightness of the meridian sun. 



LXr. Meinoir on a new Species of Monkey found in the 

 eastern Declivity of the Andes. By M. de Humboldt*. 



In the vast plains which extend from the eastern declivity 

 of the Andes towards the shores of the Brazils, in the thick 

 forests on the Amazons, Rio Negro (Black River), and 

 Oronoco, the cavia capybara, sus tajassu, and the monkeys, 

 are the quadrupeds most common. The marmose and alou- 

 ate prevail over all the others, whether for variety of species 

 or number of individuals. Some of these monkeys, such 

 as the capuchin of Oronoco, very different from the si7nia 

 capucina Linn., the tiger-monkey or cusicusi, and the wi- 

 dow, (thrte new species which 1 have discovered,) live in 

 pairs, melancholv, mistrustful, flying (like man in a savage 

 state) their proper species. Others, especially the sagouin 

 and howling monkey, are seen in troops, from 80 to 100, 

 springing from branch to branch in search of nourishment. 

 The saimiri of Buffon, that are the titi of Aturcs {simia 

 sciurea), so esteemed on account of their gaiety, their mild- 

 ness, and extreme littleness, assemble together when it be- 

 gins to rain. A fall of temperature of three or four degrees 

 of the centigrade thermometer disturbs them so much, that 

 they mutually embrace each other and form balls or knots, 

 of which each individual seeks to occupy the middle, in 

 order to find shelter. The Indian hunters, advertised by ihe 

 cry of the titi, direct their arrows towards these flocks. 



Notwithstanding the great number of monkeys that na- 

 turalists have described, it is probable that we are still ig- 

 norant of the tenth part existing. In Africa, and even 

 in South America, there are vast plains of twenty thousand 



• From Rciucil (TOi.enatior.i de Znologie cl tl'.inalomic compare, Ire livraison. 



Y 2 square 



