THE PROBOSCIS MONKEY. 4] 
infirm companion to perish from hunger and thirst, or the more merciful claws of the 
wild beasts, will be outraged in their feelings because a monkey has been wounded. 
The hunters in India find these animals to be useful auxiliaries in some cases, though 
tiresome in the main. They collect on boughs when a tiger or similar animal of prey 
passes under them, and often serve to point out to the hunter the whereabouts of the 
quarry. A tree thus covered with monkeys is a curious sight ; for the boughs are studded 
with them as thickly as fruit, and the pendent tails give an rabsurd appearance to the group. 
Although each part of every animal must be formed with some definite object, there 
are many which seem to be devoid of use, and among them is the monkey’s tail. 
Some of the monkeys—the spider-monkeys of America, for example—find in their 
tail a most useful member, by means of which they can suspend themselves from 
boughs, aid their limbs in tree-climbing, or, on an emergency, pick an object out of a 
erevice which the hand could not enter. But the use of the tails belonging to these old- 
world monkeys does seem to be very obscure. 
Some writers have opined that the tails are intended to balance the body in the 
various attitudes assumed by its owner. But when we reply that the Gibbons, although 
very much more agile, and, from their very form, requiring more balancing than the 
monkeys, yet are totally devoid of tails, this supposition falls to the ground. It cannot 
be for the purpose of flapping away flies that these animals are furnished with such long 
and slender tails, for their shape renders them useless for that occupation ; and, besides, 
the hands of the monkey are much better fly-flappers than its tail could possibly be. 
The question arises, “ What does the monkey do with his tail ?” 
Answer. He nibbles it sometimes, when he is at a loss for occupation. 
It is a curious fact that—at all events in captivity—the long-tailed monkeys will eat 
their tails, and nothing seems to deter them from this strange act. The tips of those 
members have been covered with plaisters, and have been tied up in bandages, but without 
effect. The ends of the tails have been treated with aloes, cayenne pepper, and other 
disagreeable substances, just as the finger-tips of a nail-biting child are dressed. But, 
though the creature splutters and makes strange grimaces at the horrid flavours that greet 
his palate, he cannot refrain from the accustomed luxury, and perseveres in his nibbling. 
One great charm of this habit seems to be the excitement felt by the monkey in trying 
how far he can nibble without smarting for it. Whatever may be the cause, the effect is 
that the tail is gradually eaten up, in spite of all endeavours to prevent such a consum- 
mation. Considered in a social light, the tails are calculated to promote the merriment of 
the company, for they are admirable handles for practical jokes, and afford mutual 
amusement, not unmingled with indignation. 
The Proposcis MONKEY, or KAHAU, as it is sometimes 
called, on account of its cry bearing some resemblance to 
that word, is an inhabitant of Borneo, and probably of 
several neighbouring countries. It is, as may be seen by 
the engraving, an animal of very unattractive features, 
principally on account of its enormously lengthened nose. 
This feature does not present itself in perfection until the 
Kahau has reached its maturity. When the animal is very 
young, there are but few indications of the singular length 
to which thisfeature will attain ; for, although it is rather 
more prominent than in most of the monkeys, it is rather 
of that description of nose denominated “ retroussé.” 
In size, the Kahau is about equal to the hoonuman, 
and seems to be an active animal, leaping from branch to 
branch, through distances of fifteen feet or more. The KAHAU.—Presbjtes Larvétus. 
natives assert, that while leaping they take their noses in 
their hands, in order to guard that feature from being damaged by contact with branches. 
Whether this refinement of caution be true or not, it is certain that they do hold their 
outstretched hands in a manner unlike that of the generality of monkeys, and probably 
for the purpose just mentioned. 
