MIRIKI.—Brachyteles hypoxanthus. 
The throat, breast, inside of the limbs, and the under side of the tail are much lighter 
in tint, while in some individuals a large, bright chestnut patch covers the latter half of 
the sides. 
It seems to be of rather a listless character, delighting to bask in the sun’s rays, and 
lying in the strangest attitudes for hours without moving. One of the postures which is 
most in vogue is achieved by throwing the head back with the eyes turned up, and 
then flinging the arms over the head, The position in which this animal is depicted in 
the illustration i is a very favourite one with most of the spider monkeys. 
There are several other species belonging to this group of animals, among which may 
be mentioned the Cayou, or Black Spider. Monkey, the Chuva, the Brown Coaita, and 
others. The habits, however, of all these creatures are very similar, and therefore only 
one more example will be described. This is the Mrrikt, or Mono, as some authors 
call it. 
The hair of this species is very thick, short, and furry, of a tolerably uniform brown 
tint over the head, body, and limbs, the paws being much darker than the rest of the 
animal. There is a slight moustache formed by a continuation of the long black hairs 
which are scantily planted on the chin and face. On account of the thick coating of fur 
with which the skin of this animal is covered, water has but little effect upon it. 
Knowing this wet-repellent property, the hunters of Brazil are accustomed to make the 
skin of the Miriki into cases wherewith to cover the locks of their guns in rainy days. 
This species is easily distinguishable from its companions by the presence of a better 
developed thumb on the fore-paws than falls to the lot of spider monkeys generally. 
T conclude the account of the spider monkeys with a few anecdotes of one of these 
animals, that have been kindly narrated to me by its owner, a captain in the royal 
navy. 
