92 QUADRUMANA. 



caress it. After a few days or weeks of captivity, it becomes indifferent 

 to everything, refuses food, and slowly pines away. Many of them die 

 of inflammation of the lungs. During sickness the bright scarlet of the 

 face becomes duller, but the red tint does not entirely disappear till about 

 two hours after death. Ueville saw one in captivity which was kindly 

 disposed to white men, but could not endure Indians. It lived on fruits, 

 and drank from a cup which it held in both hands. Although quite 

 tame, it exhibited a great longing for freedom, and made every effort to 

 escape. 



The sub-family Nyctipithecinae contains three genera of small and 

 elegant monkeys, with long hairy non-prehensile tails. 



VIII.— GENUS NYCTIPITHECUS. 



These night monkeys have large eyes, nocturnal habits, and are rather 

 lemurine in appearance. Five species have been described ; the best 

 known is 



THE DOUROUCOULI. 



The DOUROUCOULI, Nyetipitliecus trivirgatus. The word Nyctipithe- 

 cus or Night Ape, which is used as the generic title of the Douroucouli, 

 refers to its habits, which are more strictly nocturnal than those of the 

 animals heretofore mentioned. The eyes of this little creature are so 

 sensitive to light that it cannot endure the glare of day, and only awakes 

 to activity and energv when the shades of night throw their welcome 

 veil over the face of nature. 



In its wild state, it seeks the shelter of some hollow tree or other 

 darkened place of refuge, and there abides during the hours of daylight, 

 buried in a slumber so deep that it can with difficulty be aroused, even 

 though the rough hand of its captor drag it from its concealment. 

 During sleep, it gathers all its four feet closely together, and drops its 

 head between its fore-paws. It seems to be one of the owls of the mon- 

 key race. 



The food of this Douroucouli is mostly of an animal nature ; and 

 consists chiefly of insects and small birds, which it hunts and captures in 

 the night season. After dark the Douroucouli awakes from tlie torpid 



