94 QUADRUMAXA. 



and testifies it by crying. Its eyes become bedewed with tears when it 

 is vexed or frightened. It is pi"ized b}' the natives for its beauty, its 

 amiable manners, and the gentleness of its disposition. Its activity is 

 astonishing, though its movements are always full of grace. It is inces- 

 santly occupied in play, jumping, and catching insects, especially spiders, 

 which it prefers to all kinds of food." 



Humboldt informs us that the Saimiri listens with the greatest atten- 

 tion to people who ask it questions, and that it even stretches out its 

 hands toward their lips, as if to catch the words that escape from them. 



How many species there are is still disputed by naturalists. Wallace 

 mentions three. 



The Death's Head Ape as it is c?A\&di, Saimiris sciureiis, has a slender 

 form and beautiful colors. It lives in Guiana, in large companies like 

 the Capucins, and is widely diffused. All its habits are graceful ; it 

 climbs with great activity, balancing or steering itself by its tail. Its 

 hair is a reddish-black, sprinkled with gray on the limbs ; in some 

 varieties the head is coal-black, the body a greenish-yellow, and the 

 limbs golden-yellow. It must have derived its name " Death's Head " 

 from some very superficial observer, although the gray face, with its 

 large eyes and jet-black muzzle, is startling enough. 



X.— GENUS CALLITHRIX. 



A slender body, slender limbs, a very long thin tail, a round head 

 with a beardless face and short muzzle, bright eyes, large ears, and five- 

 fingered hands and feet characterize the pretty creatures which form this 

 genus. The generic title is derived from two Greek words, callos beauty, 

 and tlirix hair, and is expressive of the beauty of their fur. The common 

 name for the animal is Tee-tee. The number of species is eleven. 



They live in small bands in the South American forests, and are 

 noticeable for their loud voice, which almost equals that of the Howlers 

 in carrying power. They are shy and timid in freedom, while in cap- 

 tivity they are engaging, intelligent, and affectionate. 



The Tee-tee, Callithrix pcrsonata, (Plate III, Squirrel Monkey.) 

 This species is of a brownish-black color from the breast upward to the 

 middle of the skull ; the back of the head and of the neck are yellowish- 

 white, the rest of the body of a pale dull gray-brown. The hands and 



