172 THE TALAPOIN MONKEY, &c. 



THE TALAPOIN 



Is about twelve inches long : its head is round : its ears are 

 black, and shaped like those of the human species : the hair on 

 the upper part of its body is yellow, tinged with green ; but 

 lighter on the throat and belly : its tail is olive-coloured, long 

 and slender. 



THE MONA, OR VARIED MONKEY, 



Is a native of Arabia, Persia, and the northern parts of Africa, 

 and is the best known in Europe of all the monkey tribe. Its 

 back and sides are of a deep brown colour, with black freckles : 

 the legs, feet, and tail, are black : the inside of the thighs, of a 

 pale blue ; and on each side of the tail there is usually a large 

 white spot : the top of the head is yellow, freckled with black ; 

 its nose is short ; its face of a dark lead colour, with the beard 

 on each side long, and of a greenish yellow. When tamed, it 

 will feed on all kinds of victuals, but is particularly fond of fruit. 



The monkeys of America have several characteristics, which 

 distinguish them from those of the old continent. Those of the 

 latter are universally observed to have the posteriors naked and 

 callous, their nostrils formed like those of the human species, 

 and pouches on each side of the mouth for the purpose of pre- 

 serving food. The monkeys of the new continent are different 

 in all these particulars. 



Of all the different species of this kind of animals which either 

 continent produces, 



THE MICO, OR FAIR MONKEY, 



Is the most beautiful : its body is covered with hair of a silver 

 white : its head is small and round : its face and ears are of so 

 lively a vermilion, that it might be supposed the effect of art ; 

 but Nature, in the variety of her colourings, every where shows, 

 that her paintings can receive no addition from the efforts of the 

 pencil. The tail of this animal is long, and of a shining deep 

 chesnut colour, and the whole assemblage of its colours and 

 formation gives it an air of uncommon elegance. 



The mico is a native of the countries of South America, bor- 

 dering on the great river of Amazons ; but we do not hear that 

 it has ever been brought alive into Europe. M. de Condamine 

 obtained one of these beautiful animals on the banks of that 

 river ; but did not succeed in bringing it alive into France, as he 

 intended. 



Having now exhibited a few of the most remarkable and best 

 known varieties of this numerous, frolicsome, mischievous, and 

 singular race, it will be observed, that we have only very slightly 



