238 NEIGHBORS WITH CLA WS AND HOOFS. 



arms and clinging tail it can carry its light body through 

 the tree-tops with surprising rapidity. They are gentle 

 and timid, and, when not frightened, they are slow and 

 deliberate in their movements. They sometimes are made 

 household pets in their native regions, but, for two rea- 

 sons, they never can be tolerated like the cat and dog ; 

 and these are, their propensity for destructive mischief 

 and their unpleasant and unseemly habits. 



8. Paez gives this description of them : " These monk- 

 eys are very destructive of cocoa - plantations and corn- 

 fields. When about to commence their depredations, they 

 usually assemble in great numbers and exercise many pre- 

 cautions. The first step is to station several of their num- 

 ber as sentinels upon the highest trees overlooking the 

 avenues leading to the plantation, to give warning of ap- 

 proaching danger. The next proceeding is that of placing 

 the females and young, who can not take part in the foray, 

 in some safe retreat. They then invest the corn-field in 

 earnest, pulling down the stalks and tearing off the ears 

 of corn with astonishing rapidity, chattering, laughing, 

 and yelling all the while, like a set of mischievous school- 

 boys in the absence of the master. 



9. " When they have obtained a sufficient number of 

 ears, they split the husks, and tie them in pairs by means 

 of a peculiar knot which in consequence is called a ' monk- 

 ey-tie.' They then throw the ears across their backs, 

 and hasten to hide their booty in some safe place in the 

 depths of the forest. It often happens that they are sur- 

 prised by the owner of the corn-field, who suddenly ap- 

 pears and pours a shower of shot into their midst. Then, 

 with shrill cries of alarm, the whole troop scamper off 

 helter-skelter, tumbling, pitching, or hobbling on all-fours, 

 but never dropping a particle of their plunder. It is gen- 

 erally believed in the llanos that, after such a surprise, 



