LONG-TAILED DWELLERS OF THE TREE-TOPS. 241 



gentle and easily tamed. There are at least fourteen dis- 

 tinct species belonging to this family. 



14. The marmoset is "but little larger than a squirrel, 

 and has a head very much like a fox. It is covered with 

 long, silken hair, and has a bushy tail of moderate length. 

 This tail is not prehensile. Its food is insects and fruits. 

 Humboldt's tame marmoset used to sit by him and inspect 

 his drawings. Pictures of spiders and flies he tried to 

 catch in his paws, but he turned from the picture of a 

 wasp in great terror. 



CHAPTER XL. 



LONG-TAILED DWELLERS OF THE TREE-TOPS. 



1. AMONG the monkeys of the Old World there are 

 some that have long tails and melancholy, solemn-looking 

 countenances. Their tails are of no special use to them in 

 holding or catching the branches of trees. When young 

 they are easily tamed ; but after they have grown old they 

 are cross and often vicious. A curious species is the probos- 

 cis-monkey, remarkable on account of its long nose, which 

 in the male turns down and in the female turns up. This 

 nose gives them a ludicrous expression. They are found 

 in great numbers in the forests of Borneo, and the natives 

 believe them to be men who have run to the woods to 

 avoid paying tribute. 



2. The bonnet-monkey is frequently brought to Eu- 

 rope for exhibition. It is about the size of a large cat, of 

 greenish color, with a long tail. In Bengal it does great 

 injury to fields and gardens. The natives forbid any one 

 to kill it. When young the bonnet-monkey is amusing in 

 confinement, performing all sorts of antics with a look of 



