I 7 4 APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



THE WHITE-HEADED SAKI (Pithetia leucocephala) 



The white-headed saki, of which we give a figure, is an inhabitant of Guiana, 

 and may be regarded as the typical representative of the group. It is characterized 

 by its white or yellowish forehead, marked by a central streak of black, the rest of 

 the long fur being black, and the individual hairs of the same color throughout. 

 In common with the two following species, the hair on the crown of the head is 

 arranged in a radiated manner, the beard is broad and single, and the tail clothed 

 with long hair, which, like that on the body, is stiff and coarse. 



HUMBOLDT'S SAKI {Pithetia monachus) 



In the Amazon valley, as far west as Ecuador, the white-headed saki is re- 

 placed by a species distinguished by having no black streak down the middle of the 

 white or yellowish forehead, and also by the greater length of the hair covering 

 the head and body. This species is Humboldt's saki, also known as the hairy 

 saki (P. hirsufa), and, by the inhabitants of the Upper Amazon, as the parauacu. 

 The general color is black with a gray grizzle, and the tip of each hair white. 

 There is, however, a paler variety (P. albicans), in which the general color is gray- 

 ish white, with only a large patch on the back, and the tail black ; the individual 

 hairs being tipped with pure white, as in the ordinary variety. 



When at Ega, far up on the Amazon, and at no very great distance from the 

 frontier of Ecuador, Mr. Bates saw several specimens of this monkey. He describes 

 it as being "a timid, inoffensive creature, with a long bear-like coat of speckled 

 gray hair. The long fur hangs over the head, half concealing the pleasing diminu- 

 tive face, and clothes also the tail to the tip, which member is well developed, being 

 eighteen inches in length, or longer than the body. The parauacu is found on the 

 terra firma lands of the north shore of the Solimoens, from Tunantins to Peru. It 

 exists also on the south side of the river, namely, on the banks of the Teffe, but 

 there under a changed form, which differs a little from its type in colors." The 

 variety here alluded to is the whitish one, which we have already mentioned. Mr. 

 Bates goes on to say that this saki is ' ' a very delicate species, rarely living many 

 weeks in captivity ; but any one who succeeds in keeping it alive for a month or 

 two gains by it a most affectionate pet." Our author then proceeds to notice a 

 specimen of the pale variety which belonged to a French inhabitant of Ega. This 

 animal ' ' became so tame in the course of a few weeks that it followed him about 

 the streets like a dog. My friend was a tailor, and the little pet used to spend the 

 greater part of the day seated on his shoulder, whilst he was at work on his 

 board. It showed, nevertheless, a great dislike to strangers^ and was not on good 

 terms with any other member of my friend's household. I saw no monkey that 

 showed so strong a personal attachment as this gentle, timid, silent little crea- 

 ture. The eager and passionate cebi (sapajous) seem to take the lead of all the 

 South American monkeys in intelligence and docility, and the coaita (spider- 

 monkey) has perhaps the most gentle and impressible disposition ; but the parauacu, 



