THE LONG-TUSKED MARMOSETS, OR TAMARINS 195 



THE NEGRO TAMARIN (Midas ursulus} 



One of the best known of all the species is the common or negro tamarin, which 

 is found in Guiana and the lower part of the Amazon valley. It belongs to a group 

 in which both the forehead and face are hairy, and the hair of the head not longer 

 than that of the body ; the ears being large and naked. The color is a nearly 

 uniform black, especially on the nose, lips, and hands ; but the hinder part of the 

 body has the fur more or less mottled with grayish white. Although not known as 

 a distinct species at the time of Linnaeus, this marmoset was described by the early 

 French naturalists, and distinguished by Buffon as the Tamarin ttigre. 



Mr. Bates writes that the negro tamarin "is never seen in large flocks, three or 

 four being the greatest number observed together. It seems to be less afraid of the 

 neighborhood of man than are other monkeys. I sometimes saw it in the woods 

 which border the suburban streets [of Para] , and once I espied two individuals in a 

 thicket behind the English consul's house at Nazareth. Its mode of progression 

 along the main boughs of the lofty trees is like that of the squirrel ; it does not 

 ascend to the slender branches, or take the wonderful flying leaps which the Cebida 

 do, whose prehensile tails and flexible hands fit them for such headlong traveling. 

 It confines itself to the larger boughs and trunks of trees, the long nails being of 

 great assistance to the creature, enabling it to cling securely to the bark ; and it is 

 often seen passing rapidly round the perpendicular cylindrical trunks. It is a quick, 

 timid, restless, little creature, and has a great share of curiosity, for when a person 

 passes by under the trees along which a flock is running, they all stop for a few 

 moments to have a stare at the intruder. In Para, M. ursulus is often seen in a tame 

 state in the houses of the inhabitants. When full-grown it is about nine inches long, 

 independently of the tail, which measures fifteen inches. The fur is thick, and black 

 in color, with the exception of a reddish-brown streak down the middle of the back. 

 When first taken, or when kept tied up, it is very timid and irritable. It will not 

 allow itself to be approached, but keeps retreating backwards when anyone attempts 

 to coax it. It is always in a querulous humor, uttering a twittering, complaining 

 noise ; its dark, watchful eyes, expressive of distrust, observant of every movement 

 which takes place near it. When treated kindly, however, as it generally is in the 

 houses of the natives, it becomes very tame and familiar. I once saw one as playful 

 as a kitten, running about the house after the negro children, who fondled it to 

 their hearts' content. It acted somewhat differently towards strangers, and seemed 

 not to see them seated in the hammock which was slung in the room, leaping up, 

 trying to bite, and otherwise annoying them. It is generally fed on sweet fruits, 

 such as the banana ; but it is also fond of insects, especially soft-bodied spiders and 

 grasshoppers, which it will snap up with eagerness, when within reach. The ex- 

 pression of countenance in these small monkeys is intelligent and pleasing. This is 

 partly due to the small facial angle, which is given as 60 ; but the quick move- 

 ments of the head, and the way they have of inclining it to one side when their 

 curiosity is excited, contribute very much to give them a knowing expression." 



