HOWLING MONKEY. 7 



their movement on the ground. Unable to bound 

 or leap, they rather drag themselves along than 

 walk, by advancing their long legs and arms alter- 

 nately, and endeavouring to preserve an equilibrium 

 by clinging with their tails to the trunks of trees. 

 But in proportion to their slow and embarrassed 

 movements on the earth, so are they alert and active 

 in the forests, where they are often seen to traverse 

 even the smallest branches with inconceivable rapi- 

 dity. They dart from one tree to another, even 

 when separated by a considerable interval, and as 

 they subsist principally on fruit, they rarely have 

 occasion to descend from their places of resort, ex- 

 cept in quest of water. 



There is much kindliness in their disposition, for 

 they live in small communities, and assist one the 

 other. Should any traveller intrude on their do- 

 main, in places where they have not learned to fear 

 the face of man, they pelt him with stones and 

 branches. Doubtless they act thus every time they 

 see a new object, but the instinct by which they are 

 excited rather impels them to menace and disturb, 

 than to attack the intruder in close combat. They 

 act as if they wished to repress the audacity of him 

 who would penetrate through the intricacies of their 

 green-wood shades, and probably, with animals in 

 general, this method of proceeding answers the de- 

 sired purpose. But should the intruder be more 

 formidable than they at first supposed, should he, 

 regardless of their ancient prerogative, fire at, or 

 otherwise injure, an Howling Monkey, the rest be- 

 take themselves to the topmost boughs, and make 

 the woods resound with lamentable cries. The 



