20 CAPUCHIN OF THE ORINOCO. 



through the day, and hunts for birds and insects in 

 the night, hissing like a cat, or making the forests 

 resound with the cry of " muh, muh !" 



The Capuchin (S. capucinus) of the Orinoco 

 is brought to light by the same indefatigable natu- 

 ralist. He is described as resembling man more 

 nearly than any other of the transatlantic monkeys. 

 Robust and active, fierce and untameable, his eyes 

 have an expression of melancholy blended with 

 ferocity, while his chin is hidden with a long and 

 bushy beard. In order to avoid the danger of wet- 

 ting this venerable appendage, he never puts his 

 lips to the water, or to the vessel that contains it, 

 but fills the hollow of his hand, and then conveys it 

 to his mouth, at the same time that he inclines his 

 head upon his shoulder. Hence the appellation 

 which has been given him of Cheiropotes, or Hand- 

 drinker. 



This formidable creature has been seen on the 

 banks of the Orinoco, beneath those lofty fan- 

 palms that once supported the warlike nation of the 

 Guaraunes, 



Who dwelt " aloft on life-sufficing trees, 



At once their dome, their robe, their food, and arms." 



Time was, when he who sailed by night on the 

 Orinoco saw with astonishment a long line of 

 mysterious lights, seemingly suspended in the air. 

 These were fires kindled for domestic purposes in 

 the dwellings of the Guaraunes, and kept blazing 

 through the night, to keep off musquitoes. The 

 dwellings were made of mats, ingeniously woven 

 with stalks and leaves, and suspended from tree to 

 tree ; they were partly covered over with clay, and 



