36 NATURAL HISTORY. 



and open downward. This makes a great difference in 

 the aspect of the face The monkeys of the Old World 

 have cheek-pouches that is, their cheeks are so loose 

 and bag-like that they can stow away -in them quite a 

 quantity of nuts and other fruits as they gather them, 

 These are not seen in American monkeys. The tails of 

 American monkeys are in most species very long, and ii] 

 many of them it is used as a sort of fifth hand in climb 

 ng. They are inhabitants of the northern half of South 

 America. They are especially abundant in the vast for- 

 est-plains between the Orinoco and the Amazon. They 

 live in trees, and pass from one tree to another with the 

 same facility that squirrels do with us.* 



53. I will notice but three of the many species. The 

 Coaita Spider Monkey, Fig. 16, uses its tail, as you see, 



Fig. 16. Coaita Spider Monkey. 



in climbing. It has been known to hang to a branch by 

 it for some time after being killed by a shot. It uses its 

 tail also to feel with, and to seize small things, such as 

 3ggs. For these purposes the end is destitute of hair, 

 and is very sensitive. This animal is easily chilled, and 



* Animals that live thus are said to be arboreal in their habits, from 

 die Latin word arbor, tree 



