THE CHAMECK. 



73 



V. 



greater part of the monkey tribe, the greatest distinction between the two being that the ear 

 of the monkey is destitute of that soft lower lobe, which is so characteristic of the human ear, 

 and through which ladies barbarously hook their auricular trinkets. 



If the reader will refer to the illustration of the Chameck, he will see that the tail is the 

 most conspicuous member of the animal. For the greater part of its length it is thickly 

 covered with long drooping fur, but the last seven or eight inches are nearly denuded of hair 

 on the upper surface, and entirely so on the lower. Towards the base it is extremely thick, 

 and is furnished with muscles of great strength and marvellous flexibility, destined to aid the 

 member in the performance of 

 those curiously active move- 

 ments for which these mon- 

 keys are so renowned. 



The tail of these animals 

 is to them equivalent, and 

 more than equivalent, to a fifth 

 hand. The naked extremity 

 is endowed with so sensitive 

 a surface that it can be applied 

 to most of the uses to which 

 the hand can be put, while the 

 powerful muscles that move it 

 are so strong and lithe that 

 they can exert a singular 

 amount of strength, even so as 

 to suspend the entire weight 

 of the animal. 



In ascending trees or trav- 

 ersing the branches, the mon- 

 keys continually aid their 

 progress by twining the end of 

 the tail round the neighboring 



~ 



boughs. Sometimes they even 

 suspend themselves wholly by 

 their tails, and after giving 

 their bodies a few oscillating 

 movements, boldly swing them- 

 selves from one branch to an- 

 other, clearing considerable 

 spaces in the effort. On account of these capabilities, the tail is known by the name of 

 "prehensile." 



The color of the Chameck is nearly black, and of a uniform tint over the head, body, and 

 limbs. Its hair is rather long and thick, in some parts taking a slight curl. The head is very 

 small in proportion to the rest of the body. During the life of the animal the face is of a deep 

 brown color, as are the ears, cheeks, and chin, on which some long black hairs are scattered 

 at distant intervals. Its lips are possessed of some mobility, but not equal to those of the 

 chimpanzee or orang-outan. 



The most notable monkey of this prehensile-tailed group is the Coaita (Ateles paniscus), 

 an excellent figure of which is presented on next page. It is difficult to conceive of any animal 

 so spider-like in its movements. From this remarkable resemblance to a crawling spider as it 

 moves over branches, putting forth its long snake-like tail and its limbs, it has received the name 

 of Spider Monkey. The limbs are slender and singularly attenuated, and the tail is essentially 

 a fifth arm. The latter member is considerably longer than the body ; its extremity upon 

 the inner surface is soft and like the sensitive inside of the fingers, and is, practically, a very 

 supple and serviceable finger. It is carried with exceeding grace as he advances, and is ever 



CHAMECK. Atelet chamecH 



