THE MARIMONDA. 77 



clutching the boughs, and at the same time slightly lengthen the chain. They then clamber 

 up the tree as high as the chain will stretch, or the boughs bear the strain, and take a firm 

 hold of a tough branch. A second signal is now given, and the monkey on the opposite bank 

 relaxing his hold, the entire line of monkeys swings across the river, perhaps slightly duck- 

 ing the lowermost in the passage. Once arrived, the lower monkeys drop to the ground, while 

 the others catch at branches, and break their connection with the much-enduring individual 

 at the top. When the last monkey has secured itself, the leaders descend the tree, and the 

 whole troop proceed on their march. 



Those who have witnessed this curious scene, say that it is a most amusing affair, and 

 that there is a considerable comic element in it, on account of the exuberant spirits of the 

 younger and less staid individuals, who delight in playing off little practical jokes on the com- 

 ponent parts of the bridge in their passage ; knowing that there is no opportunity for imme- 

 diate retaliation, and trusting to escape ultimately in the confusion that follows the renewal of 

 the march. 



The Coaita is by no means a large animal, measuring very little more than a foot from the 

 nose to the root of the tail, while the tail itself is two feet in length. Its color is very dark 

 and glossy ; so dark, indeed, as to be almost black. The hair varies much in length and 

 density. On the back and the outside of the limbs it hangs in long drooping locks, forming a 

 thick covering through which the skin cannot be seen. But on the abdomen the hair is quite 

 scanty, and is so thinly scattered that the skin is plainly visible. The skin of the face is of a 

 dark copper color. 



The Coaita seems to be as much averse to the intrusion of strangers into its domains as 

 the African monkeys, whose proceedings have been already narrated. Banding together in 

 large troops, these monkeys will assault a stronger with great vigor. Their first proceeding 

 upon the approach of any intruder, whether man or beast, is to descend to the lower branches 

 of their trees, and to satisfy themselves by a close inspection, whether the object be a friend 

 or a trespasser. Having decided on the latter point of view, they re-ascend to their strong- 

 hold, and commence an assault by pelting with sticks, and keep up their attacks, until they 

 fairly worry the intruder out of their dominions. 



Another example of this wonderful group of monkeys is found in the MARIMONDA ; an 

 inhabitant, like the two last-named animals, of Central America, and found in greatest num- 

 bers in Spanish Guiana, where, according to Humboldt, it fills the place of the Coaita. 



The general shape, the formation of its limbs, and the long prehensile tail, point it out at 

 once as another of the spider monkeys. It is certainly a very appropriate name for these ani- 

 mals. Their heads are so small, their bodies so short, their limbs so slender, and their tail so 

 limb-like, that the mind unconsciously draws a parallel between these monkeys and the long- 

 legged spiders that scuttle so awkwardly over the ground, and are so indifferent respecting 

 their complement of legs. 



The resemblance holds good even when the monkey is at rest, or even when it only appears 

 before the eye in an illustration. But when the creature begins to walk on level ground, 

 and especially if it be hurried, its clumsy movements are so very spider-like, that the simili- 

 tude is ten times more striking. Be it remarked, that both creatures are supposed to be 

 placed in uncongenial circumstances. The spider is deft and active enough among the many 

 threads of its air-suspended nets, as is the monkey among the slight twigs of the air-bathed 

 branches. But when both animals are subjected to circumstances which are directly opposed 

 to their natural mode of existence, they become alike awkward, and alike afford subjects of 

 mirth. 



The mode by which a spider monkey walks on level ground is rather singular, and diffi- 

 cult to describe, being different from that which is employed by the large apes. They do not 

 set the sole of either paw, or hand, flat upon the ground, but, turning the hinder feet inwards, 

 they walk upon their outer sides. The reverse process takes place with the fore-paws, which 

 are twisted outwards, so that the weight of the animal is thrown upon their inner edges. 



It will easily be seen how very awkward an animal must be which is forced to employ so 

 complicated a means for the purpose of locomotion. Although it has been already stated that 



