Monkeys. 181 



canoe," says he, " the creature made a halt from skipping 

 after his companions, and, being perched on a branch 

 that overhung the water, examined me with the strongest 

 marks of curiosity; while he chattered prodigiously, 

 and kept shaking the boughs on which he rested, with 

 incredible strength and agility. At this time I laid my 

 piece to my shoulder and brought him down from the 

 tree : but may I never again be witness to such a scene ! 

 The miserable animal was not dead, but mortally 

 wounded. I seized him by the tail, and taking him in 

 both my hands, to end his torment swung him round, 

 and hit his head against the side of the canoe ; but the 

 poor creature still continued to live, and looked at me 

 in the most affecting manner that can be conceived. I 

 therefore knew no other means of ending his murder 

 than to hold him under water till he was drowned : but 

 even in doing this, my heart sickened ; for his little 

 dying eyes still continued to follow me with seeming 

 reproach, till their light gradually forsook them, and the 

 wretched animal expired." 



The manner in which some of the Monkey tribe cap- 

 ture shell-fish is remarkably indicative of their cunning 

 and ingenuity. The oysters of the tropical climates, 

 being larger than ours, the Monkeys, when they reach 

 the sea-side, pick up stones, and thrust them between the 

 opening shells, which being thus prevented from closing, 

 the cunning animals eat the fish at their ease. In order 

 to attract crabs, they put their tails before the holes in 

 which they have taken refuge ; and when the creatures 

 have fastened on the lure, the Monkeys suddenly with- 

 draw their tails, and thus drag their prey on shore. 



The Monkey generally brings forth one at a time, and 

 sometimes two. They are rarely found to breed when 

 brought over into Europe ; but those that do exhibit a 

 very striking picture of parental affection. The male 

 and female are never tired of fondling their young one. 

 They instruct it with no little assiduity; and often 

 severely correct it, if stubborn, or disinclined to profit 

 by their example. They hand it from one to the other, 

 and when the male has done showing his regard the 

 female takes her turn in the work of affection. 



