96 PAPtA. Chap. III. 



not opposable to the other fingers. I do not mean to 

 convey that they have a near relationship to squirrels, 

 which belong to the Rodents, an inferior order of mam- 

 mals ; their resemblance to those animals is merely a 

 superficial one. They have two molar teeth less in 

 each jaw than the Cebidse, the other family of American 

 monkeys ; they agree with them, however, m the sideway 

 position of the nostrils, a character which distinguishes 

 both from all the monkeys of the old world. The body 

 is long and slender, clothed with soft hairs, and the tail, 

 which is nearly twice the length of the trunk, is not 

 prehensile. The hind limbs are much larger in volume 

 than the anterior pair. The Midas ursulus is never 

 seen in large flocks ; three or four is the greatest number 

 observed together. It seems to be less afraid of the 

 neighbourhood of man than any other monkey. I some- 

 times saw it in the woods which border the suburban 

 streets, and once I espied two individuals in a thicket 

 behind the English consul's house at Nazareth. Its mode 

 of progression along the main boughs of the lofty trees is 

 like that of squirrels ; it does not ascend to the slender 

 branches, or take those wonderful flying leaps which 

 the Cebidae do, whose prehensile tails and flexible hands 

 fit them for such headlong travelling. It confines itself 

 to the larger boughs and trunks of trees, the long nails 

 being of gi-eat assistance to the creature, enabling it to 

 cling securely to the bark ; and it is often seen passing 

 rapidly round the perpendicular cylindrical trunks. It 

 is a quick, restless, timid little creature, and has a 

 great share of curiosity, for when a person passes by 

 under the trees along which a flock is nmning, they 



