98 PARA. Chap. III. 



sion. Anatomists who have dissected species of Midas 

 tell us that the brain is of a very low type, as far as 

 the absence of convolutions goes, the surface being as 

 smooth as that of a squirrel's. I should conclude, at 

 once, that this character is an unsafe guide in judging 

 on the mental qualities of these animals ; in mobility 

 of expression of countenance, intelligence, and general 

 manners, these small monkeys resemble the higher 

 apes far more than they do any E-odent animal with 

 which I am acquainted. 



On the Upper Amazons I once saw a tame individual 

 of the Midas leoninus, a species first described by 

 Humboldt, which was still more playful and intelligent 

 than the one just described. This rare and beautiful 

 little monkey is only seven inches in length, exclusive 

 of the tail. It is named leoninus on account of the 

 long brown mane which depends from the neck, and 

 which gives it very much the appearance of a diminutive 

 lion. In the house where it was kept, it was familiar 

 with every one; its. greatest pleasure seemed to be to 

 climb about the bodies of different persons who entered. 

 The first time I went in, it ran across the room straight- 

 way to the chair on which I had sat down, and climbed 

 up to my shoulder ; arrived there, it turned round and 

 looked into my face, showing its little teeth, and 

 chattering, as though it would say, "Well, and how 

 do you do ? " It showed more affection towards its 

 master than towards strangers, and wovild climb up 

 to his head a dozen times in the course of an hour, 

 making a great show eveiy time of searching there for 

 certain animalcula. Isidore Geoffroy St. Hilaire relates 



