AN IMPROVISED BRIDGE. 259 



its lethargy, and becoming restless and impetuous, roams about 

 in quest of fruit and insects and small birds. Its nocturnal cry 

 is loud and sonorous, and resembles that of the jaguar, whence 

 the animal is sometimes called the Titi tigre. At other times 

 it mews like a cat, and this resemblance is greatly increased, 

 when in a state of irritation the Douroucouli puffs up its fur like 

 a cat attacked by a dog, hisses and spits, and strikes quickly 

 with its paws. The glossy fur of the animal is in great request 

 amongst the natives of Guiana and Brazil, who make it into 

 tobacco pouches and other articles for sale. 



Foremost amongst the Quadrumana of this wide wilderness of 

 the New World, stand the Spider Monkeys, so called from their 

 being, like the long-legged spiders of our gardens, all legs and 

 arms, to which, however, in the case of the Monkeys, we must 

 add, and tail. From the extraordinary length of the limbs of 

 these Monkeys, their movements on the ground are somewhat 

 sprawling, but amongst the forest branches they are perfectly at 

 home, and by means of their prehensile tails perform their evo- 

 lutions with wonderful ease and rapidity. The tail is in constant 

 requisition, and is coiled round branch after branch as the ani- 

 mals move along. Not unfrequently, indeed, these Monkeys 

 suspend themselves exclusively by the tail, and by this means 

 launch themselves from one branch to another with surprising 

 velocity. They also use it as a feeler in their search after eggs 

 and insects, inserting it into fissures and hollows of trees, and 

 hooking out with it whatever spoil they may chance to find. 



According to Dampier, when a troop of these Spider Monkeys 

 have occasion to cross any of the larger rivers, they select the 

 situation in which the trees are highest and project farthest 

 across the stream ; then mounting to the topmost branches, they 

 grasp hold of one another's tails so as to form a long chain, which 

 hanging loose at the lower end is swung backwards and forwards 

 till it acquires a sufficient impetus to cany the free extremity to 

 the opposite bank, when the Monkey at the bottom catches hold 

 of the first branch that comes within reach, and mounts to the 

 top of the tree, carrying with him the living chain, of which he 

 forms a part, which, when he reaches the top, is detached from 

 the other end, and the whole troop are passed over. 



In captivity the Spider Monkeys are remarkably gentle and 

 docile ; and as they readily assume the erect attitude, and cau 



