MONKEY. 



277 



white. The under -part, from the chin to the origin 

 of the tail, is orange, a portion of which extends up 

 each side of the neck ; the tail is black for the ter- 

 minal third of its length, and yellowish grey the 

 remaining: two-thirds ; there is a white eyebrow ex- 

 tending over both eyes, and divided off at each end 

 by a black line extending up upon the forehead, just 

 as far out as the external canthus of the eye ; a third 

 dark bar proceeds from the junction of the white eye- 

 brow up the middle of the forehead, or rather of the 

 long hair with which the forehead is beset. These 

 three dark bars which are strongly marked, give a 

 character to the head of the animal, which, if at- 

 tended to, will effectually prevent its being mistaken 

 for any other. It is from this circumstance that it 

 gets the specific name of Trivirgata, the three bars 

 appearing like three rods or " verges," erected 

 coronet-wise on the forehead. This disposition of 

 the line on the forehead is so remarkable, as to have 

 attracted the attention of the missionaries in those 

 parts of the great valley of the Orinoco, where the ani- 

 mals have been observed. They call it " cararay ada," 

 though it does not appear to be very eminently de- 

 serving of the first part of that name. Though the 

 profile of this species is still the profile of a quadru- 

 manous animal ; and though the form of its teeth 

 gives this character to the mouth when open, or when 

 shut, if seen in profile, yet the front view of the face 

 and head altogether, with the exception of no ears 

 being apparent, bears no inconsiderable resemblance 

 to that of a cat. The eyes are very large, and we 

 believe that the pupils contract to a sort of oval, 

 though certainly not upon a line, as in some other 

 nocturnal animals. The nose is indeed much 

 broader than that of a cat, and it is further from the 

 extremity of the upper lip ; the chin, also, from the 

 size and vertical position of the incisive teeth, is 

 larger in proportion than that in the cat, and the 

 mouth, taken laterally, is wider. There is, however, 

 a sort of partial division in the upper lip very much 

 resembling that in the cat ; and there are stiff whis- 

 kers on the upper lip, which, though they are not so 

 long in proportion as a cat's whiskers, no doubt 

 answer a similar purpose, that of enabling the animal 

 to feel its way in the dark. The importance of those 

 appendages to such nocturnal animals as seek their 

 prey among bushes, is much greater than one would 

 be apt to suppose. They enable the animal to steal 

 upon its prey without giving the least alarm, for 

 though stiff, they are very elastic, so that the least 

 touch against any obstacle bends them ; and as this is 

 instantly communicated to the sentient bulbs, they 

 are, perhaps, the most delicate of all organs of touch. 

 It is well known that a common domestic cat is in- 

 capable of hunting if its whiskers are destroyed ; and 

 there is no other way of accounting for the fact, but 

 on the supposition that, in consequence of the want 

 of the whiskers as organs of touch, the animal runs 

 against objects, and makes so much noise as to alarm 

 its delicate-eared prey. The inner surface of the 

 hands and that of the ears is naked and flesh-coloured ; 

 but the face, though equally naked, is smoke-coloured 

 in the general tint. The feet, or hands as they are 

 usually called, do not differ greatly from those of the 

 former genus ; but those on the anterior ones are but 

 little extensile, or capable of what may be considered 

 as the proper finger-motion. The claws are a still 

 farther departure from the flat nails of the typical 

 hand than in any of the preceding genera, they arc 



narrow, pointed at the tips, furrowed on the under 

 sides, provided with trenchant edges, a little crooked, 

 and altogether partake fully as much of the character 

 of absolute weapons, as of mere defences to give 

 firmness to the extremities of grasping fingers. The 

 tail, though not prehensile, is capable of a great deal 

 of motion, and no doubt, assists in guiding the course 

 of the animal very much in the same way as the tail 

 of the cat does. The ears, though concealed exter- 

 nally by the fur of the animal, are remarkably well 

 made out, and the eyes are prominent, and of that 

 yellowish-brown colour which we have described. 

 The nose cannot be said to terminate in a decided 

 muzzle as it does in the last genus ; and the septum 

 between the nostrils is much thinner, and the nostrils 

 in themselves more oblong. The hair over the vvholu 

 body is remarkably soft and silky ; and the animal \ 

 well calculated for making its way among bushes wiUi 

 the least possible degree of noise. 



These animals are ill able to endure either the 

 light or the heat of the day, and therefore they pass 

 that portion of their time in a state of almost com- 

 plete repose. Their mode of reposing is peculiar, 

 and admirably fitted for preserving the elasticity of 

 the spinal structure, which appears to be most essen- 

 tial to these animals in the performance of their 

 nocturnal labours. When reposing, the tarsi of the 

 hind paws are brought under the belly of the animal, 

 and the fore paws resting also on the tarsi, are placed 

 immediately in front of them, the head being at the 

 same time hung down between the fore legs, to the 

 utmost relaxation of which the joints of the neck 

 will admit. The long tail is not, generally speak- 

 ing, coiled in any manner, but left lying in easy 

 flexures. 



In our common notion of reposing by lying on the 

 side, there is something to which the position of 

 repose in this animal is so very different, that we 

 would be inclined, at first sight, to conclude that it is 

 most uncomfortable. When we come to examine it, 

 however, we soon discover that it is one of the easiest 

 positions which an animal can have, and that there 

 are certain points of mutual support in it, to which, 

 we can hardly find any thing equal in any other 

 animal's repose. The four palms form a broad base, 

 and the wrists of the fore ones, and toes of the hind 

 ones, bear against each other. About the middle of the 

 height, the elbow and the knee come in contact, and 

 mutually support each other ; while the bones of the 

 arm and thigh form a sort of diagonal strut, reaching 

 from the scapular to the insertion of the tail, which 

 insertion is also a point of support to the base of the 

 animal. The way in which the head declines, presses 

 the elbow joints backwards and the fore feet down- 

 wards ; and, in short, if we examine carefully the 

 relative positions of the different parts of the animal, 

 and their bearings, we shall find in this singular crea- 

 ture's position of repose one of the most beautiful 

 applications of the principles of statics that is any- 

 where to be met with. 



The diurnal repose is taken in the holes of trees, or 

 any other cavities which it can conveniently reach. 

 It does not dig its own burrow, or form it in the 

 wood ; but in the trees of tropical forests there are 

 usually plenty of holes ready made by the various 

 genera of wood-consuming insects. When in con- 

 finement, this animal will eat bread, fruits, and milk ; 

 and, in a state of nature, it is also partial to siicculciit 

 fruits and sweet vegetables ; though there it is. at 



