428 



Erarfurg at Datura! 



along the branches of trees ; and, the more 

 effectually to secure their prey, watch the 

 time when they are asleep. Thus creatures 

 that are the objects of our terror, prey upon 

 others that are objects of our disgust. 



Monkeys subsist principally on fruits, the 

 buds of trees, or succulent roots and plants. 

 They are all fond of sweets, and show a par- 

 ticular predilection for the pleasant juice of 

 the palm-tree and the sugar-cane; but when 

 it happens that these fail, or that a different 

 kind of food becomes more agreeable, they 

 have recourse to insects and worms ; and 

 sometimes such as inhabit the coasts descend 

 to the sea-shores, where they feast on oysters, 

 crabs, &c. The crafty and ingenious manner 

 in which they obtain these is thus effected. 

 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 cun- 

 ning animals then eat the fish at their ease. 

 In order to attract the crabs, they put their 

 tails to the holes in which they have taken 

 refuge ; and when the crabs have fastened on 

 the lure, the Monkeys suddenly withdraw 

 their tails, and thus drag their prey on shore. 

 The females generally bring forth one at a 

 time, and sometimes two. They but rarely 

 breed when brought to Europe ; but such as 

 do, exhibit great parental affection. Both the 

 male and female seem indefatigable in nur- 

 turing, fondling, and caressing their young ; 

 nor do they instruct it with less assiduity j 

 often severely correcting it, if stubborn or 

 disinclined to profit by their example. We 

 all know that these animals, when domes- 

 ticated, are highly amusing ; and there are 

 few persons who have not laughed at their 

 droll mimicries and capricious feats of ac- 

 tivity. But it is generally when in company 

 with other animals of a more simple nature, 

 whom they appear to delight in tormenting, 

 that their tricks and superior instincts are 

 most effectively displayed. 



We shall now give a few specimens, be- 

 ginning with Monkeys that belong to the 

 Old Continent. 



The SPOTTED or DIANA MONKEY. (_Cer- 

 copithecus Diana.) This species has a long 

 white beard ; the upper parts of the body 



TJIANA.) 



are of a reddish colour, marked with white 

 specks ; the belly and chin are whitish ; it 

 has a crescent of white hair on the brow ; 

 and the tail, which is very long, is of the 

 same colour as the body. It is a native of 

 Congo and Guinea ; and is one of the most 

 lively and playful of the whole tribe. 



The GREEN MONKEY. ( Cercopithecus Sa- 

 bcKus,) The prevailing colour of this species 

 is a fine olive, a little varied with gray. The 

 under parts of the animal and the insides of 

 the limbs are of a light silvery gray. The 

 face is of a swarthy flesh-colour ; the nose 

 black ; the cheeks furnished with thick and 

 long pale -yellow hair, falling back on each 

 side the face, and almost covering the ears. 

 It is a native of several parts of Africa. 



The MOUSTACHE MONKEY. (Cercopithecus 

 cephus.) On the cheeks of this Monkey there 

 are two large tufts of yellow hair, from 

 which it derives its name. It is about a foot 

 in length, and the tail a foot and a half. 

 The face is bare, and of a bluish-black ; the 

 nose blunt, with a dilated, transverse white 

 patch immediately below it ; the edges of 

 both lips and the space round the eyes black ; 

 the ears are round, and tufted with whitish 

 hair : the hair on the head is yellow mixed 

 with black ; that on the body and limbs is 

 a mixture of red and ash-colour : the under 

 part of the body is somewhat paler than the 

 upper ; and the feet are black. It is a na- 

 tive of Western Africa. 



The PATAS, or RED MONKEY. Cercopi- 

 thecus ruber.) The upper parts of this ani- 

 mal are of a vividly bright bay colour, so as 



almost to appear red ; but the under parts 

 and iusides of the limbs are ash-coloured : 

 the cheeks are bearded, as is also the chin, 

 with whitish hairs, and across the forehead 

 runs a black band. The body is about eigh- 

 teen inches long ; the tail somewhat shorter. 

 It is a native of Senegal. 



The PROBOSCIS MONKEY, (ffasalis larva- 

 tus.) This is the most grotesque in appearance 

 of all the different species : the nose being of 

 such a length and form, as to present to the 

 mind no other idea than that of caricature. 

 It is a large species, measuring two feet from 

 the tip of the nose to the tail, which is more 

 than two feet long. The face is of a brown 

 colour, marked with blue and red ; the ears 

 broad, thin, naked, and hid within the hair. 

 The head is large, and covered with chest- 

 nut-coloured hair ; the whole body is also 

 of a similar colour, except that on the breast 

 it approaches to orange. It is chiefly found 

 in Cochin-China and Borneo ; and is some- 

 times seen in large troops. It feeds only on 

 fruits. 



The FULL-BOTTOM or KINO MONKEY. 

 (Colobus polycormis.) This species is distin- 

 guished by its head and shoulders being 

 covered with long, coarse, flowing hair, like 



a full-bottomed perriwig, and of a dirty 

 yellow colour mixed with black. Its body, 

 arms, and legs are of a glossy black ; hands 



naked, and furnished with no more than 

 four fingers ; on each foot five very long 

 toes. The tail is very long, and of a snowy 

 whiteness, with very long hair at the end, I 



