40 QtJADRUMANA. 



the tongue, (the hyoid bone,) is, in these animals, very large, swell- 

 ing into a capacious drum which communicates with the larynx, 

 and gives a tremendous power and volume to the voice. They 

 howl in concert, especially at the rising and setting of the sun ; 

 but the night is often made dismal with their frightful yells. One 

 monkey begins the cry, and is immediately followed by the oth- 

 ers ; and their distressing, unearthly sounds have been heard at 

 two miles distance. The canine teeth are, according to Swain- 

 son, six times as large as the incisors or cutting teeth. The part 

 of the prehensile tail with which these animals lay hold of the 

 branch of a tree, is naked below, and of course has a higher sen- 

 sibility of touch. Their size is rather larger than that of the fox. 

 In their dispositions they are ferocious and intractable ; in habits 

 social, and most of them have a thick beard. Their deep sono- 

 rous yells are supposed to be a call to their mates ; in other 

 words, a hideous love-song. 



M. ursinus, (Lat. ursus, a bear.) The URSINE HOWLER, 

 or ARGUATO. 



This animal is, exclusive of the tail, nearly three feet long. 

 The hair is of a golden color, and the thick beard is of a deeper 

 color than the rest. Humboldt counted above forty of these ani- 

 mals in a single tree, and says, "their eye, voice, and gait denote 

 melancholy." They feed upon fruit and the leaves of plants, 

 and in traveling follow an old monkey as their file leader. 

 This Howler has a membranous sack in the throat, connected 

 with the wind-pipe and capable of being inflated, giving the 

 power to utter terrific sounds. 



AteUs, (Gr. are^?, ateles, imperfect.) 



This and the preceding genus are " ORDINARY SAPAJOUS ; " (the 

 term Sapajous also including the genus Cebus, or the SAJOUS.) 

 This genus includes what are called the SPIDER MONKEYS, so 

 called from their long slender tails, and sprawling movements, 

 which give them a spider4ike appearance. It is termed ateles, 

 or imperfect, because in most of the species the thumbs on the 

 fore-arms are rudimental, or else entirely wanting; (they are, 

 however, found on the hinder extremities, and large and opposa- 

 ble to the fingers.) They have four molar teeth more than man, 

 making the number of teeth thirty-six, and are distinguished for 

 their round heads and thick or corpulent bodies. The eyes are 

 far apart; the nostrils open laterally, (or sidewise;) the hair is 

 generally long, coarse, and of a glossy appearance. Trees are 

 their home ; on the ground they drag themselves along with their 

 fore-arms, using them as crutches, and resting upon their half 

 closed fists. Sometimes they crouch along on their hind legs. 



