PRIMATES APES AND LEMURS 403 



Monkeys are termed Platyrrhines ; while the Old World Monkeys 

 have only a thin gristle in the same place, so that the nostrils are 

 not wide apart, but open in front, more or less like those of man 

 and dogs, or " looking downward," whence the name Catanhines, 

 under which the Old World Monkeys are grouped. 



We may begin our examination of the broad-nosed or Platyr- 

 rhine Monkeys of the New World with the pretty little Marmosets, 

 or, in scientific language, the Arctopithecini, a word which means 

 Bear-Monkey. There are two genera in this division (i) the genus 

 Hapale, which contains the Marmosets proper, and (2) the genus 

 Midas, which contains the Tamarins they are characterised by 

 having thirty-two teeth, and the tail not being used as a prehensile 

 organ. The face of the Marmoset is short, and the broad division 

 between the nostrils, which open widely apart and outwards, is 

 very evident. Very remarkable are the feet, for in these Monkeys 

 the toe-thumb is not widely separated from the other digits, but 

 is close to and parallel with them, so that they resemble the human 

 foot more than the human hand. The insectivorous and carnivorous 

 propensities of these little creatures are shown in the form of their 

 nails, which are curved claws. In the hand the thumb is not 

 capable of being separated widely from the other fingers, and it 

 has a sharp claw on it, so the resemblance to a true hand is small, 

 and the likeness to a " paw " is great. In their natural state the 

 Marmosets lead an arboreal life, and assemble in small companies 

 of half a dozen or more, climbing the tall trees of the Brazilian 

 forests, and jumping from bough to bough with squirrel-like activity. 

 Opinions seem to differ considerably regarding their intelligence 

 and affection, for while Broderip would have us consider them as 

 displaying extraordinary affection, Swainson describes them as 

 mistrustful, indifferent, and not particularly intelligent. Certainly 

 those which came under my own notice in Brazil did not appear 

 to display much affection for their owners, generally shrinking 

 from being handled, and threatening with their sharp little teeth, 

 but watching what was going on around them with apparent interest. 



The Tamarins have the upper front teeth placed close together ; 

 and the lower, which are broad and truncated, project forwards. 

 They live in the forests of Panama, Peru, and the Brazils, and are 

 restless, active little creatures, about the size of a squirrel. In 

 general appearance they resemble the marmosets. 



