THE MARMOSET. 37 



Both for the texture and color of the hair, the name is happily 

 chosen, for the tint of the Marikina's fur is just that of the orange- 

 colored silk as it is wound from the cocoon, while in texture it almost 

 vies with the fine fibres of the unwoven silk itself. 



Another name for the same animal is the Lion Monkey, because its 

 little face looks out of the mass of hair like a lion from out of his 

 mane. 



The color of the hair is nearly uniform, but not quite so. On the 

 paws it darkens considerably, and it is of a deeper tint on the forehead 

 and the upper surface of the limbs than on the remainder of the body. 

 Some specimens are wholly of a darker hue. In no place is the fur 

 very short ; but on the head, and about the shoulders, it is of very 

 great length in proportion to the size of the animal. 



The Marikina is rightly careful of its beautiful clothing, and is 

 fastidious to a degree about preserving its glossy brightness free from 

 stain. Whether when wild it keeps its own house clean, or whether 

 it has no house at all, is not as yet accurately ascertained, but in 

 captivity it requires that all cleansing shall be performed by other 

 hands. This slothi'ulness is the more peculiar, because the creature is 

 so sensitive on the subject that if it be in the least neglected, it loses 

 its pretty gayety, pines away, and dies. 



It is fond of company, and can seldom be kept alone for any length 

 of time. The food of the Marikina 

 is chiefly composed of fruits and in- 

 sects ; but in captivity it will eat 

 biscuit and drink milk. It is a 

 very timid animal, unable to fight 

 a foe, but quick in escape and adroit 

 in concealment. Its voice is soft 

 and gentle when *the animal is 

 pleased, but when it is excited by 

 anger or fear, it utters a rather 

 sharp hiss. The dimensions of the (^\ 

 Marikina are much the same as 

 those of the following animal. 



The beautiful little creature . ^ , 



1 • 1 • n 1 u i.1 The Marmoset (Jacchusvulcans). 



which IS so well known by the name "^ ^ ' 



of the Marmoset, or Ouistiti, is a native of Guiana. The fur is long 



and exquisitely soft, diversified with bold stripes of black upon a 



ground of white and reddish yellow. The tail is long and full ; its 



color is w^hite, encircled with numerous rings of a hue so deep that it 



may almost be called black. A radiating tuft of white hairs springs 



from each side of the face, and contrasts well with the jetty hue of 



the head. 



4 



