HOWLING MONKEYS. 



15 



tes ursmus) four feet from tip to tip, or about three feet 

 when in an erect posture. This species is tlie most com- 

 mon, has thick fur of a reddish-brown color, and a long, 

 prehensile tail, which answers as a third hand. The feat- 

 ures of its face have a grave and melancholy expression ; 

 its beard is long, and its movements like the slow and 

 measured gait of an old man. It generally seems perfect- 

 ly indifferent as to what is transpiring about it ; but, when 

 aroused, its whole aspect changes, and it Avill perform evo- 

 lutions through the trees with surprising agility. As 

 Humboldt observes, " monkeys are melancholy in propor- 

 tion as they have more resemblance to man. Their 

 sprightlincss diminishes as their intellectual faculties ap- 

 pear to increase." In disposition the araguato is mis- 

 chievous and savage, and Avill, when wounded, attack 

 man in a most ferocious manner. It cannot be tamed, 

 and shows none of that affection for human beino-s which 

 some of the smaller species of the monkey-tribe exhibit. 

 It is gregarious in its habits, and delights in the solitary 

 forest, feeding upon nuts and fruits. One peculiarity 

 that distinguishes the howlers from other members of 

 the monkey group is, the remarkable development of the 

 larynx, by which it is enabled to produce those tremen- 

 dous noises-that are heard at so great a distance. When 

 the causes were favorable for the propagation of sounds, 

 we heard the yelling of these creatures over half a league. 

 Frequently during the darkness of the night they break 

 forth with their terrible howls, such as deeply imjoress the 

 traveller who hears them for the first time, and "leads 

 him to suppose," as trutlifully observes Waterton, " that 

 half the wild beasts of the forest were collecting for the 

 work of carnage : now it is the tremendous roar of the 

 jaguar, as he springs on his prey ; now it changes to liis 

 deep-toned growlings, as he is pressed on all sides by su- 



