QUADRUMANA. 



but oftener and with greater reach by the tail. The prehensile 

 part of the tail is covered with skin only, forming an organ of 

 touch as discriminating as the proper extremities. The Caraya, 

 or Black Howling Monkey of Cumana, when shot, is found 

 suspended by its tail round a branch. Naturalists have been so 



Fig. 14. The Maki. 



struck with this property of the tail of the Ateles, that they have 

 compared it to the proboscis of the Elephant, and have assured us 

 that they fish with their tail. 



" The most interesting use of the tail is seen in the opossum. 

 The young of that animal mount upon her back, and entwine 

 their tails round their mother's tail, by which they sit secure 

 while she escapes from her enemies." * 



It will be observed that the young one, represented in fig. 14, 

 also uses its tail as an organ of prehension, holding itself upon 

 the body of its mother by twining the tail round her. 



* Bell, On tbe Hand, p. 20. 



63 



