172 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



a group of little striped faces crowding a hole in a trunk. It 

 was in this way that my compadre discovered the colony from 

 which the one given to me was taken. I was obliged to keep 

 my pet chained up ; it, therefore, never became thoroughly 

 familiar. I once saw, however, an individual of the other species 

 (N.felinus) which was most amusingly tame. It was as lively 

 and nimble as the Cefa', but not so mischievous, and far more 

 confiding in its disposition, delighting to be caressed by all 

 persons who came into the house. But its owner, the Muni- 

 cipal Judge of Ega, Dr. Carlos Mariana, had treated it for 

 many weeks with the greatest kindness, allowing it to keep 

 with him at night in his hammock, and to nestle in his bosom 

 half the day as he lay reading. It was a great favourite with 

 everyone, from the cleanliness of its habits and the prettiness 

 of its features and ways. My own pet was kept in a box in 

 which was placed a broad-mouthed glass jar ; into this it would 

 dive, head foremost, when anyone entered the room, turning 

 round inside, and thrusting forth its inquisitive face an instant 

 afterwards to stare at the intruder. It was very active at night, 

 venting at frequent intervals a hoarse cry like the suppressed 

 barking of a dog, and scampering about the room, to the 

 length of its tether, after cockroaches and spiders. In climb- 

 ing between the box and the wall it straddled the space, 

 resting its hands on the palms and tips of the outstretched 

 fingers with the knuckles bent at an acute angle, and thus 

 mounted to the top with the greatest facility. Although seem- 

 ing to prefer insects, it ate all kinds of fruit, but would not 

 touch raw or cooked meat, and was very seldom thirsty. I 

 was told by persons who had kept these Monkeys loose about 

 the house, that they cleared the chambers of bats as well as 

 insect vermin. When approached gently, my Bi-a allowed 



