ANIMALS OF THE 



the crab fastening upon it, they withdraw it with 

 a jerk, and thus pull their prey upon shore. This 

 habit of laying traps for other animals, makes 

 them very cautious of being entrapped them- 

 selves ; and I am assured, by many persons of 

 credit, that no snare, how nicely baited soever, 

 will take the monkey of the West India islands ; 

 for having been accustomed to the cunning of 

 man, it opposes its natural distrust to human arti- 

 fice. 



The monkey generally brings forth one at a 

 time, and sometimes two. They are rarely found 

 to breed when brought over into Europe ; but of 

 those that do, they exhibit a very striking picture 

 of parental affection. The male and female are 

 never tired of fondling their young one. They 

 instruct it with no little assiduity ; and often 

 severely correct it, if stubborn, or disinclined to 

 profit by their example : they hand it from one to 

 the other, and when the male has done showing 

 his regard, the female takes her turn. When 

 wild in the woods, the female, if she happens to 

 have two, carries one on her back, and the other 

 in her arms : that on her back clings very closely, 

 clasping its hands round her neck, and its feet 

 about her middle ; when she wants to suckle it, 

 she then alters their position, and that which has 

 been fed gives place to the other, which she takes 

 in her arms. It often happens that she is unable 

 to leap from one tree to another, when thus load- 

 ed ; and upon such occasions, their dexterity is 

 very surprising. The whole family form a kind 

 of chain, locking tail in tail, or hand in hand, and 



