MONKEY KIND. 315 



As of all savages those of Africa are the most 

 brutal, so, of all countries, the monkeys of Africa 

 are the most expert and entertaining. The mon- 

 keys of America are, in general, neither so saga- 

 cious nor so tractable, nor is their form so nearly 

 approaching that of man. The monkeys of the 

 new continent may be very easily distinguished 

 from those of the old, by three marks. Those of 

 the ancient continent are universally found to 

 have a naked callous substance behind, upon 

 which they sit, which those of America are en- 

 tirely without ; those also of the ancient con- 

 tinent have the nostrils differently formed, more 

 resembling those of men, the holes opening down- 

 ward, whereas the American monkeys have them 

 opening on each side ; those of the ancient world 

 have pouches on each side the jaw, into which 

 they put their provisions, which those of America 

 are without ; lastly, none of the monkeys of the 

 ancient continent hang by the tail, which many 

 of the American sorts are known to do. By these 

 marks the monkeys of either continent may be 

 readily distinguished from each other, and prized 

 accordingly. The African monkey, as I am as- 

 sured, requires a longer education, and more cor- 

 rection, than that of America ; but it is at last 

 found capable of more various powers of imitation, 

 and shows a greater degree of cunning and acti- 

 vity. 



M. Buffon, who has examined this race of imi- 

 tative beings with greater accuracy than any other 

 naturalist before him, makes but nine species of 

 monkeys belonging to the ancient continent, and 



