48 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



THE SQUIRREL MONKEYS 



THE common Squirrel Monkey (Chrysothrix sciurea) is frequently brought to 

 Europe, and so is a quite familiar species. It is of a very different type from 

 any of those previously mentioned, being a very small animal, not much larger 

 than a squirrel, with a greyish-yellow coat of short close fur, and a black patch 

 on its flesh-coloured face. The back part of the skull is much enlarged, as in 

 man, and, indeed, the brain of this little monkey is larger in proportion than our 

 own. The long tail is not prehensile. This monkey is highly insectivorous in 

 its habits, and makes a most charming pet. It is widely spread in northern 

 South America ; other species are found there, and some range to Central America, 

 but there are only four or five in all. 



THE TEETEES 



THE Teetees or Whaiapu-Sais (Callithrix) are, like the Squirrel Monkeys, soft- 

 furred animals, with non-prehensile tails ; but they are not quite so small, and 

 less remarkable in the shape of their heads, which are small and rounded. They 

 have a wide range over South America, and, being noisy and sociable, are con- 

 spicuous in their own country ; but they are very uncommon in captivity here, 

 although feeding in much the same way as the Squirrel Monkeys and Capuchins. 

 There are about a dozen species, but not mor.e than half the number have been 

 exhibited at the Zoological Gardens. 



THE DOUROUCOULIS 



THESE small monkeys {Nyctipithecus) bear a general resemblance to the last two 

 groups, and are similarly not prehensile-tailed. They differ much, however, from 

 all other monkeys, in their very large eyes and short inconspicuous ears, and in 

 being nocturnal in habits. Their fur is grey and tan, and their faces curiously 

 streaked with black and white. By day they sleep in little companies in hollow 

 trees, and at night come out to feed on insects, small birds, and fruit ; at this 

 time they also indulge in howls and caterwaulings. They are found in both 

 Central and South America, but there are only five species, and none are common 

 in captivity ; but three of them have been exhibited by the Zoological Society, 

 and the first live specimen of the group I ever saw I met with in Calcutta, a 

 curious place in which to find a rare animal from South America. 



