402 SAI CAPACINUS. 



enabled to escape from its enemies. When pleased, its voice 

 is soft and gentle ; but when angry or terrified, it utters a 

 somewhat sharp hiss, 



MIDAS ARGENTATUS. 



Among the rarest of the tribe is the Midas argentatus, 

 measuring only seven inches in length of body. It resembles 

 a little white kitten, being covered with long white silky 

 hair. The tail, however, is blackish, and the face nearly 

 naked and flesh-coloured. The eyes, which are black, are 

 full of curiosity and mistrust ; and one seen in captivity ex- 

 cept when in the arms of its owner shrank back and trembled 

 with fear, while its teeth chattered, and it uttered a tremulous, 

 frightened tone, at the approach of a stranger. 



SAI CAPICINUS, 



The most attractive little creatures in the American forests 

 are the capucins, the best known of which is the Sai capuci- 

 nus. Their tails, though covered with hair, are prehensile. 

 They are active and lively in the extreme, leaping about from 

 bough to bough, and eagerly watching all that goes forward 

 in the world below, There are several species of similar 

 habits, their quaint ways and general intelligence making 

 them all great favourites when tamed. They live chiefly on 

 vegetable food, but they devour insects and eggs, and do not 

 object to a bird when they can manage to catch one. 



HORNED CAPUCIN. 



The horned capucin, or sapajou (Cebus fatuellus), is remark- 

 able for two points of hair which stand out from the forehead, 

 and give it the appearance of having horns. The colour is 



