NIGHT APES. 465 



understand what is spoken; and apparently wishing the better 

 to comprehend their master, they will place their fingers on 

 his lips in the most attractive, confiding way. 



The creature's long tail possesses no prehensile power, but 

 it appears to use it as a lady does a boa, coiling it round its 

 body to keep itself warm. 



NIGHT APES, OR DOTJROUCOULI. 



When travelling through some parts of the Amazonian forests, 

 and looking up into an ancient tree, a number of little striped 

 faces crowding a hole in the trunk may suddenly be seen gaz- 

 ing inquisitively down at the intruder who has disturbed their 

 noonday sleep. These are Nyctipitheci, or night apes, which 

 the Indians call ei-a, and are named also Douroucouli. Sleep- 

 ing soundly during the day in some dark hollow, out of 

 harm's way, they come forth at night to prey on insects or 

 small birds, which they hunt and capture, as well as fruit. 

 The body of the creature is about a foot long, and the tail 

 fourteen inches, thickly covered with soft gray and brown fur. 

 Its face is round, and encircled by a ruff of whitish fur. The 

 forehead is of a light colour, and adorned with three black 

 stripes, which in one species meet at the top of it, and in 

 another continue to the crown ; the muzzle is somewhat flat, 

 and the mouth and chin small. The ears are very short, 

 scarcely appearing above the hair of the head ; and the eyes 

 are large and of a yellowish colour, imparting that staring 

 expression observed in owls or night animals. From this 

 they have obtained the name of owl-faced night apes. The 

 creature has nails of the ordinary form to its fingers, and semi- 

 opposable thumbs ; but the molar teeth are studded with sharp 

 points, showing that it lives chiefly on insects. 



(379) 30 



