THE SAIMIKIS 537 



morose and savage temper, and like the howling-monkeys utter 

 loud cries before sunrise and after sunset. 



The elegant ease of their movements, their soft fur, the large 

 size of their brilliant eyes, and their little round face, entitle the 

 Saimiris to be called the most graceful of monkeys. Hum- 

 boldt, who frequently observed them in tropical America, tells 

 us that they are extremely affectionate, and that when offended, 

 their eyes immediately swim in tears. On speaking to them for 

 some time, they listen with great attention, and soon lay their 

 tiny hand upon the speaker's mouth, as if to catch the words 

 as they pass through his lips. They recognise the objects 

 represented in an engraving even when not coloured, and en- 

 deavour to seize the pictured fruits or insects. The latter, and 

 particularly spiders, which they catch most dexterously with 

 their lips or hands, seem to be their favourite food. The 

 weak little creatures are very fond of being carried about by 

 larger monkeys, and cling fast to their back. 



At first the animal to which they thus attach themselves 

 endeavours to get rid of its burden, but finding it impossible, it 

 soon becomes reconciled to its fate, and after a short time an 

 intimate affection arises between them, so that when the saimiri 

 is busy chasing insects, his friend, before leaving the spot, first 

 gives him notice by a gentle cry. A similar dependent and affec- 

 tionate intercourse is not rare among other species of monkeys. 



" When an Indian," says Poppig, " meets with a large troop 

 of these animals, he takes care not to disturb the small fore- 

 rimners, as he knows full well that the larger ones will soon 

 follow. Thus the Frailecito {Callithrix Sciurus) generally 

 forms the vanguard of the machini; the pinchecito likes to stroll 

 about with the tocon, and the choro is hand and glove with the 

 maquisapa. It need hardly be mentioned that the saimiris are 

 in great request as pet animals, but unfortunately they are very 

 rare. 



The habits of the Nyctopitheci, or nocturnal monkeys, bear a 

 great resemblance to those of the bats or flying foxes. The shy 

 and quiet, little animals sleep by day concealed in the dense 

 thickets of the forest. Their eye and motions are completely 

 feline. Those which Von Martins observed in his collection, 

 crept by day into a corner of the cage, but after sunset their 

 agility made up for their diurnal torpor. 



