SAKI MONKEYS. 175 



Guiana, and may be regarded as the typical representative of the group. It is 

 characterised by its white or yellowish forehead, marked by a central streak of 

 black, the rest of the long fur being black, and the individual hairs of the same 

 colour throughout. In common with the two following species, the hair on the 

 crown of the head is arranged in a radiated manner, the beard is broad and single, 

 and the tail clothed with long hair, which, like that on the body, is stiff and coarse. 



HUMBOLDT'S SAKI (Pithecia monachus). 



In the Amazon valley, as far west as Ecuador, the white-headed saki is re- 

 placed by a species distinguished by having no black streak down the middle of the 

 white or yellowish forehead, and also by the greater length of the hair covering the 

 head and body. This species is Humboldt's saki, also known as the hairy saki 

 (P. hirsuta), and by the inhabitants of the Upper Amazon as the parauacu. The 

 general colour is black with a grey grizzle, and the tip of each hair white. There 

 is, however, a paler variety (P. albicans), in which the general colour is greyish- 

 white, with only & large patch on the back and the tail black, the individual hairs 

 being tipped with pure white, as in the ordinary variety. 



When at Ega, far up on the Amazon, and at no very great distance from the 

 frontier of Ecuador, Mr. Bates saw several specimens of this monkey. He describes 

 it as being " a timid, inoffensive creature, with a long bear-like coat of speckled grey 

 hair. The long fur hangs over the head, half concealing the pleasing, diminutive 

 face, and clothes also the tail to the tip, which member is well-developed, being 

 18 inches in length, or longer than the body. The parauacu is found on the 

 terra firma lands of the north shore of the Solimoens, from Tunantins to Peru. 

 It exists also on the south side of the river, namely, on the banks of the Teffe, but 

 there under a changed form, which differs a little from its type in colours." The 

 variety here alluded to is the whitish one, which we have already mentioned, 

 Mr. Bates goes on to say that this saki is " a very delicate species, rarely living 

 many weeks in captivity ; but any one who succeeds in keeping it alive for a 

 month or two gains by it a most affectionate pet." Our author then proceeds to 

 notice a specimen of the pale variety which belonged to a French inhabitant of 

 Ega. This animal " became so tame in the course of a few weeks that it followed 

 him about the streets like a dog. My friend was a tailor, and the little pet used to 

 spend the greater part of the day seated on his shoulder, whilst he was at work on his 

 board. It showed, nevertheless, a great dislike to strangers, and was not on good terms 

 with any other member of my friend's household than himself. I saw no monkey that 

 showed so strong a personal attachment as this gentle, timid, silent little creature. 

 The eager and passionate cebi (sapajous) seem to take the lead of all the South 

 American monkeys in intelligence and docility, and the coaita (spider-monkey) has 

 perhaps the most gentle and impressible disposition ; but the parauacu, although 

 a dull, cheerless animal, excels all in this quality of capability of attachment to 

 individuals of our own species. It is not wanting, however, in intelligence as well 

 as moral goodness, proof of which was furnished one day by an act of our little pet. 

 My neighbour had quitted his house one morning without taking the parauacu 

 with him, and the little creature having missed its friend, and concluded, as it 



