i8 4 



APES AND MONKEYS. 



full-grown. It measured 16 inches in length, exclusive of the tail; the whole 

 body was covered with long and shining dingy- white hair, the whiskers and beard 

 only being of a tawny hue. It was kept in a house, together with a coaita and a 

 caiarara monkey (Cebus albifrons). Both these lively members of the monkey order 

 seemed rather to court attention, but the howler slunk away when any one ap- 

 proached it. When it first arrived, it occasionally made a gruff subdued howling 



THE BLACK HOWLER (l nat. size). 



noise early in the morning. The deep volume of sound in the voice of the howling 

 monkeys, as is well known, is produced by a drum-shaped expansion of the larynx. 

 It was curious to watch the animal while venting its hollow cavernous roar, and 

 observe how small was the muscular exertion employed. When howlers are seen 

 in the forest, there are generally three or four of them mounted on the topmost 

 branches of a tree. It does not appear that their harrowing roar is emitted from 

 sudden alarm ; at least, it was not so in captive individuals. It is probable, how- 

 ever, that the noise serves to intimidate their enemies." 



