MARMOSETS. 193 



The silver marmoset has large and nearly naked ears, covered on both sides 

 near the margin with long hairs, forming a double fringe instead of a pencil. 

 The fur of this elegant little creature is soft and silky, and either pure white or 

 yellowish- white in colour. In the white variety the limbs and tail are, however, 

 invariably yellowish ; while in the variety in which the fur of the body is yellowish, 

 that covering the limbs, tail, and under-parts may be chestnut-brown. These two 

 varieties were regarded by Dr. Gray as distinct species, but this is not generally 

 admitted by other writers. 



Black-Tailed This species (H. melanura) is readily distinguished from the 



Marmoset, preceding by the absence of the fringe of hairs on the large and flesh- 

 coloured ears, and likewise by the black tail. Usually the general colour of the 

 fur is ashy -brown, paler on the front of the body, and whitish on the front of the 

 thighs and loins ; while the head and limbs are dark brown. There is, however, 

 a variety which is entirely white, with the exception of the characteristic black tail. 

 It is represented in the top figure of the illustration on p. 197. 



Of this species, which he mentions under the name of Midas argentatus, 

 Mr. Bates writes that it is one of the rarest of the American marmosets. 

 " Indeed," says this writer, " I have not heard of its being found anywhere except 

 near Cameta, where I once saw three individuals, looking like so many white 

 kittens, running along a branch in a cacao grove ; in their motions they precisely 

 resembled the M. ursulus" of which a description is given later on. " I saw after- 

 wards a pet animal of this species, and heard that there were many so kept, and 

 that they were esteemed as great treasures. The one mentioned was full-grown, 

 although it measured only 7 inches in length of ' body. It was covered with 

 long, white, silky hairs ; the tail being blackish and the face flesh-coloured. It was 

 a most timid and sensitive little thing. The woman who owned it carried it 

 constantly in her bosom, and no money would induce her to part with her pet. 

 She called it Mico (the native name of these animals). It fed from her mouth, and 

 allowed her to fondle it freely, but the nervous little creature would not permit 

 strangers to touch it. If any one attempted to do so, it shrank back, the whole 

 body trembling with fear, and its teeth chattered whilst it uttered its tremulous 

 frightened tones. The expression of its features was like that of its more robust 

 brother, M. urswlus ; the eyes, which were black, were full of curiosity and 

 mistrust, and were always kept fixed on the person who attempted to advance 

 towards it." 



The third and last of the three diminutive species constituting 

 Pigmy Marmoset. . . \ i i vi 



this group is the pigmy marmoset, (H. pygmwa) which is likewise 



found in the primeval forest regions of Brazil. This species is distinguished 

 by the smallness of its short ears, which, although slightly hairy on their outer 

 surface, have no tuft or fringe of long hairs, and are entirely concealed beneath 

 the back wardly -directed and elongated fur of the crown of the head. A further 

 distinction is to be found in the presence of darker and lighter rings on the tail. 

 The general colour of the body is a tawny or ferruginous brown, more or less 

 varied with black and red on the back ; the neck, under-parts, and inner surfaces 

 of the limbs being yellowish, and the hands and feet yellowish-brown. 



Three specimens of the pigmy marmoset were obtained by Mr. Bates on the 



VOL. i. 13 



