MARMOSETS. 195 



not longer than that of the body ; the ears being large and naked. The colour is 

 a nearly uniform black, especially on the nose, lips, and hands ; but the hinder 

 part of the body has the fur more or less mottled with greyish- white. Although 

 not known as a distinct species at the time of Linnaeus, this marmoset was described 

 by the early French naturalists, and distinguished by Buffon as the Tamarin negre. 

 Mr. Bates writes that the negro tamarin " is never seen in large flocks, three or 

 four being the greatest number observed together. It seems to be less afraid of 

 the neighbourhood of man than any other monkey. I sometimes saw it in the 

 woods which border the suburban streets [of Para], and once I espied two individuals 

 in a thicket behind the English consul's house at Nazareth. Its mode of progression 

 along the main boughs of the lofty trees is like that of the squirrel ; it does not 

 ascend to the slender branches, or take the wonderful flying leaps which the Cebidce 

 do, whose prehensile tails and flexible hands fit them for such headlong travelling. 

 It confines itself to the larger boughs and trunks of trees, the long nails being of 

 great assistance to the creature, enabling it to cling securely to the bark ; and it is 

 often seen passing rapidly round the perpendicular cylindrical trunks. It is a 

 quick, timid, restless little creature, and has a great share of curiosity, for when a 

 pereon passes by under the trees along which a flock is running, they also stop for 

 a few moments to have a stare at the intruder. In Para, M. ursulus is often seen 

 in a tame state in the houses of the inhabitants. When full grown it is about 9 

 inches long, independently of the tail, which measures 15 inches. The fur is 

 thick, and black in colour, with the exception of a reddish-brown streak down the 

 middle of the back. When first taken, or when kept tied up, it is very timid and 

 irritable. It will not allow itself to be approached, but keeps retreating backwards 

 when any one attempts to coax it. It is always in a querulous humour, uttering a 

 twittering, complaining noise; its dark, watchful eyes, expressive of distrust, 

 observant of every movement which takes place near it. When treated kindly, 

 however, as it generally is in the houses of the natives, it becomes very tame and 

 familiar. I once saw one as playful as a kitten, running about the house after the 

 negro children, who fondled it to their hearts' content. It acted somewhat differ- 

 ently towards strangers, and seemed not to see them seated in the hammock which 

 was slung in the room, leaping up, trying to bite, and otherwise annoying them. 

 It is generally fed on sweet fruits, such as the banana ; but it is also fond of 

 insects, especially soft-bodied spiders and grasshoppers, which it will snap up with 

 eagerness when within reach. The expression of countenance in these small 

 monkeys is intelligent and pleasing. This is partly due to the small facial angle, 

 which is given as 60 ; but the quick movements of the head, and the way they 

 have of inclining it to one side when their curiosity is excited, contribute very 

 much to give them a knowing expression." 



ALLIED SPECIES. 



Red-Handed This species (M. rufimanus), which is the true tamarin of Buffon, 



Tamarin. j s an inhabitant of Dutch Guiana, or Surinam, and differs from the 

 preceding by its yellowish or orange-red hands ; its habits being, doubtless, precisely 

 similar. Like the negro tamarin, it has been exhibited alive in England. 



