102 



VEKTEBKATA. 



THE MIRIKI, OR ERIODE ARACn.NOIDES. 



and the Black Howler, M. nioer, found in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. Four other species 

 are mentioned by Gray, M. lanir/er, M. bicolor, M. auratus, and M. villosus. Still one other is 

 spoken of by Tschudi, as existing in Peru. 



Genus LAGOTHRIX. — These monkeys arc somewhat less robust and less noisy than the 

 howlers ; they are also of a milder character. Their tail is long and prehensile, and their fur 

 very thick and soft. Castelnau's Lagothrix, L. Castelnaui, is found on the borders of the Ama- 

 zon and in Peru. It is very sagacious, thievish, and gluttonous. "When domesticated, it readily 

 becomes obedient and affectionate to its keepers. Like the spider monkeys, it uses its long tail 

 to seize things at a distance, which it afterward takes with its hands. It walks on its hind-legs 

 easily when a person leads it by one of its arms. When teased, it utters a growling noise, and 

 sticks out its lips like the orangs. 



The other species are the Caparro or Negro Monkey, L. Humboldtii, found along the Orino- 

 co, in Colombia and in Peru ; the L. infumatus, and the L. canus, found in Brazil. 



Genus EPJODES. — These have long prehensile tails, with a callosity under the extremity, as in 

 the preceding genus and that of the ateles. The species are intermediary between the howlers and 

 spider monkeys, in size, form, and character. The thumb of the fore-hand is wanting, or merely 

 rudimentary. They make the woods ring during the day with their chattering cries. At the 

 sight of the hunter they save themselves by flight, or hide in the tops of the trees. Three species, 

 called Mirikis, are known — the E. hemidactylus, E. tuberi/er, and E. arachnoides. Their particular 

 habits, however, have not been well ascertained. 



Genus SPIDER MONKEYS, or ATELES.— The Greek word ateles signifies imperfect, and 

 is applied to this genus in allusion to the absence of the thumb on the hands, which character- 

 izes them. The tail, however, by its extraordinary power, abundantly supplies this defect. So 

 dextrous is it, as to be used on many occasions in preference to feet and hands, and hence is called 

 a third hand. This animal usually carries it wound around the body, as if to preserve it, but it 

 is uncoiled with amazing celerity when it is wanted. Buffon says: "In the use of their tail these 

 animals are singularly dextrous. They can pick up with it even straws and bits of wood. M. Au- 

 debert tells us, that he saw one of the species carry hay in its tail to make its bed, and move and 

 spread it about as easily as an elephant could have done with his trunk. In climbing, too, this 

 member is of great ase." 



" There are," sa\ s Dampier, " in the Isthmus of America numbers of monkeys, some of which 



