CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 2. QUADRUMANA. 



103 



THE ATELES, OR SPIDER MONKEY. 



are white, but the most part black — some have beards, others none. These monkeys are very 

 droll, and performed a thousand grotesque postures as we "traversed the woods. When they 

 are unable to leap from one tree to another, on account of the distance, or the tree being separated 

 by a river, their dexterity is very surprising. The whole family form a kind of chain, locking tail 

 in tail, or hand in hand ; and one of them holding the branch above, the rest swing down, balam 

 cing to and fro like a pendulum, until the undermost is enabled to catch hold of the lower br?nchea 

 of some neighboring tree. When the monkey below has fixed his hold, the one above lets 

 go, and thus comes undermost in turn; but, creeping up along the cha'j, attains the next 

 branches of the tree like the rest ; and thus they all take possession without ever coming to the 

 ground." 



This account has been doubted by some naturalists, but we are told by Mrs. Loudon that a 

 similar feat is often performed by these monkeys in the menagerie of the Zoological Gardens at 

 London. Modern travelers tell us that monkeys of this kind do actually cross rivers by forming 

 a chain attached to the overhanging branches of the trees on one side. When the chain is long 

 enough, they give it a swinging motion, which enables the lowest monkey to catch hold of the 

 limbs on the other side. He mounts till the chain is drawn straight from tree to tree, when the 

 opposite monkey lets go, and the whole group are transported across the stream without touching 

 the water. 



The ateles are generally very slender, the body not being more than a foot in length. They 

 generally feed on insects, but they also catch small fishes and shell-fish, such as mussels and oys- 

 ters : they crush the shells of the latter by pounding them between two stones. They are remark- 

 ably intelligent, gentle in their manners, and exceedingly light and graceful in their movements. 

 The manner in which they put forth their long slender claws has given them the title of Spider 

 Monkeys — a name which has sometimes been erroneously applied to the eriodes. They are fond 

 of the society of man, and though sad of aspect, are confiding and affectionate. Their voice is a 

 sort of flute-like whistle, often compared to the notes of birds. They are great favorites in the 



menageries. 



Mr. Gardiner gives the following account of this species : " Those that live in the vicinity of the 

 Brazilian plantations make sad havoc in the fields of Indian corn. Their want of a fore-finger or 

 thumb seems to be made up by the handiness of another member, for in carrying off their plunder, 

 they will take- an ear of corn in the mouth, one in the arms, and a third in the prehensile tail !" 



