THE GOAITA. 83 



in an erect position, they always attempt to aid their tottering steps by means of their 

 prehensile tails, which they twine about in every direction in the hope of grasping some 

 object by which to help themselves along. But when they find that all chances of 

 external support are vain, they bravely throw themselves on their own resources, and, 

 using their tail as a balance, move along with tolerable ease. 



The mode in which they apply the tail to this unexpected use is by raising it up 

 behind until it is on- a level with the head, and then curling the tip of it downwards, 

 so as to form the figure of a letter " S." 



The spider monkeys can apply the tail to uses far more remarkable than any of those 

 which have been mentioned. With such singularly delicate sense of touch is it fur- 

 nished, that it almost seems to be possessed of the power of sight, and moves about 

 among the branches with as much decision as if there were an eye in its tip. Should 



GO AIT A. Ateles Paaiscus. 



the monkey discover some prize, such as a nest of eggs, or any little dainty, which lies 

 in a crevice too small for the hand to enter, it is in nowise disconcerted, but inserts 

 the end of its tail into the cranny, and hooks out the desired object. 



It is impossible to contemplate this wonderful provision of nature without a feeling 

 of admiration at the manner in which the most unlikely portions of an animal are 

 developed for the purpose of performing sundry uses. There seems to be a curious 

 parallel between the elephant's trunk, and the spider monkey's tail, being developments 

 of the two opposite extremes of the body, the /ormer belonging to the Old World and 

 the latter to the New. 



There is a wonderful resemblance in the use to which these members are put, except- 

 ing of course those discrepancies that must arise from the different natures of the organs, 

 and the habits of the animals to which they belong. Even in external form the proboscis 

 and the tail are marvellously similar ; so much so, indeed, that an outline of one would 



