MONKEYS. 77 



"Wherever we peruse the journeys of travellers, who have 

 explored the interior of the tropics, we find accounts of 

 almost innumerable bands which crowd the wooded 

 banks, doubtless astonished at such visiters, and exhi- 

 biting every attitude and grimace, that the impulses of 

 fear and caution can supply. In general, they live 

 together in harmony, unless when slightly disturbed 

 by rivalry after some favourite supply of food, in which 

 cases, the love and knowledge of power is fully shown 

 and exercised by the strong over their weaker com- 

 panions. Intruders of any other species are either 

 expelled, or, -if too powerful, are chattered at with all 

 their natural petulance, and stolen opportunities are 

 watched, to pilfer the attracting store, or annoy the un- 

 welcome aggressor. 



Their breeding-places are various cloven trees, 

 perhaps a forsaken nest which has already reared a 

 feathered progeny rocks, thickets of brush, and 

 rank grassy herbage, all afford sheltered nursing- 

 places. The young, seldom more than two, are 

 attended with the greatest care and anxiety by the 

 female ; and long after they are able to follow their 

 troop, on the approach of danger, will attach them- 

 selves to the parent, who will encounter almost any- 

 thing in their defence, and who, from the utmost 

 timidity, becomes fierce and reckless of every opponent. 

 It is singular, however, that in confinement the very 

 reveise most frequently takes place ; and when these 

 animali have, with great care and attention, been 



