80 NATURAL HISTOBY OF 



but in indifferent individuals ; and these, as far as our 

 knowledge extends, confined to a very limited space : 

 that of India inhabits almost exclusively the Island 

 of Borneo, while the African representative is found 

 only on the eastern coast, and particularly in Angola 

 and Congo. 



These are the principal forms inhabiting the old 

 world ; South Ameiica possesses others of great pecu- 

 liarity, and it is remarkable, that none of them can be 

 placed in any of the African or Asiatic groups. The 

 nostrils are always divided by a broader separation, 

 the size and strength is much less ; in some, the pro- 

 portions are very diminutive, and in a few, the habits 

 become completely nocturnal. The inhabitants of this 

 region, also ey^ibi; the most perfect adaptation of struc- 

 ture for climbing and a silvan life, and the formation of 

 the tail in the greater part, is a most efficient assistant 

 in grasping and supporting themselves among the 

 branches, and some can even introduce the extremity 

 in the narrow parts of the bark, and withdraw from 

 thence any small substance.* Among the Howlers, we 

 see somewhat of the form and appearance of the 

 baboons, which they also resemble in their larger size, 

 their strength, and fiercer^ dispositions, and in the 

 structure of the laryngeal sacks, which are connected 

 with the os hyoides. We find, in the genus Hapales, an 

 approach to the insectivorous mammalise, in the hooked 



* Humboldt, Zool. Observations, page 329. Description of 

 Marimonda in present volume. 



