214 THE TfATUEAL HISTOET OF 



hook out any substance.* He has never observed 

 the species use it, however, to convey food or any 

 article to the mouth. They inhabit the banks of the 

 Oronooko in immense numbers, and are often seen 

 suspended from the trees, hanging to each other by 

 tail and hands, in the most grotesque groups. At 

 another time, these travellers would see them, under 

 the most scorching sun, throw back their head, fold 

 their arms upon their backs, and, raising their eyes 

 to the sky, remain in this position for several hours. 



The hair of the Marimonda is very long and shining 

 upon the upper parts ; on the under parts of a yellow, 

 ish-red, shining in the sun with a golden lustre. The. 

 direction of the hair upon the head is remarkable ; 

 that on the hinder part and crown grows forward, 

 while that of the forehead is directed backwards, and 

 the meeting or opposition of the hairs forms a tuft, 

 which does not improve the physiognomy of the animal ; 

 the face is naked and black, the mouth surrounded 

 with pale-coloured hairs ; the lips are capable of con- 

 siderable extension forward, and the end of the nose 

 is of a reddish-whitealtogether, a combination 

 irreconcilable to pleasing expression. 



It is a remarkable circumstance that, among the 

 South American Indians, monkeys are much more 

 frequently used as food than among the inhabitants of 



* The natives assert that it fishes also with the end of this pre- 

 hensile organ ! 



