THE COUXIO. 231 



JHumboldt has recorded the history of the " Capuchin 

 de fOronoque," the P. chiropotes. It is very si- 

 milar to that just now described, except in colour^ 

 and the plate of the one might serve as an illustration 

 of the other, if the tints were differently disposed. 

 The colour is brownish-red, and the hah- is long ; the 

 beard is blackish-brown, arising below the ears, and 

 covering a part of the breast. The eyes are large and 

 sunk ; the tail is bushy, as in the last ; the claws are 

 bent except on the thumbs. 



Humboldt has given the following curious account 

 of its manners : " Of all the monkeys of America, the 

 Capuchin of the Oronooko has the greatest resemblance 

 in its features to man. The eyes have a mingled ex- 

 pression of melancholy and fierceness ; and as the chin 

 is concealed by a long and thick beard, the facial 

 angle appears much less than it really is. It is a strong, 

 active, and fierce animal, and very difficult to tame ; 

 when irritated, it raises itself upon the posterior ex- 

 tremities, grinds the teeth, and leaps around the ag- 



It very seldom drinks, and, when it does so, the 

 action is performed, not like the other American mon- 

 keys, which apply their lips to the liquid presented 

 to them, but, taking the water up in the hollow of 

 its hand, and inclining the head upon the shoulder, it 

 carries it to the mouth. The operation is performed 

 with great deliberation, and the spectator must remain 

 concealed to witness it. The animal becomes furious 



