234 THE JfATTJRAL HISTQET. OF 



"brows are composed of strong bristles ; the nose is flat, 

 and the separation of the nostrils wide ; there is no 

 beard ; the ears are bare, and very large ; the body, 

 with the exception of the head and hands, is clothed 

 with yellowish-brown, straight, long and shining hair ; 

 the breast, belly, and insides of the arms, are of a 

 clearer or lighter tint ; the hands are black, the fingers 

 very long, the nails flattened ; the tail is thick, of the 

 same colour with the body, and black at the end. 



The Cacajao is a voracious animal, and eats all 

 kinds of fruit ; it is, however, weak ; very inactive ; of 

 a mild temper, and easily frightened. It was very 

 timid in the company of some small Sapajous ; and the 

 sight of a crocodile or serpent made it tremble violently. 

 When about to seize any object, it stretches out its 

 arms in the manner represented on the plate, and holds 

 it with difficulty from the great length and slenderness 

 of the fingers. It inhabits the forests of the Cassi- 

 quaire and Rio Negro, and lives in troops. 



We have now reached the group of small animals, 

 which will conclude the first great division of the 

 quadrumanous animals, or what generally go under 

 the title of monkeys ; by Geoffrey they are made to 

 form a family, which he denominates Arctopitheci, 

 and divides into two subgenera; the great dis- 

 tinction is their squirrel-like action, and carnivo- 

 rous propensities, and in the nails being in the form 

 of shaii) claws j the first genus has been denomi- 



