SQ UIRREL-MONKEYS. 



cence, a similar plaj^ful smile, and a similar sudden change from joy to sorrow, or 

 vice versa. When seized with fear its eyes are suddenlj- suffused with tears. The 

 one in possession of Humboldt was extremely fond of spiders and insects ; and 

 when sho^vn uncoloured figures of wasps, etc., in a work of Natural History, darted 

 forward as if to seize the insect. It remained, howe\-er, perfectly indifferent to 

 figures of heads and skeletons of Mammals. 



When several of these monkeys confined in one cage were exposed to a shower 

 of rain, they twined their tails round their necks, and huddled close together in 

 order to impart to one another mutual warmth. The Indians of the Orinoco in- 

 formed Humboldt that they often met with groups of ten or twelve of these 

 monkeys thus cowering together, whilst others remained outside the group utter- 

 ing mournful cries at not being allowed 

 to enter. By shooting poisoned arrows 

 at such groups the natives are accus- 

 tomed to obtain a number of young 

 squirrel monkey.s at a time ; the j^oung 

 clinging to their dying mothers as they 

 fall, and, unless wounded, not leaving 

 them even when dead. All the move- 

 ments of these little monkeys are rapid, 

 light, and graceful. They have a habit 

 of steadfastly watching the mouth of 

 a person when speaking ; and if allowed 

 to sit on the shoulder of their master, 

 they will frequent Ij' touch his lips, 

 tongue, or teeth. Mr. Bates speaks of 

 the squirrel-monkeys in Brazil as living in large flocks, and, when on tlie move, 

 taking flj'ing leaps from tree to tree. 



Short-Tailed This specics (C ustci) is ilistinguishod from tlie preceding one 



squirrei-Monkey.ii^ainly by its shorter tail and naked ear. It inhabits the same 

 regions as the last. In some specimens the outer side of the fore-arm is of 

 the same colour as the bodj^, but in others it is shot with gold, as in the 

 typical squirrel-monkey. A side view of the head is given in the accompanying 

 woodcut. 



Black-Tailed In Bolivia the squirrel - monkeys are represented by a well- 



Squirrei-Monkey.niarked species, (C. entomophaga), differing from both the above by 

 its black head, and by the hairs of the body being yellow with long black tips. 

 These parti-coloured hairs cause the general hue of the fur to be golden-brown. 

 The upper part of the body is, however, of the same black hue as the head ; and 

 this colour likewise prevails on the tail, which is of moderate length. The face, 

 throat, and the inner surfaces of the thighs are, on the contrary, of a yellowish-grey 

 colour. 



SIDE VIEW OF THE HEAD OP THE SHORT-TAILED SQVIBREL- 

 .MONKEY. (From Sclater, Proc. ZooL Soc. 1872.) 



