igo APES AXD MOXKEYS. 



although frequentl}' requiring a considerable amount of trouble and patience before 

 they can be tameil. Whereas other monkej-s usually give birth to but a single 

 young one at a time, marmosets normally have littei-s of two or three: ami in this 

 respect, therefore, show decided signs of their aflinity with animals of inferior rank 

 in the zoological scheme. They retain, however, the exjjressive and mobile faces 

 characteristic of the higher monkeys. 



There are a large number of kinds of marmosets, although there is still some 

 iincertainty as to how many are entitled to rank as valid species. The whole of 

 them are verj' similar in general appearance, but they maj' be convenienth^ divided 

 into two irenera, accordinir as to whether the lower tu.sks or canine teeth are or not 

 longer than tiie fi-ont teeth or incisors. 



The Short-Tcsked Marmosets. 

 Genus Hapale. 



The marmosets of this group are characterised by the tusks not being longer 

 than the incisoi"s in the lower jaw, so that all the teeth present an even series. It 

 is only in this genus that we meet with species in winch the hair of the tail is 

 marked by darker and lighter rings. 



Common The common marmoset, or ouistiti {H. jricchus\ is one of the 



Marmoset, best and longest known membei-s of the family, haWng been first 

 described by Linnaeua It is an inhabitant of Brazil, more especially the south- 

 eastern regions of that country, and belongs to a gi-oup in which the ears are large 

 and bald over the gi-eater part of their expanse, but furnished with a pencil of 

 long hail's, which forms an expanded tuft on the front edge of their aperture ; 

 the hair on the sides of the crown of the head being likewnse elongated The tail 

 is alternatelv ringed with bands of black and white, and the back has likewise 

 darker and lighter cross-bands. 



The common marmoset, which is represented in the left figure of the woodcut 

 on p. 189, is of a generallj- blackish colour, the back and outer surfaces of the 

 thighs being mai'ked with transvei-se bands of srrev, and the head havini; a white 

 spot on the upper part of the nose. The especial point of distinction is, however, 

 that while the head is black and white, the tufts of hair on the eai-s are pure white. 



The contrast between the black face and the wliite ear-tufts gives a very 

 peculiar expression to this animal, reminding us somewhat of a white-haired negro. 

 It is frequently brought to tliis country as a pet, and its beha\-iour in captivity 

 has been many times described. 



The following account of the habits of a favovirite ouistiti is given by a writer 

 in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History for the year 1829. This specimen was 

 procured at Bahia, and at first it is described as being " exceedingly bold and 

 fierce, screeching most vehementlj- when anj'one dared to approach it. . . . It was 

 long before it was so reconciled even to those who fed it as to allow the slightest 

 libertj' in the way of touching or patting its body : and it was almost impossible 

 to do this by surprise, or bj' the most quiet and cautious approach, as the monkey 



