THE SAKIS. 



67 



insectivorous type can be made out, a trans- 

 ition manifested by the canines becoming 

 thinner, the premolars further apart, and the 

 tubercles on the molars more pointed. This 

 character and the increasing curvature of the 

 finger-nails make these mostly small monkeys 

 a connecting link with the Clawed Monkeys, 

 from which, however, they all diverge in the 

 number of their teeth. Many of them are 

 almost entirely insect-eaters, and they are 

 able to catch in leaping the booty that may 

 have escaped from between their fingers. 

 The tail varies in length from a short stump 

 to one greatly exceeding the length of the 

 body; but this organ serves only as a rudder 

 or to wrap round the upper part of the body 

 and neck in sleep, or as a protection against 

 cold and wind. 



The Sakis proper [Pii/iecia) agree with the 

 members of the last genus in the possession 

 of short triangular canines, with sharp cutting 

 edges before and behind, and blunt tubercled 

 molars, but present some resemblance to 

 certain prosimians in the form and mode of in- 

 sertion of the incisors (which, especially in the 

 lower jaw, are strongly inclined forwards), and 

 in the pointed conical form of the premolars. 

 The fur is not verv thick, but is composed of 

 long hair, which gives the creatures a plump 

 appearance. The hair of the head is long, 

 and parted in the middle, and at the sides is 

 continuous with the whiskers and beard, 

 which are often very large. The hairy cover- 

 ing of the long tail becomes longer and longer 

 towards the end, so that it resembles that of 

 a fox. The movements of these creatures 

 are sluggish and sleepy, yet they can catch in- 

 sects and birds very well in leaping. Small 

 and timid, they mostly congregate in companies 

 hidden in the recesses of the trees apart from 

 the other monkeys, which ill-use them. They 

 inhabit especially the region of the Orinoco 

 and the Amazon, and when caught young 

 become very tame and much attached to their 

 owners; but they are only seldom brought to 

 Europe, where they do not survive long. 



The Couxio or I3Iack Saki {Pithecia Salanas), 

 represented in fig. 18, is distinguished from 

 some allied .species by its uniform black colour, 

 and the large and long beard. 



Near these stand the short-tailed monkeys 

 {Brachyurtis) with a dentition exactly similar, 

 but with a short stump-like tail, very wide 

 nostrils placed sidewards, and claw-like curved 

 nails on all the fingers and toes except the 



Fig. 18. — The Couxio or Black Saki (Pithecia Satanas\. 



thumb and great toe. The hair on the body 

 is still longer than in the previous genus, and 

 is mostly of a colour resembling that of 

 withered grass; on the tail the hair is very 

 thick. The face is mostly scarlet in colour, 

 as is the case, for example, with the Ouakari 

 iyBrachyurus calzms (ouakari) ), represented in 

 fig. 19, a species of monkey met with in a 

 few isolated areas of small extent on the 

 Parana and the Japura, especially in forests 

 that are inundated during the greater part of 

 the year. For that reason, as well as on 

 account of the rarity of its occurrence, the 

 capture of a monkey of this species is re- 



