20 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The greenish brown colour of the hair is caused by alternate 

 bands of yellow and black, which exist on each hair. The 

 brilliant colours referred to above belong to the skin, and fade 

 after death, or when the animal is not in perfect health. 



Family IIT. *Cebidre. (Gr. K#/3of, a monkey. Monkey kind.) 

 ATELK:. (Gr. re/l/)f, imperfect.) 



Paniscus (Gr. HavicKO, dim. of Tray, a little Pan), tlie Coaita 

 Monkey. 



The AMERICAN MONKEYS, or Cebidae, are found exclusively 

 in South America, and are never seen north of Panama. Their 

 tails are invariably long, and in some genera, prehensile. 



The Coaita is one of the Spider Monkeys, so called from 

 their long slender limbs, and their method of progressing 

 among the branches. The tail seems to answer the purpose 

 of a fifth hand, as it is capable of being used for every pur- 

 pose to which the hand could be applied ; indeed, the Spider 



* Pronounce Kebirfae, 



