238 ALLEN’S NATURALIST’S LIBRARY. 
face. Hairs of forehead long and projecting anteriorly ; tail 
one-quarter longer than the body ; hands generally entirely 
lacking the thumbs, though sometimes a rudimentary thumb is 
present, and that occasionally on one hand only. Naked portion 
of tail covered with sensory papillee, rendering it more sensi- 
tive, so it is said, than the hand. Length of body, 24 inches ; 
tail, 30 inches. ‘The skull in some specimens of the thumbed 
variety 1s compressed laterally, and shows a sagittal crest 
along the top. 
Distribution—This species 1s spread over Guiana, the forests 
of the Ucayali and Huallaga rivers in eastern Peru, and the 
northern part of Brazil, where it is known as the “‘Coaita,” taking 
the place of the more northern A/eles ater. “It occurs,” says 
Mr. Bates, “throughout the lowlands of the Lower and Upper 
Amazons, but does not range to the south beyond the limits 
of the river plains.” In the higher part of the Rio Negro it 
comes down to the north bank, but does not cross to the south 
bank of the river. 
Habits.—This species is the best known of all the Spider- 
Monkeys. It is captured in large numbers, when young, by the 
natives of Guiana, and as they bear captivity well, many of them 
have been brought to Europe. They live in larger troops than 
do some of the other members of its genus ; indeed, these com- 
panies are said to number as many asa hundred. They are 
very easily tamed, and become very affectionate. They live 
chiefly on fruits, principally on a species of palm-nut. Dam- 
pier, however, says, apparently of this species of Aze/es : “The 
Monkeys come down by the Sea-side [at low water] and catch 
them [the Periwinckles and Muscles]; digging them out of 
their Shells with their Claws.” Large numbers of this species 
