QUADRUMANA. 



tjl 



The Ordinary Sapajous have the head flat, the muzzle but slightly prominent (sixty degrees). 

 In some the .anterior thumbs are nearly or quite hidden in the skin, and the prehensile portion of 

 the tail naked beneath. They constitute the genus 



CoAiTA (Ateles, Geof.), — 

 [Or the Spider Monkeys, as they are commonly termed, in allusion to their long slender limbs, and spi-aniing- 

 movements.] 



The first species, the Chaniek {A. subpentadactylus, Geof.), has a slight projection of the thumb, though only 

 for one phalanx, which has no nail. Another, the Mikiri (,At. hypoxanthus, Pr. Max. ; Brachyteles macrotarsus, 

 Spix), has also a very small thumb, and sometimes even a nail. Tliese two species are separated by Spix under 

 the name Brachyteles. They connect Ateles with Lagothrix.* 



The others, to which alone Spix applies the name Ateles, have no apparent thumb whatever. [Six have been 

 ascertained; one of them the >Sim. paitiscus, Lin.] 



All the above are natives of Guiana and Brazil. Their limbs are very long and slender, and their gait slow 

 and deliberate. They exhibit some remarkable resemblances to Man in their muscles, and, of all animals, alone 

 have the biceps of the thigh made like his. [Accordingly, they make little use of their fore-hands in progression . 

 Their colours are chiefly or wholly black, or fidvous-grey ; face black, or flesh-coloured. 1 hey are gentle and 

 confiding, and capable of much attachment. Some attain to as large a stature as the preceding.] 



The Gastromargues {Lagothrix, Geof. ; Gastromargas, Spix). 

 Head round, as in the Coaitas ; the thumb developed, as in the Stentors ; and tail partly naked, like 

 the one and the other. Such are — 



Tlie Caparo, Hwmb. (L. Humboldtii, Geof. ; G. oUvaceus, Spix), and the Grison {L. canus, Geof. ; G. infumatm, 

 Spix.)— Inhabitants of the interior of South America, said to be remarkable gluttons. Their limbs are shorter 

 and stouter than in the Coaitas, and they often raise themselves on their hinder extremities : occur in numerous 

 bands. 



The other Sapajous, or 



The Capuchins {Cehus, Geof.) — 

 Have a round head, the thumbs distinct, and the tail entirely hairy, though prehensile. The species 

 are still more numerous than those of the Stentors, and almost as difficult to characterize. 



Some have the hair upon the forehead of a uniform length ; as the Sajou {Sim. apella, Lin.), and the Capuchin, 

 \_Auct.'\ {S. capucina, Lin.) : others have the hair of the forehead so disposed as to form aigrettes ; as the Horned 

 Capuchin (Sim. fatuellus, Gm., which has a tuft of black hairs on each side of the forehead), the C. cirrkifer, 

 Geof., and the Cebus of the same name of Pr. Max., but which is different — C. cristatus, F. Cuv. There are nu- 

 merous others ; but we require many observations, made in the places where these animals inhabit, before we can 

 hope to establish their species otherwise than in an arbitrary manner. [About sLxteen are commonly admitted, 

 most of which are of difterent shades of brown, some very variable. They are of smaller size than the preceding, 

 and of mild and gentle disposition ; their motions are quick and light, and they are easily tamed. Several exhale 

 a strong odour of musk.] 



In the SAiMiRif, the tail is depressed, and almost ceases to be prehensile; the head is very much 

 flattened ; in the interorbital partition of the cranium there is a membranous space. Only one species 

 is known, — 



The Saimiri (Sim. sciurea, Buff. xv. 10.) — Size of a Squirrel ; of a yellowish grey ; the fore-arms, legs, and the 

 four extremities, of a fulvous-yellow ; end of the nose black. [A pretty, vivacious little animal, which subsists 

 much on insects, and is also carnivorous. Its tail is sub-prehensile, or capable of coiling slightly throughout its 

 length, and so holding in a moderate degree ; but its extremity cannot seize a small object : it is often wound 

 round the body.] 



The remaining Monkey-like animals of America have the tail not at all prehensile. J Several have 

 that appendage very long and tufted, whence they have been termed Fox-tailed Monkeys : their teeth 

 project forwards more than in the others. They are 



The Sakis (Pilhecia, Desm. and Ilhg.),— 

 [Which are again divisible into three minor groups. Of these, the first is represented by the Yarke Saki (Sim. 

 Pit/iecia, Lin., P. leucocephala), and three or four others : singular-looking animals, with extremely long hair, except 

 on the head, where, in most of the genus, it is parted. In the Yarke, the head is whitish, and all the other parts 

 brown-black, which adds to the strangeness of its appearance. The Jacket Saki (Sim. sayulata, Traill), illustrates 



• The latter may do so, but certainly not the former, which is i» 

 all other respects a characteristic AteUs. — Kd. 



t Sugoinua (or, what would be preferable, Sngunua,) of some. 

 This name, however, originally proposed by Lacepede for the Sagouius, 

 (Callitkrix), anions which the Saimiri was included, call only lead to 



confusion if applied to the latter exclusively. We would suggest, 



therefore, the appellation Samiria, formed out of the vernacular. — Kd. 



t It has a propensity to curl in the Marmosets, if not iu the Sa 



gouins.— Ed. 



