1869. | MR. SCLATER ON TWO SPECIES OF MAMMALS. 593 
survivor of several others of the same species. Mr. Bates, being 
in the Gardens shortly afterwards, recognized this Monkey as one 
that he had met with on the Tocantins River, and had spoken 
of in his interesting travels as Midas argentatus*. Following 
his identification, I referred the species to the Simia argentata of 
Linnzeus, and in one of my notices of the additions to the Menagerie, 
published in the Society’s ‘ Proceedings’ for the past year (P. Z. 8S. 
1868, p. 262), spoke of the animal as Hapale argentata. About 
the same time Dr. Gray, having made a cursory inspection of this 
Monkey at the British Museum, whither I had sent it, in order to 
be compared with the specimens in the National Collection, named 
it Micot sericeus, and published under that name a very short de- 
scription of it in the Society’s ‘ Proceedings’ (1868, p. 256), which 
is accompanied with an accurate figure by Mr. Wolf (plate xxiv.). 
When inspecting the fine collection of American Quadrumana in 
the Berlin Museum last summer, under the guidance of my friend 
Dr. Peters, I first became aware that I had made a sad error in re- 
ferrmg our Hapale to H. argentata. The Berlin Museum is 
fortunate in possessing authentic specimens of H. argentata, as well 
as of the Hapale chrysoleucos of Wagner. On examining these 
(which are both deficient in the British Museum, and had never 
come under my notice previously), I perceived at once that our 
animal was referable to the latter, and not to the former species. 
The Hapale argentata, although somewhat resembling H. chryso- 
leucos in colour, has the ear-conch naked, as in its close ally H. me- 
lanura, while in H. chrysoleucos this organ is densely fringed with 
hair. In order, however, to set the question definitely at rest, [ 
applied to my friend Herr August von Pelzeln of Vienna, who 
most kindly supplied me in exchange, from the treasures of the Im- 
perial Zoological Cabinet, with one of the duplicate specimens of 
* “The little Midas argentatus is one of the rarest of the American Monkeys. 
I have not heard of its being found anywhere except near Cameti. I once saw 
three individuals together running along a branch in a Cacao-grove near Ca- 
meta ; they looked like white kittens: in their motions they resembled pre- 
cisely the Midas ursulus already described. I saw afterwards a pet animal of 
this species, and heard that there were many so kept, and that they were 
esteemed as choice treasures. The one I saw was full-grown, but it measured 
only 7 inches in length of body. It was covered with long, white, silky hairs, 
the tail was blackish, and the face nearly naked and flesh-coloured. It was a 
most timid and sensitive little thing. The woman who owned it carried it con- 
stantly in her bosom, and no money would induce her to part with her pet. 
She called it Mico. It fed from her mouth, and allowed her to fondle it freely ; 
but the nervous little creature would not permit strangers to touch it. If any 
one attempted to do so, it shrank back, the whole body trembling with fear, 
and its teeth chattered, whilst it uttered its tremulous frightened tones. ‘The 
expression of its features was like that of its more robust brother, Midas ur- 
sulus ; the eyes, which were black, were full of curiosity and mistrust, and it 
always kept them fixed on the person who attempted to advance towards it.”—— 
Bates's ‘ Naturalist on the River Amazons,’ vol. i. p. 162. 
t+ The value of this genus (!) may be estimated by the fact that it is charac- 
terized (P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 734) as having the “ears naked, exposed,” whereas the 
so-called Mico sericeus has the ear-conch thickly fringed with outstanding white 
hairs. 
