THE PREACH1ER MONKEY. 73 



Stop it up. This operation I have often observed 

 with much admiration *." 



The Monl<:ies that Dampier describes as having 

 seen near the Bay of Campeachy, appears evidently 

 to have been of this species. " There was," snys 

 he, '^ a great company dancing from tree to tree 

 over my head, chattering and making a terrible 

 noise, and a great many grimaces and antic ges- 

 tures. Some of them broke down dry sticks and 

 flung at me ; and one bigger than the rest, came to 

 a small limb just over my head, and leaping di- 

 rectly at me, made me start back, but the Monkey 

 caught hold of the bough with the tip of his tail, 

 and there remained swinging to and fro, making 

 mouths at me. At last I passed on, they still keep- 

 ing me company, with the like menacing gestures 

 till I came to our huts. 



" They are very sullen when seized, and extreme- 

 ly difficult to be taken when shot, for they will cling 

 with their tail and feet to a bough, as long as any 

 life remains. When I have shot atone, and broken 

 its leg or arm, I have pitied the poor creature, to 

 see it look at and handle the broken limb, and then 

 turn it from side to side in a manner so mournful as 

 scarcely to be described t." 



* It seems Aciy probahle tliat M. OexiVicliu has nii>.coustrued some 

 other action of tlie^c animals, for tliis completely suii;ical operation. 

 That they liave been frequently known to pull (uit tlie anows tVoni 

 their own bodies, which the Indians ha\e shot at them, we iia\f 

 pretty good evidence for assertim;-; but this is only a simple etlort, 

 and docs not require any of that extent of reasoning- faculty, which 

 is absolutely necessary in an operation like the above, 

 t Dumpicr's \oyage, ii. (io. 



