36 NATURAL HISTORY. 
and open downward. This makes a great difference in 
the aspect of the face. The monkeys of the Old World 
have cheek-pouches—that is, their cheeks are so loose 
and bag-like that they can stow away in them quite a 
quantity of nuts and other fruits as they gather them. 
These are not seen in American monkeys. The tails of 
American monkeys are in most species very long, and in 
many of them it is used as a sort of fifth hand in climb- 
ing. They are inhabitants of the northern half of South 
America. They are especially abundant in the vast for- 
est-plains between the Orinoco and the Amazon. They 
live in trees, and pass from one tree to another with the 
same facility that squirrels do with us.* 
53. I will notice but three of the many species.. The 
Coaita Spider Monkey, Fig. 16, uses its tail, as you see, 
- = k 
Wie oe 
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a: 
Fig. 16.—Coaita Spider Monkey. 
in climbing. It has been known to hang to a branch by 
it for some time after being killed by a shot. It uses its 
tail also to feel with, and to seize small things, such as 
egos. For these purposes the end is destitute of hair, 
and is very sensitive. This animal is easily chilled, and 
* Animals that live thus are said to be arboreal in their habits, from 
the Latin word arbor, tree. 
