312 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



least apprehension, and express his fears by a prolonged 

 hissing noise. He loved to receive caresses but never re- 

 turned them, and though he testified some affection, he 

 never exhibited complete confidence in those about him. 

 He would come, however, at the call of those he knew, and 

 fly from the voice of strangers, regarding them with mis- 

 trust and menacing them with his feeble teeth. These are 

 the only arms afforded by nature to the Marikinas. By 

 agility and precaution they escape their enemies more than 

 by their strength, which would scarcely be sufficient to 

 protect them against birds of prey of the smaller kind. 

 Like birds, the Marikina just mentioned was fond of re- 

 maining at the top of his cage. He seldom descended and 

 always backwards. He made use of his forehands in hand- 

 ling objects, though he had no distinct thumb and did not 

 claw them with his nails. He never walked upright, and 

 his tail was of no use but remained always pendent. 



The Marikina is not quite a foot in length, and the tail 

 about that length. This animal is the Silky Monkey of 

 Pennant. 



The Squirrel monkey or Titi of the Orinoco (Simia 

 sciurea, Linnaeus.) This very pretty little animal is called 

 Bitschetschis and Bilitenis by different tribes of the na- 

 tive Americans. The fur is of a golden yellow colour, 

 and the animal is not larger than the last. It exhales a 

 slight scent of musk. The physiognomy may be called 

 infantine; with the same expression of innocence, the 

 same unruffled smile, the same rapid transition from 

 joy to sadness. If it cannot laugh, the peculiar faculty 

 of man, it can weep ; and when its fears are excited, the 

 eyes become suddenly suffused with tears, and it seems to 

 appeal only to the softer passions for impunity and protec- 

 tion. Irritation seems almost a stranger to it. At other 

 times all its movements are rapid, light, airy, and graceful. 

 It has a habit of steadfastly watching (he mouth of a 



