ORDER QUADRUMANA. 317 



of the thumb, the nail of which is perfectly flat and round. 

 The bushy tail is rather shorter than the body. 



This species is said by Humboldt to resemble man more 

 than any other of the American monkeys. Its eyes have an 

 expression of melancholy, mixed with ferocity. The chin 

 being hidden under a long and bushy beard, gives to the 

 facial angle an appearance of being less inclined than it 

 really is. It is a robust, active, fierce, and untameable ani- 

 mal. When irritated it raises itself on the hinder extre- 

 mities, grinds the teeth, rubs violently the end of the 

 beard, and flies at the person who has excited it. It is 

 habitually melancholy, and when in captivity is never ex- 

 cited to gaiety except for a moment at the sight of its 

 favourite fruit. It seldom drinks ; an operation it performs 

 in a singular manner, not by putting its lips to the liquid 

 or the vessel containing it, but by taking it up in the hollow 

 of the hand, and conveying it to the mouth while the head 

 is inclined on the shoulder, whence Humboldt applied 

 the epithet cheriopotes, or hand-drinkers. It is not easy 

 to witness this performance, as the animal is unwilling to 

 do it when observed. It has an extreme aversion to having 

 the beard wetted, which probably induces its singular mode 

 of drinking. 



The Capuchins of the Oronoco do not live in troops but 

 only in pairs. They seldom use their voice, which is a rough 

 grunt. There appear to be other species, to which the na- 

 tives of different parts of South America have applied this 

 name from a fancied similarity to the monks it refers to ; 

 the antipathy formerly existing between the Observantins 

 Missionaries of the Oronoco and the Capuchin Missionaries, 

 have given rise to very absurd stories in regard to the ani- 

 mals in question, to which Humboldt alludes. Till these 

 men can agree in their opinions there is little probability of 

 their advancing the progress of sound religion, charity, 

 and truth. 



Vol, I. Z 



