THE CO AIT A. 75 



This monkey is credited with the faculty of robbing nests of birds that build in fan- 

 cied security in the hollow trunks of dead trees. He introduces his tail into the aperture, 

 grasps the egg with the sensitive, finger-like tip, and passes the morsel with a flourish to his 

 mouth. 



Five specimens of the several species of Spider Monkeys are in the American Museum of 

 Natural History, where the reader may see the most excellent representative collection ; 

 embracing all of the principal forms. At no distant day this collection will contain as nearly a 

 perfect series of Primates, which include all of the monkey races, from the gorilla and the two 

 large species, orang and chimpanzee, to the lowest, as can be obtained. The grand examples 

 of the three latter forms are now in the museum, and well repay a visit to them. 



The Coaita, or Quata, as the word is frequently written, resembles the chameck in many 

 characteristics. 



It is one of the best known of this group of animals, which are called by the name of 

 Spider Monkeys, on account of their long sprawling limbs, and their peculiar action while 

 walking. 



It is very remarkable, that although these creatures appear to be much less calculated for 

 bipedal locomotion than the large apes, they should really be better walkers than most of the 

 monkey tribe. When placed on a level surface and desirous to walk in an erect position, they 

 always attempt to aid their tottering steps by means of their prehensile tails, which they twine 

 about in every direction in the hope of grasping some object by which to help themselves 

 along. But when they find that all chances of external support are vain, they bravely throw 

 themselves on their own resources, and, using their tail as a balance, move along with toler- 

 able ease. 



The mode in which they apply the tail to this unexpected use is by raising it up behind 

 until it is on a level with the head, and then curling the tip of it downwards, so as to form 

 the figure of a letter " S." 



The spider monkeys can apply the tail to uses far more remarkable than any of those 

 which have been mentioned. With such singularly delicate sense of touch is it furnished, 

 that it almost seems to be .possessed of the power of sight, and moves about among the 

 branches with as much decision as if there were an eye in its tip. Should the monkey dis- 

 cover some prize, siich as a nest of eggs, or any little dainty, which lies in a crevice too small 

 for the hand to enter, it is in nowise disconcerted, but inserts the end of its tail into the 

 cranny, and hooks out the desired object. 



It is impossible to contemplate this wonderful provision of nature without a feeling 

 of admiration at the manner in which the most unlikely portions of an animal are de- 

 veloped for the purpose of performing sundry uses. There seems to be a curious parallel 

 between the elephant's trunk and the spider monkey's tail, being developments of the two 

 opposite extremes of the body, the former belonging to the Old World and the latter to 

 the New. 



There is a wonderful resemblance in the use to which these members are put, excepting 

 of course those discrepancies that must arise from the different natures of the organs, and the 

 habits of the animals to which they belong. Even in external form the proboscis and the tail 

 are marvellously similar ; so much so, indeed, that an outline of one would almost serve as a 

 sketch of the other. Each is gifted with discriminating faculty of touch, and therefore able 

 to pick up any small object ; while at the same time its muscular powers are so great, that it 

 can endure severe and prolonged exertion. 



The proboscis of the elephant can seize a tree-branch and tear it from its parent trunk. 

 The spider monkey has no such gigantic strength, but it can sling itself from a bough by its 

 tail, and remain suspended for almost any length of time. There is a beautiful formation of 

 the tail of this creature, by means of which the grasp of that member retains its hold even 

 after the death of the owner. If a spider monkey is mortally wounded, and not killed out- 

 right, it curls its tail round a branch, and thus suspended yields up its life. The tail does 

 not lose its grasp when the life has departed ; and the dead monkey hangs with its head down- 

 wards for days, until decomposition sets in and the rigid muscles are relaxed. 



