84 



CAPUCIN MONKEYS. 



The last example of the Capucins which will be noticed in these pages, is the Weepek 

 Monkey, or Sai. 



As is the case with the two previously-mentioned animals, it is an inhabitant of the 

 Brazils, and as lively as any of its congeners. The tails of the Capucins are covered with 

 hair, but are still possessed of prehensile powers. All these monkeys seem to be possessed 

 of much intelligence, and their little quaint ways make them great favorites with those who 

 watch their motions. 



Their food is chiefly of a vegetable nature, but they are fond of various insects, sometimes 

 rising to higher prey, as was once rather unexpectedly proved. A linnet was placed, by way 

 of experiment, in a cage containing two Capucin monkeys, who pounced upon- their winged 



t/jmsMs 



SAI.— Oebus capucinus. 



visitor, caught it, and the stronger of the two devoured it with such avidity that it would not 

 even wait to pluck off the feathers. Eggs are also thought to form part of the Capucin' s food. 



The Capucins, so named from several of them having the head so decorated by hair as to 

 resemble a monk's cowl. One little species, called Sai, is often seen in confinement as a pet. 

 It is also called Weeper, from the fact that its eyes are usually suffused with tears. Monkeys 

 that are usually seen exhibited in the streets are of this group ; being very gentle and suscep-. 

 tible of considerable education of a certain character. 



There is always much difficulty with regard to the names of various animals, as almost 

 every systematic naturalist prefers a name of his own invention to one which has already been 

 in use. It often happens, therefore, that the same creature has been burdened with ten or 

 fifteen titles, given to it by as many writers. The chacma, for example, has been named 

 " Cynocephalus porcarius " by one author, "Simia porcaria" by another, " Simia sphingiola " 

 by a third, "Papio comatus" by a fourth, and "Cynocephalus ursinus" by a fifth. In order 

 to avoid the great waste of valuable space that would be caused by giving a list of these various 

 names, I only make use of the title by which each animal is designated in the catalogue of the 

 British Museum, and under which name it may be found in that magnificent collection. 



