TROPICAL AMERICA. QUADRUPEDS. 



79 



some lofty tree^ they make the forests resound with their 

 hideous cries. There is a very beautiful and delicate 

 little species, generally called, in this country, the 

 lion monkey, but which is the silky monkey of Pen- 

 nant (^Midas rosalia). The hair is long, soft, glossy, 

 and of a bright golden or chestnut orange. This 

 elegant little creature is sometimes brought alive to 

 England, but seldom survives during the winter. The 

 real leonine monkey {M. leoninus) is also found in 

 Brazil, but the fur is olive brown, and the face black. 

 The disgusting baboons of Africa, and the large apes 

 of Asia, are entirely excluded from the New World. 

 The true ant-eaters, on the other hand, are found 

 only in tropical America : there are three species, of 

 which the great or maned ant-eater {^Myrmecophaga 

 jubata) is the largest. All the species are clothed with 

 thick but cool hair'; whereas those of India, forming 

 the genus Manis, are covered with horny scales. The 

 armadillos, again, are only to be found on this conti- 

 nent ; and their vulgar name of hog-in- armour, is cha- 

 racteristic at once of their affinity, and the peculiar 

 defence which nature has given them. The Bra- 

 zilians are particularly fond of these animals, which 

 they hunt for food ; and we can bear testimony to 

 the delicacy of their flesh, which has all the white- 

 ness and the savour of 

 young pork. On the 

 sides of the rivers are 

 found the capibaras (^Hy- 

 dioccerus Capybara, Jig. 

 28.). This animal, in 

 shape, very much re- 

 sembles the Guinea-pig, 

 but is greatly superior in size, measuring about three 

 feet in total length : the feet are palmated or webbed, 

 so that it dives or swims with perfect ease ; and wher. 

 on land it often sits on its hind feet, like the squirrel. 

 It is timorous, and seldom goes abroad during the day ; 

 for although it swims well, it runs badly : they are said 



