APES AND MONKEYS. ' 291 



under strict control, and, if it does not obey instantly, is punished 

 with slaps and pinches. The maternal care extends even to the 

 food. Greedy as the mother generally is, she divides every bite with 

 her young one, yet she does not allow it to hurt itself by too hasty 

 or immoderate eating, but interferes, in such a case, with motherly 

 prudence. But there is rarely any necessity for such interference 

 or for severe punishment, for the monkey-child is obedient enough 

 to be held up as an example to many a human one. Very touching 

 is the conduct of the mother when her little one is obviously suffer- 

 ing; if it dies she is in despair. For hours, even days, she carries 

 the little corpse about with her, refuses all nourishment, sits indif- 

 ferently in the same spot, and often literally pines to death.^^ The 

 young monkey itself is incapable of such deep grief, and it is also 

 better taken care of than most other animals if it loses its mother. 

 For the next best member of the band, whether male or female, 

 possessed by that love of mothering something, which is strong in 

 all monkeys, takes charge of the little orphan and caresses it 

 warmly. Unfortunately, however, the foster-parent is often at war 

 with its better self about its beloved food, and it may leave a young 

 one, not old enough to help itself, to pine with hunger, perhaps even 

 to die of starvation. 



It is difficult, if not impossible, to say anything of general appli- 

 cation about the talents of monkeys, because these vary as widely 

 as the animals themselves. Some traits are indeed common to all, 

 but most of their characteristics vary considerably in the different 

 species. A disposition which in one is scarcely observable is pro- 

 nounced in another, a trait which is prominent here is sought for in 

 vain there. But if we compare the different families, groups, and 

 species together, we shall observe a surprising, because unsuspected 

 gradation of talents and abilities. It is instructive to proceed in 

 this way. 



We must regard the graceful, little, clawed monkeys or marmosets 

 of South and Central America as the least developed members of 

 the monkey order. They have the same dentition as the higher 

 monkeys, but they have flat nails only on the large toe, while on all 

 the other toes and the fingers they have narrow claw-like nails, 



