MAEMOSETS. 



THE MARMOSETS AND OTHER SMALL MONKEYS OF SOUTH 

 AMERICA. 



Not only is the generic distinction between the Old and 

 the New World monkeys well marked by many external, as 

 well as internal, differences, but their food and mode of 

 feeding also differ to a very great extent. 



The marmoset and other South American monkeys 

 feed almost exclusively upon insects, such as caterpillars, 

 moths, butterflies, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, and flies, 

 together with fruit, green leaves, and berries ; occasionally 

 small snakes, young birds, eggs, and the young of small 

 mammalia. These articles form their principal food. But 

 the true spider monkey (Ateles) is, more strictly speaking, 

 a fruit and vegetable feeder, and this genus is noted for 

 being of an extremely gentle, mild, and timid disposition. 

 Having given a general outline of the kinds of food eaten 

 in a wild state by these creatures, I have found that, in 

 captivity, they can be kept by feeding them upon bread- 

 and-milk, ripe fruit, vegetables both raw and cooked, 

 such as potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and other green meats ; 

 occasionally a fresh-killed sparrow or other small bird 

 may be given, and for a change boiled or roast mutton ; 

 the bones of fowls or rabbits may be given, and, in fact, 

 almost any kind of animal food in small quantities. 



They are not affected in the slightest manner by the 



151 



