NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 87 



Of the many African monkeys, some of the most showy 

 (such as the Guerzas and Colobos) are so difficult to procure 

 they can not be set forth as permanent residents in the 

 Primate House. The following species, however, may be 

 classed with the reliables : 



The White-Collared Mangabey and Sooty Mangabey are 

 both so lively, so good-natured, and so free from the fight- 

 ing habit, they are prime favorites with everybody. 



The Mona Monkey is handsome and easily kept, and an 

 excellent representative of the great African genus Cerco- 

 pithecus. 



The Green Monkey and the Vervet are lively but quarrel- 

 some, and at times become dangerous. The Patas, or Red 

 Monkey, is very sedate, 'and makes a good cage-mate for the 

 mona. 



The New World Monkeys, even at their best, never make 

 a strong showing in a vivarium. The trouble is that many 

 of the most interesting species are so delicate it is impossible 

 to keep them alive in captivity. Fame awaits the man who 

 can discover a bill of fare on which Howling Monkeys, Sakis 

 and Yarkees can live in captivity to old age, and repay their 

 cost and care. Their digestive organs are delicate, and are 

 subject to derangement from causes so slight they can not 

 be reckoned with. 



The Sapajous are the hardiest, the most intelligent and 

 in some respects the most interesting of the New World 

 monkeys. They all possess the prehensile (or grasping) 

 tail, which is not found on any Old World monkey, and the 

 use made of it is a constant source of wonder. Monkeys of 

 this species are quite common in captivity, and their 

 wrinkled brows and serious countenances give them an ap- 

 pearance of being burdened with cares, — which most cap- 

 tive monkeys certainly are ! These are the unfortunate 

 creatures which so often come to grief on hand-organs. 



The Black Spider Monkey and the Gray Spider Monkey 

 represent a genus of animals quite as attenuated in form 

 as the gibbons. Their slender bodies, exceedingly long and 

 slender legs and tail, — the latter strongly prehensile, and 

 better than a fifth arm and hand, — give them when in the 

 tree-tops an appearance truly spider-like. They are agile 

 climbers, but not rapid runners, and having no means of 

 defense are very timid. Their stomachs are so simple they 

 seem to lack some element or function that is necessary to 



