THE ANDES SOUTHWEST OF POPAYAN 45 



seldom descend from the trees. Their roaring, which can 

 be heard several miles, resounds through the forest morn- 

 ing and night; whether it is merely a form of amusement 

 with them, or is used to intimidate enemies, seems to be 

 unknown. 



Very httle is known about the habits of howling mon- 

 keys, despite their abundance and wide distribution. They 

 are usually found in small family parties, including young 

 of various sizes; but I have noticed, on various occasions, 

 that the females desert from the troop when their babies 

 are males and do not rejoin it until the young are half- 

 grown, perhaps fearing that the old males will kill them; 

 but I do not know if this is always the case. 



C. William Beebe, in the course of a lecture at the Ameri- 

 can Museum, stated that he had on several occasions 

 watched troops of these animals feed, in British Guiana. 

 The older ones sent their small young to the tip of the 

 slender branches that they, themselves, could not venture 

 upon on account of their weight, to pick fruits; then they 

 pulled the Httle ones back and robbed them of their food. 

 This was repeated a number of times. 



The second night we tied up near a heavy growth of 

 forest, at a place called Riofrio. This is one of the few 

 sections of the Cauca Valley still retaining its original stand 

 of virgin jungle. We slung our hammocks between the 

 trees. The nets furnished ample protection from the 

 mosquitoes, but not from an army of foraging ants that 

 chanced our way. From across the river came the whine 

 of an ocelot, and the sharp snort of deer, while more than 

 once we were awakened by the pattering and shuffle of 

 cautious feet close at hand, some light, some heavy as if 

 belonging to a large animal. 



Contrary to her custom, the Caldas steamed on after 

 dark on the third night of her voyage. A train of bright 

 sparks trailed far behind, and when the wind blew ^t carried 

 them into the boat where they set fire to clothing and bag- 

 gage ahke. Within a short time we had reached the port 



