ORDER OF QUADRUMANA. 551 



New. They form an intermediate link between the Lemurs and 

 Monkej^s. Several authors have even included them in the latter 

 family, although they are separated from it by peculiarities 

 that cannot be overlooked. They have no hands on the anterior 

 members, so far, at least, as the thumb is not opposable to the 

 other digits ; and, in addition, their nails are veritable claws, 

 analogous to those of the Carnivora, from whence the name of 

 Arctopithecis, or Bear-handed Monkeys, given to them by Etienne 

 GeofFroy Saint- Hilaire. They have a small round head, and their 

 brain does not show any convolutions. Their nostrils are pierced 

 laterally in the substance of the muffle, and are consequently well 

 separated from each other. The muzzle is short, the ears large 

 and hairy. The teeth are thirty-two in number, and the molars 

 are furnished with points very like those which distinguish the 

 Insectivora. The tail is long, and completely covered with hair, 

 and the fur abundant and soft to the touch, and is usually of 

 an agreeable colour. 



The Marmosets are widely spread in Guiana and Brazil; they 

 also inhabit, though in smaller numbers, Mexico, the Columbian 

 Republic, Southern Peru, and Paraguay. Keeping in smaU. troops 

 in the forests, they suspend themselves to the branches of the 

 trees by means of their claws, like the Squirrels. They have 

 several other points of resemblance to these Rodents, especially 

 in their size, their active movements, and their gracefulness. 

 Their food consists principally of insects, to which they add fruits, 

 eggs, and even small Birds. At intervals they emit a feeble 

 cry, to the sound of which they owe their name, Ouistitis. 



These animals show little aversion to captivity, and easily bear 

 the rigours of our climate. The menagerie of the Jardin des 

 Plantes, at Paris, possesses specimens which have reproduced. 

 This circumstance has established the fact that, contrary to the 

 majority of the Quadrumana, in which gestation does not produce 

 more than one or two, the females of the Ouistitis have three 

 young at a birth. From the observations of Fr. Cuvier, it appears 

 that the mother does not manifest for her offspring that tender 

 solicitude so touching and beautiful in other animals. 



A French naturalist, Audouin, has likewise submitted the Oui- 

 stitis in captivity to interesting observations, which prove that 

 their intelligence is remarkable. 



