560 MAMMALIA. 



other extremity lets go his hold, and thus all gain the desired 



side. 



The Ateles live in troops, and feed on insects which they 

 pursue on the trees. They occasionally descend to the ground, 

 to search for small fish and molluscs, which they find in the mud 

 on the banks of the rivers, and which they add to their alimenta- 

 tion. Some writers even assert that they venture on to the beds 

 of rivers when the waters are low, to capture Oysters and other 

 bivalves, which they know how to open with great adroitness. 



The Ateles are naturally gentle and timid, but they acclimatise 

 with difficulty in Europe. When they do not perish during the 

 voyage they die soon after their arrival, and most frequently 

 from the effects of cold. Their voice is soft and sweet, like the 

 notes of a flute. 



About a dozen species of Ateles are known, and these inhabit 

 Guiana, Brazil, Peru, and Columbia. They are very plentiful in 

 the forests bordering on the rivers Amazon, Santiago, Orinoco, 

 Magdalene, &c. 



Genus SajKijou. — The Sapajous mark the limit of the Monkeys 

 with prehensile tails ; they only possess in a feeble degree the 

 characteristic of this tribe. With them, in fact, the tail is unpro- 

 vided with any real callosity, and is only prehensile at its termi- 

 nation. Nevertheless, this organ preserves its development, and 

 contributes to the steadiness as well as to the variety of the 

 animal's movements. 



The Sapajous are smaller, but not so slim, as the Ateles. They 

 live in bands in the forests of Columbia, Peru, Guiana, BrazU, 

 and Paraguay, usually keeping to the highest branches of the 

 trees. They feed on fruits, insects, worms, molluscs, eggs, and 

 even small birds. Several species of Carnivora and Serpents 

 persecute them incessantly. The latter more particularly inspire 

 them with terrible fear. 



The Sapajous possess an unequalled amount of agility and petu- 

 lance, and are capricious to excess. At the same time they are 

 very intelligent, very gentle, and very familiar, and disposed to be 

 affectionate towards those who take an interest in them. Thus it is 

 that they are in demand in all civilised countries ; in the hands 

 of mountebanks and wandering musicians they become objects 

 of amusement to the multitude. They are trained to a great 



