THE AMERICAN MONKEYS. 31 



In it the prehensile taU reaches its perfection. It is a 

 remarkably sensitive organ, answering the purpose, as the Rev. 

 J. G. Wood puts it, of "a fifth hand," being capable of use 

 "for any purpose to which the hand could be applied," and 

 for hooking out objects from places "where a hand could 

 not be inserted." According to Mr. Wood they wrap their 

 tails about them to protect themselves from cold, to which 

 they are very sensitive, and hold on by them to the branches 

 of trees with such tenacity that they remain suspended after 

 death. The prehensile part of the tail is naked and of 

 extreme sensibility. The tail is also used to preserve balance 

 when walking erect, for which purpose it is thrown up and 

 curled over. The appearance of these monkeys, as they leap 

 from branch to branch in their native woods, swinging by 

 their tails, and often hanging on to those of each other, until 

 a living bridge is formed from tree to tree, is exceedingly 

 picturesque. 



The Howling The Howling Monkeys form the single genus 

 Monkeys, of the second sub-family of the Cebidae— the 

 genus Mycetes. There are a number of species, popularly 

 known as the "Golden Howler," the "Black Howler," &c. &c. 

 They are chiefly characteristic for the attribute to which they 

 owe their name. The howl is a loud mournful cry which 

 can be heard at a great distance, and is said by Wallace to 

 proceed from the leader of the band-who howls f6r the whole 

 company. These animals are larger and more clumsy than 

 the spider monkeys and therefore less agile; they have powerful, 

 prehensile tails. The " Howler "is much prized by the Indians 

 as an article of food. 



The Bearded Tke third sub-family of the Cebidse includes 

 Sakl. some dozen species which inhabit the forests of 

 Equatorial America. They are of the genus Pitkecia, and 

 some species have broad beards and bushy tails. The head 

 of the Bearded Saki {Pithecia Satanas) has a singularly 

 human appearance. 



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