3326 Quadrupeds, fyc. 



ing round suddenly inside, would peep out on the danger with its 

 broad glistening eye, with an effect quite comical. At night it is very 

 restless, making a variety of muttering sounds with its mouth closed. 

 At times, I have generally noticed that about midnight it several times 

 repeats a louder note, like the suppressed barking of a dog. When 

 approached gently it will allow itself to be caressed, but when handled 

 roughly it takes alarm and bites severely, striking with its fore-hands 

 and making a hissing noise like a cat. In walking, its fore-hands are 

 not placed flat on a surface like those of the other monkeys, but it 

 progresses on the palms and tips of the fingers, with its knuckles bent 

 at a sharp angle, and the fingers stretched out widely ; this gives it a 

 curious appearance, especially when it is climbing up a narrow space, 

 such as between a chest and the wall, in doing which it straddles the 

 space and gets along rapidly. Its favourite food, next to the fruit of 

 the papaw and bananas, is insects, especially Acridia, spiders, and 

 cockroaches ; raw or cooked meat it will not touch, and it is rarely 

 thirsty. I have been told by persons who have kept it for a length of 

 time roaming at liberty throughout the house, that it clears the house 

 of bats, as well as cockroaches and spiders, and becomes very tame. 

 From the prettiness of its features and the softness of its fur, it is a 

 great favourite with every one. From its sleep during the day it is 

 aroused at the slightest noise, raising its face with its large round 

 blinking eyes to see the cause of the disturbance. The people here 

 give it the name of cava pintada, or painted face, from the striped 

 forehead, and are very much interested with it, as being a kind of 

 monkey very rarely seen in the city of Para, although the Para people 

 have opportunities of seeing all kinds of monkeys brought to the ca- 

 pital almost daily from different parts of the province. 



H. W. Bates. 

 Para, October 7, 1851. 



Occurrence of a Seal at the Unclercliff, Isle of Wight. — An unusual visitor made 

 its appearance on the 19th. About 9 o'clock, a.m., a seal was seen disporting itself 

 just outside the little break-water in Ventnor Cove. Information having been given 

 to Mr. Wittington, of the Baths, he took his gun, and getting into a boat, obtained a 

 shot at about twenty-five yards' distance. The charge evidently took effect in the 

 head (which alone was visible) as shown by the struggles of the animal ; it sank, how- 

 ever, before it could be secured, and though the boat remained a considerable time on 

 the spot, nothing more was seen of it. It is stated to have been seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood the day before. A good view was Obtained of the head, as it was remarked 

 to be "round like a bull-dog's, and no ears.'' It is to be hoped the body may be 



