85 16 Notices of New Books. 



illustrious Munchausen. Every thing Mr. Bates has to say possesses 

 the sober and dignified appearance of simple unvarnished truth, and 

 leaves one no opportunity for cavil or cross examination. The only 

 passage I have selected for extract relates to the little kitten-like mar- 

 mosets, although there are interesting passages about other monkeys, 

 especially the crimson-faced short-tail, with long pendant hair. Its 

 portrait wonderfully resembles a Skye terrier that has submitted to an 

 extraordinary amount of brushing and combing. But now for the 

 marmosets. 



Marmoset Monkeys. — " The Midas ursulus is never seen in large 

 flocks; three or four is the greatest number observed together. It 

 seems to be less afraid of the neighbourhood of man than any other 

 monkey. I sometimes saw it in the woods which bordei* the suburban 

 streets, and once I espied two individuals in a thicket behind the 

 English consul's house at Nazareth. Its mode of progression along 

 the main boughs of lofty trees is like that of squirrels ; it does not 

 ascend to the slender branches, or take those wonderful flying leaps 

 which the Cebidae do, whose prehensile tails and flexible hands fit them 

 for such headlong travelling. It confines itself to the larger boughs 

 and trunks of trees, the long nails being of great assistance to the 

 creature, enabling it to cling securely to the bark ; and it is often seen 

 passing rapidly round the perpendicular cylindrical trunks. It is a 

 quick, timid, restless little creature, and has a great share of curiosity, 

 for when a person passes by under the trees along which a flock is 

 running they always stop for a few moments to have a stare at the 

 intruder. In Para Midas ursulus is often seen in a tame state in the 

 houses of the inhabitants. When full-grown it is about nine inches 

 long, independently of the tail, which measures fifteen inches. The 

 fur is thick, and black in colour, with the exception of a reddish brown 

 streak down the middle of the back. When first taken, or when kept 

 tied up, it is very timid and irritable. It will not allow itself to be 

 approached, but keeps retreating backwards when any one attempts to 

 coax it. It is always in a querulous humour, uttering a twittering 

 complaining noise, its dark watchful eyes, expressive of distrust, ob- 

 servant of every movement which takes place near it. When treated 

 kindly, however, as it generally is in the houses of the natives, it 

 becomes very tame and familiar. 1 once saw one as playful as a 

 kitten, running about the house after the negro children, who fondled 

 it to their heart's content. It acted somewhat differently towards 

 strangers, and seemed not to like them to sit in the hammock which 

 was slung up in the room, leaping up, trying to bite, and otherwise 



