MARMOSETS, OR MIDAS MONKEYS. 459 



giving it an awkward appearance when feeding. In captivity 

 it is a docile and peculiarly timid animal. A little creature 

 which had been caught exhibited great alarm at the appear- 

 ance of several small monkeys of its own country ; and when 



a serpent was placed before its eyes, it trembled violently. 



It is found on the borders of the Negro, where it is known 

 by several names among others, as the mono faio, or ugly 

 monkey. 



MARMOSETS, OR MIDAS MONKEYS. 



The most active, playful, and amusing of animals are the 

 midas monkeys, which form the second family of American 

 Quadrumana, several species of which exist, each in its respec- 

 tive district. As they are seen gambolling among the branches, 

 ■ — now running round and round the trunk of a perpendicular 

 tree, now with their sharp claws rapidly mounting the branches, 

 sending down showers of rotten bark and twiifs, and uttering 

 sharp twittering cries, — rthey might be mistaken for a troop of 

 squirrels. 



They are restless, inquisitive little creatures, possessed of a 

 large share of curiosity. When a stranger is passing through 

 the forest, they invariably stop for a few moments to have a 

 stare at him. 



Though in no way related to squirrels, which belong to 

 the rodent order, they may easily be mistaken for them at a 

 distance. They are all of small size, and very similar, in their 

 mode of climbing, to squirrels. Their nails, also, except those 

 of the hind-thumbs, are long and claw-shaped ; and the thumbs 

 of the fore extremities, or hands, are not opposable to the 

 other fingers. Their bodies are long and slender, clothed with 

 soft hair; and their tails, though not prehensile, are nearly 

 twice the length of their bodies. 



