267 



which is inhabited by howling monkeys. Now 

 by approaching or withdrawing from this group 

 of trees, the maximum of the distance may be 

 measured, at which the howling is heard. These 

 distances appeared to me sometimes a third 

 greater during the night, especially when the 

 weather was cloudy, very hot, and humid. 



The Indians pretend, that when the aragua- 

 toes fill the forests with their howlings, there is 

 always one that chaunts as leader of the band. 

 The observation is pretty accurate. During a 

 long time one solitary and strong voice is gene- 

 rally distinguished, till it's place is taken by 

 another voice of a different pitch. We may 

 observe from time to time the same instinct of 

 imitation among frogs, and almost all animals 

 that live and exert their voices in society. The 

 missionaries farther assert, that, when a female 

 among the araguatoes is on the point of bringing 

 forth, the choir suspends it's howlings till the 

 moment of the birth of the young. I could not 

 myself judge of the accuracy of this assertion ; 

 but I do not believe it to be entirely destitute 

 of foundation. I have observed that, when an 

 extraordinary incident, the moans for instance of 

 a wounded araguato, fixed the attention of the 

 band, the howlings were for some minutes sus- 

 pended. Our guides assured us gravely, that, 

 u to cure an asthma, it is sufficient to drink 

 out of the bony drum of the hyoidal bone of the 



