THE MONKEY FAMILY. 



9 



ground, with most admirable ease and aptness. 

 But, with the monkey it is not so. We can find 

 nothing in the economy of its feet so called, to 

 demonstrate that they are intended for the ground. 

 The projecting thumb, and the long toes or fingers, 

 argue that they are inadaquate for a journey on 

 land, or even to make it a temporary abode, now 

 and then, for pleasure or for ease. Indeed, their 

 delicacy and tenderness shew beyond dispute, that 

 they have not been in the habit of coming in 

 contact with the sand and the flints on the paths 

 which nearly all other animals pursue. 



These considerations force one to conclude, that, 

 monkeys, although gifted with astonishing power 

 of limbs, are destined by the wisdom of Providence 

 to have a region of their own. And when I shall 

 have placed them in it, I trust that I shall be able 

 to prove by the very nature of tropical forests, 

 that, trees can support, and do support, the entire 

 family of monkeys, apart from the ground in 

 evident security, and with a never-ending supply 

 of most nutritious food. 



By way of varying the dull monotony of hacknied 

 description, I will introduce here, a conversation 

 betwixt an ant-bear and a howler or preacher 

 monkey; although, most probably, at the risk of 

 displeasing scientific compilers, and of incurring 



