VI. 



THE SPIDER MONKEY. 

 I. GILA. 



The dearest pet I ever had, said the friend 

 who told me this true story, was a Spider mon- 

 key of Central America. I was greatly pleased 

 when she was given to me, for I had often lin- 

 gered in my walks to look at her pranks in the 

 place which was then her home. 



The particular thing that had amused me was 

 her fondness for horseback-riding, and the cun- 

 ning way in which she managed to gratify her 

 taste for that sport, at the expense of the pigs 

 that were kept in the same yard. Sitting in 

 perfect silence on the low branch of a tree, she 

 watched her chance, and the moment a pig wan- 

 dered under her hiding place, she swung herself 

 down and pounced upon him, taking a good grip 

 of his ears to hold on by. 



The steed needed no spur. He galloped off at 

 the top of his speed, and tore furiously around 

 the yard, evidently not pleased to play horse, 

 but unable to shake her off till she was tired 

 and dismounted herself. 



