102 
VEKTEBliATA. 
THE MIRIKI, OK EEIODE AKACHNOIDES. 
and the Black Howler, M. niger^ found in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. Four other species 
are mentioned by Gray, M. laniger, M. hicolor^ M. auratus, and M. villosus. Still one other is 
spoken of by Tschudi, as existing in Peru. 
Genus LAGOTHRIX. — These monkeys arc somewhat less robust and less noisy than the 
howlers ; they are also of a milder character. Their tail is long and prehensile, and their fur 
very thick and soft. Castelnau's Lagothrix, L. Castelnain, is found on the borders of the Ama- 
zon and in Peru. It is very sagacious, thievish, and gluttonous. When domesticated, it readily 
becomes obedient an<! affectionate to its keepers. Like the spider monkeys, it uses its long tail 
to seize things at a distance, which it afterward takes with its hands. It walks on its hind-legs 
easily when a person leads it by one of its arms. When teased, it utters a growling noise, and 
sticks out its lips like the orangs. 
The other species are the Caparro or Negro Monkey, L. Humholdtii^ found along the Orino- 
co, in Colombia and in Peru ; the L. infumatus, and the L. canus, found in Brazil. 
Genus ERIODES. — These have long prehensile tails, with a callosity under the extremity, as in 
the preceding genus and that of the ateles. The species are intermediary between the howlers and 
spider monkeys, in size, form, and character. The thumb of the fore-hand is wanting, or merely 
rudimentary. They make the woods ring during the day with their chattering cries. At the 
sight of the hunter they save themselves by flight, or hide in the tops of the trees. Three species, 
called Mirikis, are known — the E. hemidactylus, E. tuherifer, and E. araclinoides. Their particular 
habits, however, have not been well ascertained. 
Genus SPIDER MONKEYS, or ATELES.— The Greek word ateles signifies imperfect, and 
is applied to this genus in allusion to the absence of the thumb on the hands, which character- 
izes them. The tail, however, by its extraordinary power, abundantly supplies this defect. So 
dextrous is it, as to be used on many occasions in preference to feet and hands, and hence is called 
a third hand. This animal usually carries it wound around the body, as if to preserve it, but it 
is uncoiled with amazing celerity when it is Avanted. Buffon says : " In the use of their tail these 
animals are singularly dextrous. They can pick up with it even straws and bits of wood. M. Au- 
debert tells us, that he saw one of the species carry hay in its tail to make its bed, and move and 
spread it about as easily as an elephant could have done with his trunk. In climbing, too, this 
member is of great use." 
" There are," says Dampier, " in the Isthmus of America numbers of monkeys, some of which 
