Chap. V. 
MARMOSETS. 
-321 
Its manners in captivity are grave, and its temper mild 
and confiding, like that of the Coaitas. Owing to these 
traits, the Barrigudo is much sought after for pets ; but 
it is not hardy like the Coaitas, and seldom survives 
a passage down the river to Para. 
Marmosets. — It now only remains to notice the Mar- 
mosets, which form the second family of American 
monkeys. Our old friend Midas ursulus, of Para and 
the Lower Amazons, is not found on the Upper river, 
but in its stead a closely-allied species presents itself, 
which appears to be the Midas rufoniger of Gervais, 
whose mouth is bordered with longish white hairs. 
The habits of this species are the same as those of the 
M. ursulus, indeed it seems probable that it is a form or 
race of the same stock, modified to suit the altered local 
conditions under which it lives. One day, whilst walk- 
ing along a forest pathway, I saw one of these lively 
little fellows miss his grasp as he was passing from one 
tree to another along with his troop. He fell head fore- 
most, from a height of at least fifty feet, but managed 
cleverly to alight on his legs in the pathway ; quickly 
turning round he gave me a good stare for a few mo- 
ments, and then bounded off gaily to climb another 
tree. At Tunantins, I shot a pair of a very handsome 
species of Marmoset, the M. rufiventer, I believe, of 
zoologists. Its coat was very glossy and smooth ; the 
back deep brown, and the underside of the body of 
rich black and reddish hues. A third species (found at 
Tabatinga, 200 miles further w^est) is of a deep black 
colour, with the exception of a patch of white hair around 
its mouth. The little animal, at a short distance, looks 
VOL. II. Y 
