THE PROBOSCIS MONKEY. 
35 
tinder them, and often serve to point ont to the hunter the whereabouts of the quarry. A tree 
thus covered with monkeys is a curious sight ; for the boughs are studded with them as 
thickly as fruit, and the pendent tails give an absurd appearance to the group. 
Although each part of every animal must be formed with some definite object, there are 
many which seem to be devoid of use, and among them is the monkey’s tail. 
Some of the monkeys — the spider-monkeys of America, for example — find in their tail a 
most useful member, by means of which they can suspend themselves from boughs, aid their 
limbs in tree-climbing, or, on an emergency, pick an object out of a crevice which the hand 
could not enter. But the use of the 
tails belonging to these old-world 
monkeys does seem to be very obscure. 
Some writers have opined that 
the tails are intended to balance the 
body in the various attitudes assumed 
by its owner. But when we reply 
that the Gibbons, although very much 
more agile, and, from their very form, 
requiring more balancing than the 
monkeys, yet are totally devoid of 
tails, this supposition falls to the 
ground. It cannot be for the purpose 
of flapping away Hies that these ani- 
mals are furnished with such long and 
slender tails, for their shape renders 
them useless for that occupation ; and, 
besides, the hands of the monkeys are 
much better fly-flappers than its tail 
could possibly be. 
The question arises, “ What does 
the monkey do with his tail ?” 
He nibbles it sometimes, when he 
is at a loss for occuption. 
It is a curious fact that — at all 
events in captivity — the long-tailed 
monkeys will eat their tails, and noth- 
ing seems to deter them from this 
strange act. The tips of those mem- 
bers have been covered with plasters, 
and have been tied up in bandages, 
but without effect. The ends of the tails have been treated with aloes, cayenne pepper, and 
other disagreeable substances, just as the finger-tips of a nail-biting child are dressed. But, 
though the creature splutters and makes strange grimaces at the horrid flavors that greet his 
palate, he cannot refrain from the accustomed luxury, and perseveres in his nibbling. One 
great charm of this habit seems to be the excitement felt by the monkey in trying how far he 
can nibble without smarting for it. Whatever may be the cause, the effect is that the tail is 
gradually eaten up, in spite of all endeavors to prevent such a consummation. Considered in 
a social light, the tails are calculated to promote the merriment of the company, for they 
are admirable handles for practical jokes, and afford mutual amusement, not unmingled with 
indignation. 
KAHAU . — Presbytes larcatus. 
The Peoboscis Monkey, or Kahatt, as it is sometimes called, on account of its cry bearing 
some resemblance to that word, is an inhabitant of Borneo, and probably of several neigh- 
boring countries. It is, as may be seen by the engraving, an animal of very unattractive 
features, principally on account of its enormously lengthened nose. This feature does not 
present itself in perfection until the Kahau has reached its maturity. When the animal j s 
