THE CHAMECK. 
73 
greater part of the monkey tribe, the greatest distinction between the two being that the ear 
of the monkey is destitute of that soft lower lobe, which is so characteristic of the human ear, 
and through which ladies barbarously hook their auricular trinkets. 
If the reader will refer to the illustration of the Chameck, he will see that the tail is the 
most conspicuous member of the animal. For the greater part of its length it is thickly 
covered with long drooping fur, but the last seven or eight inches are nearly denuded of hair 
on the upper surface, and entirely so on the lower. Towards the base it is extremely thick, 
and is furnished with muscles of great strength and marvellous flexibility, destined to aid the 
member in the performance of 
those curiously active move- 
ments for which these mon- 
keys are so renowned. 
The tail of these animals 
is to them equivalent, and 
more than equivalent, to a fifth 
hand. The naked extremity 
is endowed with so sensitive 
a surface that it can be applied 
to most of the uses to which 
the hand can be put, while the 
powerful muscles that move it 
are so strong and lithe that 
they can exert a singular 
amount of strength, even so as 
to suspend the entire weight 
of the animal. 
In ascending trees or trav- 
ersing the branches, the mon- 
keys continually aid their 
progress by twining the end of 
the tail round the neighboring 
boughs. Sometimes they even 
suspend themselves wholly by 
their tails, and after giving 
their bodies a few oscillating 
movements, boldly swing them- 
selves from one branch to an- 
other, clearing considerable 
spaces in the effort. On account of these capabilities, the tail is known by the name of 
“ prehensile.” 
The color of the Chameck is nearly black, and of a uniform tint over the head, body, and 
limbs. Its hair is rather long and thick, in some parts taking a slight curl. The head is very 
small in proportion to the rest of the body. During the life of the animal the face is of a deep 
brown color, as are the ears, cheeks, and chin, on which some long black hairs are scattered 
at distant intervals. Its lips are possessed of some mobility, but not equal to those of the 
chimpanzee or orang-outan. 
The most notable monkey of this prehensile-tailed group is the Coaita ( Ateles paniscus ), 
an excellent figure of which is presented on next page. It is difficult to conceive of any animal 
so spider-like in its movements. From this remarkable resemblance to a crawling spider as it 
moves over branches, putting forth its long snake-like tail and its limbs, it has received the name 
of Spider Monkey. The limbs are slender and singularly attenuated, and the tail is essentially 
a fifth arm. The latter member is considerably longer than the body ; its extremity upon 
the inner surface is soft and like the sensitive inside of the fingers, and is, practically, a very 
supple and serviceable finger. It is carried with exceeding grace as he advances, and is ever 
