76 
THE COAITA. 
We may here trace another curious analogy between this automatic contraction of the 
tail, and the well-known structure by which a bird is enabled to hold itself on its perch during 
sleep. If the spider monkey’ s tail be drawn out till it is straightened, the tip immediately 
curls round, and remains so until the member is suffered to return to its usual curve. Per- 
haps one reason for this provision may be, that it is for the purpose of retaining the animal in 
its arboreal residence, and guarding it against a fall. 
Still, it is a curious fact, and cannot be wholly accounted for on those grounds ; for the 
monkeys of the Old W orld, although not gifted with prehensile tails, are quite as arboreal as 
their brethren of the New, and consequently as liable to Euty chian casualties. It may be 
remarked, en passant, that there are Preacher Monkeys in America, and consequently that 
an especial provision against such misfortunes may be more requisite in Brazil than in Africa. 
In their native country, the spider monkeys may be seen in great profusion, swinging 
from the tree-branches in groups, like bunches of enormous fruits. 
They are very lazy animals, and will sit, swing, or recline for hours in the strangest atti- 
tudes without moving a limb ; just as if they were striving to emulate the Hindoo Fakirs in 
their motionless penances. Such a propensity is the more curious, because the slight forms 
of the animals, their long and slender limbs, and above all, their wonderful tail, would lead 
us to anticipate the same singular swiftness and activity that are found in the gibbons. In 
the American monkeys, however, we do not find the capacious chest and thin flanks which 
mark out the character of the gibbons. 
Yet, when aroused by hunger or other sufficient motive, the spider monkeys can move 
fast enough ; and in such a manner, that nothing without wings can follow them. In their 
native land, the forests are so dense and so vast, that if it were not for the rivers which occa- 
sionally cut their path through the dark foliage, the monkeys could travel for hundred of 
miles without once coming to the ground. 
Not that the monkeys care very much for a river, provided that the distance between the 
banks is not very great ; and as they detest going into the water, they most ingeniously con- 
trive to get over without wetting a hair. The manner in which they are said to achieve this 
feat of engineering is as follows. 
When a marching troop, often amounting to a hundred or more, arrives at the bank of a 
river, the principal body halts, while the oldest and most experienced of their band run 
forward, and carefully reconnoitre the locality. After mature deliberation they fix on some 
spot where the trees of the opposite banks incline riverwards, and approximate nearest to 
each other. 
Running to the overhanging boughs, the most powerful monkeys twist their tails firmly 
round the branch, and permit themselves to hang with their heads downwards. Another mon- 
key then slides down the body of the first, twines his tail tightly round his predecessor, and 
awaits his successor. In this way a long chain of monkeys is gradually formed, until the last, 
who is always one of the strongest of the troop, is able to plant his paws on the ground. He 
then begins to push the ground with his hands, so as to give the dependent chain a slight 
oscillating movement, which is increased until he is able to seize a branch on the opposite side 
of the river. 
Having so done, he draws himself gradually up the branches, until he finds one that is 
sufficiently strong for the purpose in view, and takes a firm hold of it. The signal is then 
given that all is ready, and the rest of the band ascend the tree, and cross the river by means 
of this natural suspension bridge. 
So far, so good ! The monkeys run over the bridge easily enough ; but how is the bridge 
itself to get over % Their plight is very like that of the man who invented a system of iron 
doors to be closed from the interior, and who, after closing them in the most admirable and 
effectual manner, was obliged to open them again in order to get out. 
Still, whatever may be the case with human beings, when monkeys are clever enough to 
make such a bridge, they are at no loss to achieve the passage of the bridge itself. 
Two or three of the stoutest keep themselves in reserve for this emergency, and, attaching 
themselves to the last links of the living chain, relieve their comrade from his arduous task of 
