84 
CAPUCIN MONKEYS . 
Tlie last example of the Capucins which will be noticed in these pages, is the TVeepek 
Monkey, or Sai. 
As is the case with the two previously-mentioned animals, it is an inhabitant of the 
Brazils, and as. lively as any of its congeners. The tails of the Capucins are covered with 
hair, but. are still possessed of prehensile powers. All these monkeys seem to be possessed 
of much intelligence, and their little quaint ways make them great favorites with those who 
watch their motions. 
Their food is chiefly of a vegetable nature, but they are fond of various insects, sometimes 
rising to higher prey, as was once rather unexpectedly proved. A linnet was placed, by way 
of experiment, in a cage containing two Capucin monkeys, who pounced upon their winged 
SAI.— Cebus capucinus. 
visitor, caught it, and the stronger of the two devoured it with such avidity that it would not 
even wait to pluck off the feathers. Eggs are also thought to form part of the Capucin’ s food. 
The Capucins, so named from several of them having the head so decorated by hair as to 
resemble a monk’s cowl. One little species, called Sai, is often seen in confinement as a pet. 
It is also called Weeper, from the fact that its eyes are usually suffused with tears. Monkeys 
that are usually seen exhibited in the streets are of this group ; being very gentle and suscep- 
tible of considerable education of a certain character. 
There is always much difficulty with regard to the names of various animals, as almost 
every systematic naturalist prefers a name of his own invention to one which has already been 
in use. It often happens, therefore, that the same creature has been burdened with ten or 
fifteen titles, given to it by as many writers. The chacma, for example, has been named 
££ Cynocephalus porcarius” by one author, ££ Simla porcaria” by another, ££ Simia sphingiola” 
by a third, £ £ Papio comatus ” by a fourth, and £ £ Cynocephalus ursinus ” by a fifth. In order 
to avoid the great waste of valuable space that would be caused by giving a list of these various 
names, I only make use of the title by which each animal is designated in the catalogue of the 
British Museum, and under which name it may be found in that magnificent collection, 
