88 
THE DOUROUCOULI. 
The length, of the head and body is said to reach nearly two feet in fnll-grown animals, and 
the tail is from three to five inches long, according to the size of the individual. 
Yei y lihhl© is known of the habits of the Cacajao in a wild state, bnt in captivity it bears 
the character of being a very inactive and very docile animal. Fruits seem to be its favorite 
diet, and when eating them it has a habit of bending over its food in a very peculiar attitude. 
It is not so adroit in handling objects as are the generality of monkeys, and seems to feel some 
difficulty in the management of its long and slender fingers, so that its manner of eating is 
rather awkward than otherwise. 
Among the names by which this monkey is known, we may mention, “Mono-feo,” or 
Hideous Monkey, Chucuto, Chucuzo, and Caruiri. The term “ Melanocephala ” signifies 
Black-headed, while the word “Leuco- 
cephala,” which is applied to the Yarke, 
signifies White-headed. 
It seems to be a timid, as well as a 
quiet animal, as a Cacajao which had 
been domesticated displayed some alarm 
at the sight of several small monkeys 
of its own country, and trembled violently 
when a lizard or a serpent was brought 
before its eyes. 
The localities where it is most gen- 
erally found are the forests which border 
the Rio Negro and the Cassiquiare, but 
it does not seem to be very plentiful even 
in its own land. 
The Cuxio or Saki ( Brachyurus ) 
belongs to a group having singular de- 
velopments of tail and beard. The former 
member is often very thickly beset with 
hairs, and altogether it resembles a large 
pompon. The beard is extremely large 
and bushy. 
The White-headed Saki resembles 
an old colored man with a full head of 
silvery hair. 
cuxio, oil bearded saki . — Brachyurus Satanas. Other species are characterized by 
very short tails. The White Acari ( Ouar - 
karia calva) is much in request by the natives of Tapura, South America. They shoot them 
with poisoned arrows, and then immediately restore them by applying salt to their mouths. 
Some small monkeys belonging to another group are represented by the more familiar 
little creature called Douroucouli ( TTyctipitJiecus trivergatus). The first systematic term refers 
to their nocturnal habits, meaning literally, night-monkey. The eyes are very large, and the 
hair of the orbit is arranged much as it is on the owls. They are so sensitive to light, that it 
cannot endure the glare of day, and only awakes to activity and energy when the shades of 
night throw their welcome veil over the face of nature. At night the woods resound with cries 
of ditruculi , which has given rise to the trivial name of the monkey. 
In its wild state, it seeks the shelter of some hollow tree or other darkened place of refuge, 
and there abides during the hours of daylight, buried in a slumber so deep, that it can with 
difficulty be aroused, even though the rough hand of its captor drag it from its concealment. 
During sleep it gathers all its four feet closely together, and drops its head between its fore- 
paws. It seems to be one of the owls of the monkey race. 
The food of this Douroucouli is mostly of an animal nature ; and consists chiefly of insects 
and small birds, which it hunts and captures in the night season. After dark, the Dourou- 
couli awakes from the torpid lethargy in which it has spent the day, and shaking ofl: its drowsi- 
