THE ONATTO. 
187 
Dutch Guiana, at Paramaribo, where he was born, and where he had already, though very young, formed 
a collection of insects, the future traveller and his party in one of their excursions had killed a female 
Monkey. “ As she carried on her back a young one, which had not been wounded, we took them both 
along with us, and when we returned to the plantation, my Ape had not quitted the shoulders of its 
mother. It clung so closely to them, that I was obliged to have the assistance of a negro to disengage 
them ; but scarcely was it separated from her, when, like a bird, it darted upon a wooden block that 
stood near, covered with my father’s peruke, which it embraced with its four paws, nor could it be 
compelled to quit its position. Deceived by its instinct, it still imagined itself to be on the back of its 
mother, and under her protection. It seemed perfectly at ease on the peruke. I resolved to suffer it 
to remain, and to feed it there with Goat’s milk. It continued in its error for three weeks, but after 
that period, emancipating itself from its own authority, it quitted the fostering peruke, and by its 
amusing tricks became the friend and favourite of the whole family though it is difficult to suppress a 
smile at the idea of a Monkey clinging to a full-bottom on a wig-block, and fancying it its mamma. The 
story, as it begins mournfully with the slaughter of the poor mother, ends tragically for her unhappy 
offspring. It died a terrible death — the result, indeed, of its own mischievous voracity, but in agonies 
frightful to think of. “I had, however,” continues Le V aillant, “ without suspecting it, introduced 
the wolf among my flock. One morning, on entering my chamber, the door of which I had been so 
imprudent as to leave open, I beheld my unworthy pupil making a hearty breakfast on my noble 
collection. In the first transports of my passion I resolved to strangle it in my arms ; but rage and 
fury soon gave place to pity, when I perceived that its voraciousness had exposed it to the most cruel 
punishment. On eating the Beetles it had swallowed some of the pins on which they were fixed, and 
though it made a thousand efforts to throw them up, all its exertions were in vain. The torture which 
it suffered soon made me forget the devastation it had occasioned. I only thought of affording it relief ; 
but neither my tears, nor all the art of my father’s slaves, whom I had called from all quarters with 
loud cries, were able to preserve its life.” 
THE WIDOW MONKEY.* 
The Monkeys in the second division of this genus have the canine teeth not so long as in the 
other, and the two middle upper incisors are broad. It contains the Widow Monkey. 
This rare and pretty little animal has been compared, and not unaptly, to a diminutive black Dog 
with a white face. Its whole colour, in fact, is of a uniform shining blackness, with the exception of the 
face, neck, and arms, which are dull white, the former being surrounded with a narrow band of pure 
white. This remarkable disposition of colour has obtained for it, from the Creoles, the fanciful name 
of Widow Monkey, the whiteness of the face, neck, and arms being compared to the veil, handkerchief, 
and gloves worn in its native country by widows. It is described as particularly gentle and timid, 
except when a small bird — its natural food — is placed in its sight; it then becomes animated and 
eager, darts at it like a Hat, and devours it in an instant 3 at other times it will remain motionless for 
hours, attentively watching whatever is going on. It seems, however, to have a particular aversion to 
its hands being touched, since they are immediately withdrawn, and hid under its belly. It evinces a 
great dread of other Monkeys, but not those of its own species. Of its native history we are entirely 
ignorant. The usual length of the body is not more than one foot. The head is round, the muzzle 
short, and the general expression of its physiognomy is agreeable. The colours we have already 
noticed. The nose is short and flat, and the ears are almost naked. The hands are nearly white on 
the outside, but black within, and the hinder hands, or more properly feet, are entirely black ; the tail 
is also black, and a little longer than the body. Yery probably this pretty Monkey is only a variety 
of Callithrix amictus, which has n blackish-brown fur, with the under half of its throat white, and 
the hands are of a dull yellow or whitish colour. 
THE ONAPPO.f 
This Monkey belongs to the same division of the genus as the Widow Monkey, and it is 
interesting because its habits are nocturnal. It feeds and roams by night instead of by day. Doubtless 
* Callithrix lugens. 
f Callithrix discolor . 
