202 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
at the sight of a figure of a Grasshopper or Beetle, it precipitated itself on the picture, as if to seize the 
objects there represented.” 
MIDAS ARGENTATUM. 
Bates is the authority for the following short notice of this pretty Monkey : — “ The little 
Tamarin is one of the rarest of the American Monkeys. I have not heard of its being found 
anywhere except near Carneta. I once saw three individuals together running along a branch in a 
cacao grove near Carneta. They looked like white kittens. In their motions they resembled precisely 
the Midas Ursulas already described. I saw afterwards a pet animal of this species, and heard that 
there were many so kept, and that they were esteemed as choice treasures. The one I saw was full- 
grown, but it measured only seven inches in length of body. It was covered with long white silky 
hairs, the tail was blackish, and the flesh nearly naked and flesh-coloured. It was a most timid and 
sensitive little thing. The woman who owned it carried it constantly in her bosom, and no money 
would induce her to part with her pet. She called it ‘ Mieo.’ It fed from her mouth, and allowed her to 
fondle it freely, but the nervous little creature would not permit strangers to touch it. If any one 
attempted to do so it shrank back, the whole body trembling with fear, and its teeth chattered, whilst 
it uttered its tremulous frightened tones. The expression of its features was like that of its more robust 
brother, the ursulus ; the eyes, which were black, were full of curiosity and mistrust, and it always, 
kept them fixed on the person who attempted to advance towards it.” 
DEVILLE’S MIDAS.* 
This pretty Monkey is plentiful everywhere on the Peruvian Amazons, but is extremely delicate 
in constitution. It will not bear the least cold, and it is kept with great difficulty. The Indian women 
make great pets of them, and put them into the long hair on their heads. They are thus kept warm, 
and are not without interesting occupation. Having become tame they frequently hop out of their odd 
home and feed, or having captured a Spider or two, scamper back and hide under the luxuriant crop of 
their owners, who are generally unwilling to part with them. 
THE SILKY TAMARIN.f 
This is one of the prettiest of the Tamarins, and has long silky fur and soft yellow hair. This is 
arranged like a mane around the neck and face, near to which its tint is redder than usual, and, to make 
a contrast, the face itself, and also the hands and feet, are dark purple. 
The beauty of the hair is very striking, and when the sun shines upon it 
there is a great display of colour, and a rich gloss over all. Like all 
the Tamarins, it has a tail about the same length as the body, which is 
not prehensile, but it is in this instance tufted at the end. The habits 
are pretty evident when the sharp, claw-like nails are examined. They 
are admirably adapted for seizing and killing small birds and insects, as 
well as for assisting the hands to hold fruit. 
In the Brazilian forests they assemble in small parties, and, like the 
other Marmosets, bound from tree to tree, and keep up a great chattering 
and whistling, and they cry out with alarm, and soon disperse on the 
appearance of man within their usual haunts. This fondness for being high up in the woods is carried 
into their captivity, where they prefer having their little nest up at the top of the cage. In descending 
from this favourite spot they usually climb down backwards, the tail hanging down. They do not 
try to stand erect, and, indeed, the position is not natural to them. 
They like to be caressed and fondled, but they give no such return, and they know those who are 
kind to them. They dislike strangers usually, and hiss at them. They are very delicate in Europe, as 
they require a constant high temperature. Cuvier states that these Monkeys have an air sac m the 
throat, resembling in situation that of the Spider Monkey (A teles jutmscus). 
The Arctopitliecini, as a group, have a smooth and rounded skull, large orbits, small brow-ridges, and 
a large brain-case. The skull is large behind, and the opening for the spinal cord (foramen magnum) is at 
SKULL or MARMOSET, 
Mvlos Devillii . 
f Midas rosalia. 
