SIM 
the largest species, and is nearly two feet 
in length. It is found in various parts of 
Africa, and differs much in individuals in 
respect to colours, which are sometimes 
bright, and at others dull. In general it is 
of a dark olive-grey. See Mammalia, Plate 
XIX. fig. B. 
S. nasalis, or the proboscis monkey, is 
one of the most curious in its aspect, and 
most ludicrous of the class. It is about 
two feet in length. The face is of an incur- 
vated form, and of a brown colour, and the 
nose, whicli is its great singularity, is of 
such a length and shape, as to give the ani- 
mal an appearance highly grotesque. By a 
groove or furrow running down it, from the 
beginning to the tip, it is nearly divided 
into two lobes, and, on a side view, its ex- 
treme projection is nearly as striking and 
singular, as the former circumstance ren- 
ders a full one. It is found in the East In- 
dies, where, however, it is somewhat rare. 
It is said to be more numerous in Cochin 
China. It feeds on fruits, and is highly un- 
tractable and savage. 
S. beelzebul, or, the preacher monkey, 
is as large as a fox, and is extremely com- 
mon in the woods of Brasil. Travellers 
have stated, that it is usual for one of these 
to ascend a tree, and, by certain sounds, to 
collect vast multitudes beneath hijn, when 
he commences a howl so loud as to be 
heard to a vast distance. After this has 
continued for some time, he, by a particu- 
lar signal, induces those around him to join 
in the noise, which then becomes most hi- 
deous and intolerable. This united clamour 
at lengtli ceases, and the original howler 
again proceeds undisturbed in his address. 
The throat-bone of this monkey appears, 
from dissection, to be particularly con- 
structed for the utterance of strong 
sounds. 
The S. seuicplus, or royal monkey, is 
about the size of a squirrel, and inhabits the 
damp, woody districts of Cayenne, being 
never found on the mountains. In its sounds 
and manners, it resembles the last species. 
In the morning and evening, and sometimes 
on several occasions in the interval, these 
animals produce such rattling, teriitie, and 
varied noises, as excite the idea of every 
native of the forest being in open cry. And 
even the sounds of a single one are so pow- 
erful, as to impress the idea of peril very 
strongly on the hearer. These creatures are 
extremely tenacious of life. They will often 
sustain parts of several discharges from 
guns, before they drop from the tree, which 
S I M 
they cling to with the last efforts of ex-- 
istence, sometimes, indeed, maintaining 
their hold, it is said, by the hands and tail, 
even after death. The two last species be- 
long to the class of monkeys with prehen- 
sile tails, or japajous. The greater number 
of the animals of this comprehensive genus 
are said to be remarkably fond of snuff, 
mustard^ and tobacco, which they will eat 
in coi.fjderable quantities. A great num- 
ber of species are furnished with cheek- 
bags, or pouches, where they may deposit, 
for the convenience of carriage, a supply of 
food, which will last ffor several days after 
they have finished their immediate repast. 
Monkeys are, in some parts of Africa, nsed 
for food, and several species are said to 
be excellent and delicate for this pur- 
pose. 
SIMILAR, in arithmetic and geometry, 
the same with like. Those things are said 
to be similar or like, which cannot be distin- 
guished but by their compresence, that is, 
either by immediately applying the one to 
the other, or some other third to them both, 
so tha there is nothing found in one of the 
similar things but is equally found in the 
other, notwithstanding their similitude may 
differ in quantity ; and since, in similar 
things, tiiere is nothing wherein they differ 
besides the quantity : quantity itself is the 
internal difference of similar things. In ma- 
thematics, similar parts have the same ratio 
to their wholes, and if the wholes have the 
same ratio to the parts, the parts are simi- 
lar. See Part. 
Similar angles are also equal angles. In 
solid angles, when the planes under whieh 
they are contained are equal, both in num- 
ber and magnitude, and are disposed in the 
same order, they are similar, and conse- 
quently equal. Similar arches of a circle are 
such as are like parts of their w'hole circum- 
ferences, and consequently equal. Similar 
plane numbers, are those numbers which may 
be ranged into the form of similar rectangles, 
that is, into rectangles whose sides are pro- 
portional; such are 12 and 48, for the sides 
of 12 are 6 and 2, and the sides of 48 are 
12 and 4; but 6 : 2 12 : 4, and therefore 
those numbers are similar. Similar poly- 
gons are such as have their angles severally 
equal, and the sides about those angles pr o- 
portional. Similar rectangles are those 
which have their sides about the equal an- 
gles proportional : hence, 1 . All squares 
are similar I'ectangles. 2. All similar rec- 
tangles are to each other as the squares of 
their homologous sides. Similar right-lined 
