ORDER OE QUADRUMANA. 
565 
nocturnal. They only leave their retreats in the morning and 
evening, spending the remainder of the time in sleep. They live 
on fruits and insects, and are very partial to honey, which makes 
them anxiously search for the hives of wild bees. The Sapajous, 
who are aware of this weakness, follow them at a distance, looking 
out for an opportunity to rob them of their booty. As soon as the 
Sakis sit down to eat the honey they have discovered, the Sapajous, 
profiting by their physical superiority, spring upon them, and put 
them to flight ; after which they enjoy the booty which they have 
obtained at so little expense. With these animals, as with man- 
kind, there are always those who take the chestnuts from the fire 
for the benefit of others. 
Fig. 250. — Satanic Bearded Saki (Brachyurus sat anas). 
The Sakis are generally gentle, but excessively timid, and for 
this reason are difficult to tame, though they are not destitute 
of intelligence. They manifest great solicitude for their young, 
and both male and female carefully occupy themselves in rearing 
them. But after a certain time they chase them away, and compel 
them to provide for themselves. Two well-defined groups are 
distinguished among the Sakis : the first contains the species in 
which the tail is nearly as long as the body, and constitutes the 
division of true Sakis ; the second is composed of the very short- 
tailed species, and which, for this reason, are designated by the 
