T 54 
APES AND MONKEYS. 
attract attention to them. On one occasion the traveller mentioned above observed 
a party of these sapajous despoiling an orange tree of its fruit. They were led on 
by an old male, the females carrying their young on their shoulders. When all had 
reached the tree, some commenced to eat the luscious fruit as soon as plucked, while 
others carried off their share to the stronger boughs of the neighbouring trees in 
order to secure a better resting-place in which to devour their plunder at leisure. 
These seated themselves on such boughs, with their tails firmly curled round the 
same, and, placing the oranges between their hind legs, tried to open the skin with 
their fingers. If they did not quickly succeed in this, they flung the fruit against 
another bough in order by this means to soften the rind, at the same time venting 
their displeasure at this unnecessary trouble by snarls and growls. Probably on 
account of its bitter taste, none of them attempted to tear off the rind with their 
teeth, but, as soon as an opening was made with their fingers, they proceeded to 
tear out the juicy pulp, licking up the juice as it flowed out, and then eating the 
pulp itself. When satisfied with their repast, the elder members of the family 
stretched themselves along the boughs to sleep; while the juniors gamboled around, 
swinging themselves by their tails from the branches, or going up them hand-over¬ 
hand, like sailors up a rope. The gambols of these young ones are, however, 
described as being awkward and ungainly, instead of light and graceful. The 
mothers exhibited great care towards their young, carefully tending them, and 
assiduously dressing and searching their fur. 
On another occasion the same traveller had the good fortune to witness a troop 
of these sapajous descending from the forest to pillage a maize field. They were 
seen to climb cautiously down from the trees, and venture by twos and threes into 
the maize field; and, having hastily gathered a few cobs, returned with all speed to 
the forest to devour them at leisure. On the appearance of the spectator of their 
movements, the whole of the members of the troop in the field promptly scampered 
back to the trees, not forgetting, however, to carry with them their booty. Rengger 
then shot a female carrying off a young one, which, though badly wounded, clung 
for some time by her tail to a bough. At length, however, she fell lifeless to the 
ground, with the young one still tightly clinging to her body; and, indeed, it was 
not until the body had become cold that the hold was released. The young capuchin 
thus caught readily became tame, and would recognise its master even in the dark 
by the mere touch of his clothes. When wearied, it uttered a low whistling sound; 
and, when it had occasion to demand any particular object, it groaned. Its 
anger was expressed in rough tones resembling the syllables “ hu! hu! ” fear by 
shrieks, and pleasure by soft chuckles. 
When captured young the capuchin is always easily tamed, but older animals 
refuse all food, become mopish, and do not live more than a few weeks. The 
younger ones soon take to their masters, and exhibit remarkable fidelity. They 
become, however, more readily attached to coloured than to white people; and they 
are generally very fond of other animals, so that in Paraguay it is a common 
custom to bring them up with a young dog, upon which they ride. To some 
persons they at once conceive a rooted dislike, which cannot be eradicated. Their 
intelligence is shown by the manner in which they learn to open an egg; most of 
the contents being lost at the first trial, but carefully secured at the second attempt. 
