APES AND MONKEYS. 
198 
The Silky Marmoset {Midas rosalia). 
The last group of the marmosets is represented by the well-known silky mar¬ 
moset, shown in the figure on the preceding page, and the golden-headed marmoset; 
both of which inhabit the forests of South-Eastern Brazil, and are commonly 
exhibited in the menageries of Europe. They are distinguished by having the 
head and part of the neck covered with long hair, forming a kind of mane; 
the hair round the face being directed backwards. The face itself is but sparsely 
haired; and the naked ears are partly concealed by the mane. The colour is a 
bright golden yellow, more or less tinged with red; but there is a variety in which 
the head, hands, and feet, as well as the end of the tail, are blackish. 
The silky marmoset was known to Buffon under the name of the Marikina; 
and has also been described as the lion marmoset (M. leoninus). Mr. Bates, 
who alludes to it under the latter name, which is due to the long mane of brown 
hair hanging from the neck giving it very much the appearance of a miniature 
lion, states that he once saw a tame individual of this species when on the upper 
Amazon. After commenting on its playful and intelligent disposition, he observes 
that it was familiar with every person in the house where it was kept; and 
seemed to take particular pleasure in climbing about the bodies of the various 
visitors who entered. “ The first time I went in,” writes Mr. Bates, “ it ran across 
the room straightway to the chair on which I had sat down, and climbed up to 
my shoulder; arrived there, it turned round and looked in my face, showing its 
little teeth, and chattering, as though it would say, 'Well, and how do you do?’ 
It showed more affection towards its master than towards strangers, and would 
climb up to his head a dozen times in the course of an hour.” These marmosets 
are described as keeping to the very top of their cages—a habit probably retained 
from the native one of living in the tree-tops. When descending they always 
come down backwards, with' the tail pendent. Mr. Swainson, who observed 
these animals in their native Brazilian forests, states that their ways are very 
similar to those of the common marmoset. He mentions, however, their habit of 
bounding from tree to tree with incredible rapidity, which is scarcely consonant 
with the account given by Mr. Bates of the movements of marmosets in general. 
They are stated to utter sharp but weak cries of alarm when frightened. 
The total length of this marmoset is rather less than two feet, of which one 
is occupied by the long tail. 
The golden-headed marmoset (M. chrysomelas ) may be regarded as a black 
representative of the preceding species; its general colour being black, with the 
face, fore-arms, hands, feet, and the base of the tail tawny. 
