MONKEYS. 147 
the male has done showing his regard, the female takes 
her turn in the work of affection. 
THE CAPUCHIN AND SPIDER MONKEYS 
Are both natives of South America ; they live in large 
troops, feeding on roots, fruits, and insects, and are much 
more gentle than those of the old world. Of the Capuchin 
there are many varieties, differing from each other in co- 
lour only ; they are very lively, active, and amusing 
and about a foot long. The Spider Monkey, like the Ca- 
puchin, has a long prehensile tail, which it uses like a 
fifth hand, and even employs it in preference to either its 
hands or feet. Nature seems by this addition to have 
more than recompensed them for the want of a thumb. 
And it is certain that by it, when they are unable to leap 
from one tree to another, on account of the distance, they 
form a kind of chain, with their young upon their backs, 
hanging down by each other's tails ; one of them holding 
the branch above, the rest swing to and fro like a pendu- 
lum, until the undermost is enabled to catch hold, when 
the first lets go his hold, and thus comes undermost in 
his turn ; in this way they can travel a great distance 
without ever touching the ground. Curious illustrations 
H 2 
