Monkeys. 181 
canoe," says he, " the creature made a halt from skipping 
after his companions, and, being perched on a branch 
that overhung the water, examined me with the strongest 
marks of curiosity; while he chattered prodigiously, 
and kept shaking the boughs on which he rested, with 
incredible strength and agility. At this time I laid my 
piece to my shoulder and brought him down from the 
tree : but may I never again be witness to such a scene ! 
The miserable animal was not dead, but mortally 
wounded. I seized him by the tail, and taking him in 
both my hands, to end his torment swung him round, 
and hit his head against the side of the canoe ; but the 
poor creature still continued to live, and looked at me 
in the most affecting manner that can be conceived. I 
therefore knew no other means of ending his murder 
than to hold him under water till he was drowned : but 
even in doing this, my heart sickened ; for his little 
dying eyes still continued to follow me with seeming 
reproach, till their light gradually forsook them, and the 
wretched animal expired." 
The manner in which some of the Monkey tribe cap- 
ture shell-fish is remarkably indicative of their cunning 
and ingenuity. The oysters of the tropical climates, 
being larger than ours, the Monkeys, when they reach 
the sea-side, pick up stones, and thrust them between the 
opening shells, which being thus prevented from closing, 
the cunning animals eat the fish at their ease. In order 
to attract crabs, they put their tails before the holes in 
which they have taken refuge ; and when the creatures 
have fastened on the lure, the Monkeys suddenly with- 
draw their tails, and thus drag their prey on shore. 
The Monkey generally brings forth one at a time, and 
sometimes two. They are rarely found to breed when 
brought over into Europe ; but those that do exhibit a 
veiy striking picture of parental affection. The male 
and female are never tired of fondling their young one. 
They instruct it with no little assiduity; and often 
severely correct it, if stubborn, or disinclined to profit 
by their example. They hand it from one to the other, 
and when the male has done showing his regard the 
female takes her turn in the work of affection. 
