10 
The Animal-Lore of Shakspeare’s Time. 
ment is a certaine hollow thing, as it were made of parchment, very- 
strong, and so smooth that it serveth to burnish withall, as big as a 
duckes egge, and beginneth from the beginning of the gullet, till very 
neere the palate of the mouth betweene both the cheekes, and it is so 
light that as soone as it is toucht it moveth as the key of a virginals.” 
This species has been identified by modern travellers as 
the Mycetes, or Howling Monkey. According to some 
writers, the peculiar cry from which it derives its name 
may be heard at a distance of two miles. 
Antonio de Herrera, in his description of the West 
Indies ( Purchas , vol. i. p. 966), tells us that— 
“ throughout all the mountaines, either of these ilands of the firmo 
land, or of the Andes, there are infinite numbers of micos, or monkeys, 
which are a kinde of apes, but very different, in that they have a taile, 
yea a very long one. And amongst them there are some kindes 
which are thrice, yea foure times bigger than the ordinarie; some are 
all blacke, some bay, some grey, and some spotted. Their agilitie and 
manner of doing is admirable, for that they seeme to have reason 
and discourse to goe upon trees, wherein they seeme to imitate birds.” 
John Leo, in his account of travels in Africa, says 
that the native name for the small kinds of apes which 
have tails is Monne, which may be the origin of the 
English name monkey; those without tails are called 
Babuini {Purchas, vol. ii. p. 847). 
Another traveller, Wilson, who returned from Guiana 
in the year 1606, reports {Purchas, vol. iv. p. 1261), that 
“ there are many monkies, great and small, blacke and 
greene, which sorts are called Marmosites.” 
Small monkeys seem to have been rather fashionable 
as pets, as well as forming a necessary part of the outfit 
of the itinerant showman. Ben Jonson has several 
allusions to them :— 
“ ’Tis like your clog to your marmoset.” 
{The Poetaster, iv. 1.) 
“ He past, appears some mincing marmoset, 
Made all of clothes and face.” 
(' Cynthia's Bevels, iii. 2.) 
