File:Life and nature under the tropics- or, Sketches of travels among the Andes, and on the Orinoco, Rio Negro, and Amazons (1871) (14775536584).jpg

Identifier: lifenatureun00myer (find matches)
Title: Life and nature under the tropics: or, Sketches of travels among the Andes, and on the Orinoco, Rio Negro, and Amazons
Year: 1871 (1870s)
Authors: Myers, H. M. (Henry Morris), d. 1872 Myers, P. V. N. (Philip Van Ness), 1846-1937
Subjects: Scientific expeditions South America -- Description and travel
Publisher: New York : D. Appleton and company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
plaintive cry of araguatoes, apparently near athand. But we were as yet imenlightened as to how de-ceiving is the distance these howling monkeys can beheard, and so were enticed farther and farther into thetangled jungle. At length we came to the object of oursearch—a group of large monkeys, walking leisurelyalong the branches of a tree, casting down suspiciousglances upon the intruders on their realms. Selecting thefinest-looking fellow, he was brought wounded to theground; when the whole band, that had ceased theirnoise at our approach, set up again a most terrific howl-ing. As we stood a little exultant over the bleeding ani-mal, he turned up his large eyes, filled with tears, and,casting upon us a look that we shall ever remember, ut-tered a mournful cry, which was answered by the wails ofhis companions in the trees. The araguatoes, which are the largest monkeys of theNew World, are represented by several species. Accord-ing to measurement, we found one of these animals (JSIyce-
Text Appearing After Image:
^v;i;iriiiirii,M„i„i^ HOWLING MONKEYS. 15 tes ursmus) four feet from tip to tip, or about three feetwhen in an erect posture. This species is tlie most com-mon, has thick fur of a reddish-brown color, and a long,prehensile tail, which answers as a third hand. The feat-ures of its face have a grave and melancholy expression ;its beard is long, and its movements like the slow andmeasured gait of an old man. It generally seems perfect-ly indifferent as to what is transpiring about it; but, whenaroused, its whole aspect changes, and it Avill perform evo-lutions through the trees with surprising agility. AsHumboldt observes, monkeys are melancholy in propor-tion as they have more resemblance to man. Theirsprightlincss diminishes as their intellectual faculties ap-pear to increase. In disposition the araguato is mis-chievous and savage, and Avill, when wounded, attackman in a most ferocious manner. It cannot be tamed,and shows none of that affection for human beino-s whichsome of the sm

Note About Images