Copy 2

Animals in menageries / By William Swainson.

  • William Swainson
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Animals in menageries / By William Swainson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to send it us from its native country. Its disposition is said to be timid and melancholy ; at times, in the ex- cess of its fear, it is even said to bite those who caress it: its anger is merely expressed by closing the lips, and uttering a guttural cry resembling ore-o. When in a state of freedom, this species frequently collects in considerable numbers ; they are then said to embrace each other in a very grotesque way, and form them- selves into an idle party: at such times they bask and stretch themselves in the sun, in perfect idleness; and in so ‘doing, assume so many strange attitudes, that a spectator would believe, from the suppleness of their limbs, that the joints were dislocated: at other times, when exposed to the meridian sun, they lie on their back, fold their arms, look upwards, and in this extra- ordinary position will remain perfectly listless and im- moveable for hours. The general size is that of the last described; and its height, when erect, is about two feet nine inches. The fur on the upper parts of the body is of a deep blackish brown, very glossy on the back and outer sides of the limbs; while that of the belly, inner surface of the limbs, and beneath the tail, is reddish yellow, or dirty yellowish white, glossed with a slight golden tint. Its prehensile tail is much developed. Tur Hornep Monkey. Cebus fatuellus, [liger. (Fig. 4.) A living specimen of this grotesque animal in the king’s menagerie at Paris enabled M. Brisson to be- come its first describer. Another healthy individual was in the same collection in the year 1820, which has been particularly described by M. F. Cuvier. It has obtained the name of Horned monkey, not from possessing those appendages usually denominated horns, but from two tufts of hairs which bear that resem- blance, and which rise immediately above the ears. The hairs of the forehead, in fact, instead of being directed
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