Seated among the boughs may often be seen, in the forests of the Upper
Amazon, a number of large, stout-bodied, fat-paunched monkeys, with long
flexible tails, furnished underneath with a naked palm, like the hand,
for grasping. Their faces are black and wrinkled, their foreheads low,
and eyebrows projecting; their features bearing a wonderful resemblance
to those of weather-beaten old negroes. The heads of some are covered
with black hair, and others with grey. They are called by the
Portuguese _macacos barrigudos_, or big-bellied monkeys. They belong to
the species of Lagothrix, and are closely allied to the coaitas. They
are bulky fellows, and though able, by means of their prehensile tails,
to get along at a good rate among the boughs, seldom trouble themselves
to move rapidly.
With the exception of the black howler, which will be described anon,
they are the largest monkeys in America--their bodies measuring about
twenty-eight inches in height. Their flesh being highly esteemed by the
natives, they are unceasingly hunted by the Indians. Though their
manners are somewhat grave, yet, from their mild and confiding temper
similar to that of the coaitas--they are much sought after for pets.
They live exclusively on fruits.