The voyager up the Amazon, or one of its numerous tributaries, when his
montaria has been moored to the banks, a fire lighted to keep prowling
jaguars or pumas at a respectful distance, his hammock hung up in his
temporary hut, and he is expecting to enjoy a quiet night's rest, is,
ere long, often awoke by the sound of the most fearful howling
proceeding from the recesses of the forest. Now it sounds like the
dreadful roar of the jaguar as it springs on its prey. Now it changes
to the terrible and deep-toned growlings of the wild beast as he is
pressed on all sides by his foes, and now it seems like his last dying
moan beneath a mortal wound. Nothing can be more dismal or dispiriting
than the fearful uproar. Hour after hour it goes on during the night,
increasing as the dawn approaches. Now the howls come from one
direction, now from another, and in far-off parts of the forest. Yet,
terrific as they appear, they are produced by animals not much larger
than a full-grown fox. It is the mycetes, or ursine howler--the largest
monkey of South America.
On advancing into the forest in the morning, three or four may be seen
seated on the upper branches of a tree--shaggy-haired animals, with long
prehensile tails like those of the spider-monkeys--hideous-looking
creatures, with pyramidical heads, the upper jaw descending much below
the cranium, while the branches of the lower one ascend very high, for
the purpose of containing a bony, drum-shaped expansion of the larynx,
which gives to its voice that prodigious volume of sound which makes
night hideous.
They differ somewhat in colour. Some are entirely black, others
brownish-black, while the Mycetes ursinus is of a shiny yellow.
These unmusical howlings are supposed by some naturalists to be merely
the nocturnal serenades of lover mycetes addressed to their mistresses,
seated high on the branches in some distant part of the forest; others
regard them rather as noises which serve to intimidate their enemies,
though not emitted in general for any sudden alarm.
The female howler carries its young on its back. It is the least
attractive in appearance of its western brethren, and is the only one of
the monkey tribe which the natives are unable to tame. Though often
caught, they do not survive many weeks in captivity. It lives on fruits
and nuts, and is hunted for the sake of its flesh, which, though rather
dry, is much esteemed. The natives entrap this monkey in a curious
fashion. They take a large nut, and scraping out the interior, leave
only a small mouth, and, filling it with sugar, leave it near the trees
inhabited by the mycetes. The inquisitive monkey soon descends to
examine the nut, and putting in his hand, grasps the sweet contents.
Knowing that it is well-suited to his taste, he will not let go, but
runs off with his prize, which greatly impedes his progress. Although
he might easily draw out his hand by opening it, this he does not think
of doing; and thus, unable at the best to move rapidly over a level
surface, is soon overtaken by the hunter, and captured.