Among the host of curiously-shaped, long-tailed, active little monkeys
which inhabit the American forests, the cuxio is one of the most
remarkable. Its general colour is a grizzly-brown; but the head, limbs,
and tail, are black. As the passer-by sees the odd little creature
gazing down on him, he might fancy that it had just escaped from the
hands of the _perruquier_. The black hair of its head is parted
carefully on either side. Its enormous black beard seems as if just
freshly dressed; while its bushy tail looks as if equally cared for.
Notwithstanding its somewhat fierce and Turk-like visage, it lives a
respectable, domestic life, with one partner alone--the sharer of its
home--engaged in the task of rearing its infant progeny.
She is not of so dark a colour as her mate, her hair being chiefly of a
rusty-brown.
The odd little creature's head is of a round form, and considerable
size, greatly increased in appearance by the amount of hair which
surrounds it. The nostrils are wide, and divided by an unusually large
cartilage. It is furnished with large jaws, and teeth so sharp that it
has been seen to drive them, when angry, into a thick plank. When in a
rage it grinds them together, and, rubbing its long beard in a most
curious way, leaps about in every direction. At the slightest cause of
offence, it gives a savage grin, wrinkling the skin of its face and
jaws, and threatening the offender with the most menacing grimaces.
It seems perfectly conscious of the unusual adornment of its head,
treasuring its bushy beard with as much care and pride as does a human
exquisite. When drinking, it dips its paw, curved into the shape of a
spoon, into the water, and thus brings the liquid to its mouth. The
natives declare that it does so to avoid the risk of wetting its long
beard, of which--being generally destitute of such appendages
themselves--they fancy it must be excessively vain. As it is chiefly
nocturnal in its habits, it might be classed among the Nyctipitheci, or
night monkeys. From its fierce countenance, long, sharp teeth, and
savage temper, it has gained its second scientific name--Brachyuras
Satanus.