_Mycetes palliatus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1848, p. 138, pl. vi.; Frantz.,
Wiegm. Arch., xxxv., p. 254 (1869); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 40
(1870); Scl., P. Z. S., 1872, p. 7; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 152
(1876); Alston, in Godm. and Salvin, Biol. Centr. Am. Mamm., p. 4 (1879).
_Aluatta palliata_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1862, p. 519.
CHARACTERS.--Face naked; hair of forehead short, reflexed, forming a slight
crest across the middle of the head; hairs of the back of the head rather
longer; those of the cheeks few, short and grey; those of the fore neck
lengthening into a short beard. General colour brownish-black; middle of
back and {203}upper part of sides, yellowish-brown; lower part of sides
brownish-yellow, lengthened into a mantle; arms, legs, and tail black.
Length, 19½ inches; tail, 20¾.
The late Mr. Alston, in describing the Mammals of Central America, in
Messrs. Godman and Salvin's monumental work, "Biologia Centrali-Americana,"
observes that "this Howler presents considerable variety in the depth of
the black or brown-black ground-colour, and in the extent of the fulvous
tints of the flanks and loins. Dr. v. Frantzius states that the Howlers
which he saw in Costa Rica were darker than is indicated by Dr. Gray's
description; and in several of the Panama examples the light markings are
much reduced, but in others they are quite as conspicuous as in the
Nicaraguan types." Mr. Alston, therefore, agrees with Prof. Schlegel, that
the variation does not depend on locality.
DISTRIBUTION.--Shores and islands of the lake of Nicaragua; Costa Rica;
Panama; Islet of Hicaron, at the southern extremity of Quibo Island, off
the Coast of Veragua. South of the Isthmus of Panama, the Red Howler (_A.
senicula_) replaces the Mantled Howler.
HABITS.--The habits of the Mantled Howler do not differ widely from those
of the species already described. It prefers the highest branches of the
trees of the dense forests; and is harmless to the plantations of the
natives. In disposition it is dull and melancholy, and is rarely kept in
confinement. It is said, however, to reconcile itself to captivity more
than some of the others referred to in previous pages. According to Dr. v.
Frantzius, a tame male individual of this species was observed to howl
whenever rain-clouds gathered, and also regularly at five o'clock every
morning.
{204}THE CAPUCHINS AND SPIDER-MONKEYS. SUB-FAMILY CEBINÆ.
We now come to describe the remaining Monkeys of the New World. The
_Cebinæ_ are characterised by having the incisors vertical, not procumbent;
they have no inflated hyoid bone as in the foregoing Sub-family. The tail
in all is long and prehensile, although in some species it is a less
perfect grasping organ, being clothed with hair to the tip, instead of
being there naked and highly sensitive. The thumb may be present or absent.
This Sub-family contains four genera: the Capuchins (_Cebus_); The Woolly
Monkeys (_Lagothrix_); the Woolly Spider-Monkeys (_Eriodes_); and the
Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_). The species belonging to these genera are very
numerous, and are found over the whole region from Mexico in the north, to
Paraguay and Bolivia in the south, or from about 25° N. lat., to 30° S.
lat.