Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-12-19
THE SPIDER MONKEY.
Something of Interest About this
Brother Long Logs.
They Are vcritabie Contortionists. and
Intelligent and Arcctionate-DInscu
Experienced In Capturing Them
Antics That Provoke = Laugh.

No nickname was ever more aptly
chosen than that given by the natives
OF Guatemala to the spider monkey
Brother Long Legs. His limbs are the
most conspicuous part OF him. Indeed.
somebody has said that he looks like
| four legs tied together in n knot In the
middle, the knot, OF course. represent
| ing his small body. With his sprawl
ing and grotesque motions, he is the
delight OF geological collections, and
the ease and rapidity with which he
can travel the tree-tops OF his native
forest make him the despair OF the
ordinary hunter.
There are several varieties of the
family, the best known being the
coaita or quata- There Is hardly "A
| position possible to so large an animal
that he does not sooner or later put
himself into with the greatest ease.
| Sometimes, in their native woods, ac-
cording to Humboldt, n cluster OF mon
keys may be seen hanging by the legs,
arms and tails to each other like some
monstrous, overgrown and very lively
fruit, swinging, chattering and frolicls-
ing together, and all suspended by the
tail OF one stout fellow, which must
have begun this queer sport
The coaita Is an MISUNDERSTANDING
animal, being clothed in rather long.
coarse hair, OF a glossy black color.
with large eyes and a reddish flesh
colored face, quite human in express
sion He belongs to a family named
scientifically "Thumbless." because
what should be thumbs on his hands
are, in fact, merely stumps or single
joints, although 10 make up, he has
very good thumbs on his feet or hinder
hands, which they really are. Per-
haps the most useful member Is neither
foot nor hand, but tail. Not only is IL
strong enough to sustain the weight of
cluster OF monkeys as mentioned
above, but il is delicate enough to take
birds eggs out of narrow opening.
1t is help in walking, for this coaita
Is tolerable walker. stepping care
fully on the outside edge of his feet,
never on the sole or palm, and steady
Ing himself on his way by taking hold,
with his tail. OF every object within
reach. So intelligently does this men,
Der select grasping places without help
from the eyes, that 1t almost seems 20
possess individual consciousness.
More, even, than this, the tail is able
10 hold objects and even to carry them
on and as a swing IL can not be equal
cd. so strong is its holding-on power.
That even after death it will safely sus-
pend the dead body for days. Nearly
The whole length of the tail is covered
with FUR like the rest of the body. but
ior several inches at the top the under
SIDE Is bare and covered with black
SKIN which eminently its it for its
work.
IL may easily be seen that to catch
coalta In his native forest is a hopeless
"sk. With four hands and n tail to
seize the branches and Llama stems
among which he lives. and with power
70 swing his light body. five yards at
each throw, as DIR. Oswald says. no
man or beast can follow him. The
spider monkey, says the writer lust
quo'ed' us nimble TO degree which
makes one smile at the readiness with
which that word is applied TO such
features as rats and raccOons. :"
"ilhole as he may be, however strongly
MS tail may hold. and many as are
NC devices by which this animal pro-
'o" himself against his enemies, he
can not escape the worst Of them
"an' The jaguar seeks his body TO
a., the large black and white eagle is
II sa'u also TO prey upon him; out man
- more wishes than merely 10 satisfy
Us hunger. Not only IL the un-
oI'unate coaita possessed OF savory
-" upon his bones, but his skin Is
a'uaole' and above all, he Is in great
so'naha as a pet The people Of the
Ouhtrles in Central and South
auerica' where the spider-monkey Is
tu'u' are the greatest pet keepers in
world Not only monkeys Of every
ana interesting small animals.
1a'o their homes and their affections.
livery live creature. from n stupid
,'aihg tapir down TO n mouse, may
'ound living with people in the
most amicable way.
me coaiia is favorito, partly be-
us OF his droll performances and
IS aulng antics, wherever nc may live;
~. uluch Of his popularity Is the re-
MS gentle manners and amiable
a g. rD'i'ion' He is extremely afec-
ana social In his tastes. being
49,, almost breaks his heart. and
81 'uuslvc and uul,i,,d -, t -.
c'y unhappy. When he has beon
on uP alone, and, nc last, the door Is
Sou' ne springs into the arms OF
i.,iVerer. clings 10 him, and Law
y loo 'pVh MIN many caresses Then.
n hat,,a I" as fond OF pets as the
nonLa themselves. Other pet
nvbys' even dogs or cats. read d
kind, the objects OF his loving
81 Ava. ana have to endure hugs not
III. a.