The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-06-10
THE HOWLERS.
Monkeys Which Derive Their Name
From Weird Cries

From Weird Cries.
Few, II any, animals tended so much
toward the growth of superstition in
the olden days as the howlers or howl
ing monkeys, who derive their name
from their weird and appalling cries,
the echoes of which will fill whole
forest with sounds which can only
be said to resemble those which are
supposed to exist in the internal re-
gions.
This peculiar resonant voice in the
howlers is caused by a drum-shaped ex-
pansion Of the larynx. The hollow
shell Of bone. corresponding to the
hyoid bone in man, IS Joined to the
upper part of the windpipe. and It Is
the sound of the voice within this
shell which gives It its uncanny cry.
and so distinguishes it from all the
other American monkeys.
There are various species of howl
ers--the black howler, the red and yell
low howler, the Vera Cruz, the red
howler, etc.-but one and all have much
the same characteristics, and all have
monkeys. whose curiosity and love of
notice and admiration are only too well
known, the howlers are naturally shy
and will always hide whenever posi-.
BILE.
The Indians had, and still have. num-
berless beliefs and superstitions re-
specting the howlers. One is that when
the howlers begin to use their voices
one always chants the whole of the
time, leading the chorus and keeping
the others in order! Another is that
howlers never howl in the daytime
unless some dire calamity is about to
fall.
AS a matter Of fact, one single howl.
er is capable of producing cries which
resemble the united efforts Of large
number. At one time these cries will
be like deep, gruff growlngs; at 9TH
ers, piercing, blood-curdling screams
which terrify every living thing with.
In hearing, and others represent the
dying groans Of wild animals. 1t is al
most impossible to give any descrip-
tion of the awful sounds, and 1t Is not
much wonder that the Indians fancied
they were the cries of spirits and in
habitants of another world.
AS to a howler crying in the day
time being a sign of calamity, this Is
another foolish belief due to ignorance.
Howlers will occasionally howl during
the day. but this is only in threaten
ing weather just before a storm, or an
unusually heavy downpour of rain, and
as q storm usually proves more or less
Of calamity to the Indian, 1t probably
originated from this fact.
Very few howlers have ever been in
captivity. and those few have survived
only short time owing to their deli.
cacy. The red and black howler
have been exhibited in the London
geological soclety's gardens, while some
young specimens of the black howler
were also kept for short time in the
Jardin des Plantes at Paris. and
very coed specimen Of the red howler
is at present in the New York zoologi-
cal park, but it Is doubtful whether.
even with the greatest care 1t will
be there long.
1t is impossible to state definitely
from what cause these monkeys give
these cries. 1t does not appear to be
from fear or rage. and the muscular
exertion necessary to produce the most
deafening sounds seems to be very lit
tie. In their wild state. these little
animals are supposed to eat nothing
but leaves, but owing to their shyness
it is very difficult to verify this. and 1t
Is possible they subsist on much the
same kind of food as their cousins
Ellen Velvin. F. z. s.. in Golfers
Weekly.