does not well endure the rigour of our climate. Edwards, however, kept one of them a year in London; and another of them happening at the same time to be exposed in a show of beasts, he brought the two exiles together, to see if they would claim or acknowledge their kindred. The moment they came into each other's presence they testified their mutual satisfaction, and seemed quite transported at the interview.

THE MONKEY.-The varieties in the larger tribes of the monkey kind are but few; in the ape we have seen but four, and in the baboon about as many. But when we come to the smaller class the differences among them seem too tedious for enumeration. These, as was observed in the beginning, are all small in stature, and with long tails, by which they are distinguished from the preceding, which entirely want the tail, or are large and have but a short one. The varieties in the form and colour of dogs or squirrels is nothing to what are found among monkeys of the smaller kind. Bosman mentions above fifty sorts on the Gold Coast alone, and Smith confirms the account. Condamine asserts that it would take up a volume to describe the differences of these to be found along the river Amazons; and we are sure that every one of these is very different from those on the African coast. Naturalists, however, have undertaken to make a catalogue of their numbers; and they either transmit their descriptions from one to another, or only enumerate those few that have found their way to Europe, and have fallen within the narrow circle of their own observation. But though it may be proper enough to describe such as fall under notice, it is certainly wrong to offer a scanty catalogue as complete, and to induce the reader to suppose he sees a picture of the whole group of these animals when he is only presented with a small part of the number. Such, therefore, as are fond of the reputation of adding new descriptions to the stock of natural history have here a wide, though surely a barren, field to enlarge in; and they will find it no difficult matter, by observing the various animals of this kind that are from time to time brought from their native coasts to this country, to indulge in description, and to ring the changes upon all the technical terms with which this most pleasing science is obscured and rendered disgusting. For my own part, I will spare the reader and myself the trouble of entering into an elaborate description of each-content with observing once more, that their numbers are very great and their differences very trifling. There is scarcely a country in the tropical climates that does not swarm with them, and scarce a forest that is not inhabited by a race of monkeys distinct from all others. Every different wood along the coasts of Africa may be considered as a separate colony of monkeys, differing from those of the next district in colour, in size, and malicious mischief. It is indeed remarkable that the monkeys of two cantons are never found to mix with each other, but rigorously to observe a separation; each forest produces only its own; and these guard their limits from the intrusion of all strangers of a different race from themselves. In this they somewhat resemble the human inhabitants of the savage nations, among whom they are found, where the petty kingdoms are numerous, and their manners opposite. There, in the extent of a few miles, the traveller is presented with men speaking different languages, professing different religions, governed by different laws, and only resembling each other in their mutual animosity.

In general, monkeys of all kinds, being less than the baboon, are endued with less powers of doing mischief. Indeed, the ferocity of their nature seems to diminish with their size; and when taken wild in the woods they are sooner tamed, and more easily taught to imitate man than the former. More gentle than the baboon, and less grave and sullen than the ape, they soon begin to

exert all their sportive mimicries, and are easily restrained by correction. But it must be confessed that they will do nothing they are desired without beating; for if their fears be entirely removed they are the most insolent and headstrong animals in nature.

In their native woods they are not less the pests of man than of other animals. The monkeys, says a traveller, are in possession of every forest where they reside, and may be considered as the masters of the place. Neither the tiger, nor the lion itself, will venture to dispute the dominion, since these, from the tops of trees, continually carry on an offensive war, and by their agility escape all possibility of pursuit. Nor have the birds less to fear from their continual depreda tions; for as these harmless inhabitants of the woods usually build upon trees, the monkeys are for ever on the watch to find out and rob their nests; and such is their petulant delight in mischief, that they will fling their eggs against the ground when they want appetites or inclination to devour them.

There is but one animal in all the forest that ventures to oppose the monkey, and that is the serpent. The larger snakes are often seen winding up the trees where the monkeys reside; and, when they happen to surprise them sleeping, swallow them whole before the little animals have time to make a defence. In this manner the two most mischievous kinds in all nature keep the whole forest between them-both equally formidable to each other, and for ever employed in mutual hostilities. The monkeys in general inhabit the top of trees, and the serpents cling to the branches near the bottom; and in this manner they are for ever seen near each other, like enemies in the same field of battle. Some travellers, indeed, have supposed that their vicinity rather argued their mutual friendship, and that they united in this manner to form an offensive league against all the rest of Animated Nature. "I have seen these monkeys," says Lebat, "playing their gambols upon those very branches on which the snakes were reposing, and jumping over them without receiving any injury, although the serpents of that country were naturally vindictive, and always ready to bite whatever disturbed them." These gambols, however, were probably nothing more than the insults of an enemy that was conscious of its own safety; and the monkeys might have provoked the snake in the same manner as we often see sparrows twitter at a cat. However this be, the forest is generally divided between them; and those woods, which Nature seems to have embellished with her richest magnificence, rather inspire terror than delight, and chiefly serve as retreats for mischief and malignity.

The enmity of these animals to mankind is partly ridiculous and partly formidable. They seem (says Le Compte and others) to have a peculiar instinct in discovering their foes; and are perfectly skilled when attacked in mutually defending and assisting each other. When a traveller enters among these woods they consider him as an invader upon their dominions, and all join to repel the intrusion. At first they survey him with a kind of insolent curiosity. They jump from branch to branch, pursue him as he goes along, and make a loud chattering to call the rest of their companions together. They then begin their hostilities by grinning, threatening, and flinging down the withered branches at him, which they break from the trees; they even take their excrements in their hands and throw them at his head. Thus they attend him wherever he goes, jumping from tree to tree with such amazing swiftness, that the eye can scarce attend their motions. Although they take the most desperate leaps, yet they are seldom seen to come to the ground, for they easily fasten upon the branches, which breaks their fall, and stick, either by their hands, feet, or tail, wherever they touch. If one of them happens to be wounded the rest assemble round, and clap their fingers into the wound

as if they were desirous of sounding its depth. If the blood flows in any quantity some of them keep it shut up, while others get leaves, which they chew, and thrust into the opening however extraordinary this may appear, it is asserted to be often seen and to be strictly true. In this manner they wage a petulant, unequal war; and are often killed in numbers before they think proper to make a retreat. This they effect with the same precipitation with which they at first came together. In this retreat the young are seen clinging to the back of the female, with which she jumps away, seeming unembarrassed by the burthen.

The curiosity of Europeans has in some measure induced the natives of the places where these animals reside to catch or take them alive by every art they are able. The usual way in such case is to shoot the female as she carries her young, and then both of course tumble to the ground. But even this is not easily performed; for if the animal be not killed outright it will not fall, but, clinging to some branch, continues, even when dead, its former grasp, and remains on the tree where it was shot, until it drops off by putrefaction. In this manner it is totally lost to the pursuer; for to attempt climbing the tree to bring either it or the young one down would probably be fatal, from the number of serpents that are hid among the branches. For this reason the sportsman always takes care to aim at the head; which, if he hits, the monkey falls directly to the ground, and the young one comes down at the same time, clinging to its dead parent.

The Europeans along the coast of Guinea often go into the woods to shoot monkeys; and nothing pleases the Negroes more than to see those animals drop, against which they have the greatest animosity. They consider them, and not without reason, as the most mischievous and tormenting creatures in the world, and are happy to see their numbers reduced upon a double account-as well because they dread their devastations as because they love their flesh. The monkey, which is always skinned before it is eaten, when served up at a Negro feast, looks so much like a child that an European is shocked at the very sight. The natives, however, who are not so nice, devour it as one of the highest delicacies, and assiduously attend our sportsmen to profit by the spoil. But what they are chiefly astonished at is to see our travellers carefully taking the young ones alive, while they leave them the old ones, which are certainly the most fit to be eaten. They cannot comprehend what advantage can arise to us from educating or keeping a little animal that by experience they know to be equally fraught with tricks and mischief: some of them have even been led to suppose that, with a kind of perverse affection, we love only creatures of the most mischievous kinds; and having seen us often buy young and tame monkeys, they have taken equal care to bring rats to our factors, offering them for sale, and greatly disappointed at finding no purchase for so hopeful a commodity.

The Negroes consider these animals as their greatest plague; and, indeed, they do incredible damage, when they come in companies to lay waste a field of Indian corn or rice, or a plantation of sugar-canes. They carry off as much as they are able; and they destroy ten times more than they bear away. Their manner of plundering is pretty much like that of the baboons (already mentioned) in a garden. One of them stands centinel upon a tree, while the rest are plundering, carefully and cautiously turning on every side, but particularly to that on which there is the greatest danger: in the meantime the rest of the spoilers pursue their work with great silence and assiduity; they are not contented with the first blade of corn or the first cane they happen to lay their hands on: they first pull up such as appear most alluring to the eye-they turn it round, examine, compare it with others, and if they find it to their mind, stick it under one of their shoulders. When in this

manner they have got their load they begin to think of retreating: but if it should happen that the owners of the field appear to interrupt their depredations, their faithful centinel instantly gives notice, by crying out "Houp, houp, houp," which the rest perfectly understand, and, all at once throwing down the corn they hold in their left hands, scamper off upon three legs, carrying the remainder in the right. If they are still hotly pursued they then are content to throw down their whole burthen, and to take refuge among their woods, on the top of which they remain in perfect security.

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Were we to give faith to what some travellers assert of the government, policies, and subordination of these animals, we might perhaps be taxed with credulity; but we have no reason to doubt they are under a kind of discipline, which they exercise among each other. They are generally seen to keep together in companies, to march in exact order, and to obey the voice of some particular chieftain remarkable for his size and gravity. One species of these, which Mr. Buffon calls the quarine," and which are remarkable for the loudness and the distinctness of their voice, are still more so for the use to which they convert it. "I have frequently been a witness," says Margrave, "of their assemblies and deliberations. Every day, both morning and evening, the quarines assemble in the woods to receive instructions. When all come together, one among the number takes the highest place on a tree, and makes a signal with his hand to the rest to sit round in order to listen. As soon as he sees them placed, be begins his discourse with so loud a voice, and yet in a manner so precipitate, that to hear him at a distance one would think the whole company were crying out at the same time: however, during that time only one is speaking, and all the rest observe the most profound silence. When this has been done he makes a sign with the hand for the rest to reply; and at that instant they raise their voices together, until by another signal of the hand they are enjoined silence. This they as readily obey; till at last the whole assembly breaks up, after hearing a repetition of the same preachment."

The chief food of the monkey tribe is fruits, the buds of trees, or succulent roots or plants. They all, like man, seem fond of sweets, and particularly the pleasant juice of the palm-tree and the sugar-cane. With these the fertile regions in which they are bred seldom fail to supply them; but when it happens that these fail, or that more nourishing food becomes more agreeable, they eat insects and worms; and sometimes, if near the coasts, descend to the sea-shore, where they eat oysters, crabs, and shell-fish. The manner of managing an oyster is extraordinary enough; but it is too well attested to fail of our assent. As the oysters in the tropical climates are generally larger than with us, the monkeys, when they go to the sea-side, pick up a stone and clap it between the opening shells; this prevents them from closing, and the monkey then cuts the fish at his ease. They often also draw crabs from the water, by putting their tail to the hole where that animal takes refuge, and the crab fastening upon it, they withdraw it with a jerk, and thus pull their prey upon shore. This habit of laying traps for other animals makes them very cautious of being trapped themselves; and I am assured by many persons of credit that no snare, how nicely baited soever, will take the monkey of the West Indian islands; for having been accustomed to the cunning of man, it opposes its natural distrust to human artifice.

The monkey generally brings forth one at a time, and sometimes two. They are rarely found to breed when brought over into Europe; but of those that do, they exhibit a very striking picture of parental affection. The male and female are never tired of fondling their young one. They instruct it with no little assiduity; and often severely correct it if stubborn, or disinclined

to profit by their example: they hand it from one to the other; and when the male has done showing his regard the female takes her turn. When wild in the woods, the female, if she happens to have two, carries one on her back and the other in her arms: that on her back clings very closely, clasping its hands round her neck, and its feet about her middle; when she wants to suckle it she then alters her position, and that which has been fed gives place to the other, which she takes in her arms. It often happens that she is unable to leap from one tree to another when thus laden, and upon such occasions their dexterity is very surprising. The whole family form a kind of chain, locking tail in tail or hand in hand, and one of them holding the branch above, the rest swing down, balancing to and fro like a pendulum, until the undermost is enabled to catch hold of the lower branches of some neighbouring tree. When the hold is fixed below, the monkey lets go that which was above, and thus comes undermost in turn; but, creeping up along the chain, attains the next branches, like the rest; and thus they all take possession of the tree without ever coming to the ground.

When in a state of domestic tameness these animals are very amusing, and often fill up a vacant hour when other entertainment is wanting. There are few that are not acquainted with their various mimicries and their capricious feats of activity. But it is generally in company with other animals of a more simple disposition that their tricks and superior instincts are shown; they seem to take a delight in tormenting them; and I have seen one of them amusing itself for hours together in imposing upon the gravity of a cat. Erasmus tells us of a large monkey, kept by Sir Thomas More, that, one day diverting itself in the garden where some tame rabbits were kept, played several of his usual pranks among them, while the rabbits scarce well knew what to make of their new acquaintance: in the meantime, a weasel, that came for very different purposes than those of entertainment, was seen peering about the place in which the rabbits were fed, and endeavouring to make its way by removing a board that closed their butch. While the monkey saw no danger it continued a calm spectator of the enemy's efforts; but just when, by long labour, the weasel had effected its purpose, and had removed the board, the monkey stept in, and, with the utmost dexterity, fastened it again in its place; and the disappointed weasel was too much fatigued to renew its operations. To this I will only add what Carli, in his History of Augola, assures us to be true. In that horrid country, where he went to convert the savage natives to Christianity, and met with nothing but distress and disappointment, while his health was totally impaired by the raging heats of the climate, his patience exhausted by the obstinacy of the stupid natives, and his little provisions daily plundered without redress-in such an exigency he found more faithful services from the monkeys than the men; these he had taught to attend him, to guard him while sleeping against thieves and rats, to comb his head, to fetch his water; and he asserts that they were even more tractable than the human inhabitants of the place. It is indeed remarkable, that in those countries where the men are most barbarous and stupid the brutes are most active and sagacious. It is in the torrid tracts, inhabited by Barbarians, that such various animals are found with instincts so nearly approaching reason. The savages both of Africa and America accordingly suppose monkeys to be men-idle, slothful, rational beings, capable of speech and conversation, but obstinately dumb, for fear of being compelled to labour.

As of all savages those of Africa are the most brutal, so of all countries the monkeys of Africa are the most expert and entertaining. The monkeys of America are in general neither so sagacious nor so tractable, nor is their form so nearly approaching to that of man. The monkeys of the new continent may be very easily distin

guished from those of the old by three marks. Those of the ancient continent are universally found to have a naked callous substance behind, upon which they sit, which those of America are entirely without; those also of the ancient continent have the nostrils differently formed, more resembling those of men, the holes opening downward, whereas the American monkeys have them opening on each side; those of the ancient world have pouches on each side of the jaw into which they put their provisions, which those of America are without; lastly, none of the monkeys of the ancient continent hang by the tail, which many of the American sorts are known to do. By these marks the monkeys of either continent may be readily distinguished from each other, and prized accordingly. The African monkey, as I am assured, requires a longer education and more correction than that of America; but it is at last found capable of more various powers of imitation, and shows a greater degree of cunning and activity.

Mr. Buffon, who has examined this race of imitative beings with greater accuracy than any other naturalist before him, makes but nine species of monkeys belonging to the ancient continent, and eleven belonging to the new. To all these he gives the names which they go by in their respective countries-which undoubtedly is the method least liable to error, and the most proper for imitation.

Of the monkeys of the ancient continent, the first he describes is the "mocagua," somewhat resembling a baboon in size, strength of body, and a hideous wrinkled visage; it differs, however, in having a very long tail, covered with tufted hair. It is a native of Congo.

The second is the "patas," which is about the same size as the former, but differs in having a larger body and a face less hideous; it is particularly remarkable for the colour of its hair, which is of a red so brilliant, that the animal looks as if it were actually painted. It is usually brought from Senegal, and by some called the "red African monkey."

The third of the ancient continent is the "malbrouk," of which Mr. Buffon supposes the monkey which he calls the "bonet chinois" to be a variety. The one is remarkable for a long tail and long beard; the other, for a cap of hair that covers the crown of the head, from whence it takes the name. Both are natives of the East Indies; and the Brahmins, who extend their charity to all the brute creation, have hospitals for such of them as happen to be sick or otherwise disabled.

The fourth of this kind is the " mangabey." This may be distinguished from all others by its eye-lids, which are naked, and of a striking whiteness. It is a native of Madagascar.

The fifth is the "mona," or the " cephus" of the ancients. It is distinguished by its colour, which is variegated with black and red; its tail is of an ash colour, with two white spots on each side at its insertion. It is a native of the northern parts of Africa. The sixth is the "callitrix," or green monkey of St. Iago distinguished by its beautiful green colour on the back, its white breast and belly, and its black face.

The seventh is the " moustoc," or "white-nose," distinguished by the whiteness of its lips, from whence it has received its name, the rest of the face being of a deep blue. It is a native of the Gold Coast, and a very beautiful little animal.

The eighth is the " talapoin," and may be distinguished as well by its beautiful variety of green, white, and yellow hair as by that under the eyes, being of a greater length than the rest. It is supposed to be a native of Africa and the East.

The ninth and last of the monkeys of the ancient continent is the "douc," so called in Cochin China, of which country it is a native. The douc seems to unite the characters of all the former together; with a long tail like the monkey, of a size as large as the baboon, and

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with a flat face like the ape: it even resembles the American monkeys, in having no callous on its posteriors. Thus it seems to form the shade by which the monkeys of one continent are linked with those of the other.

Next come the monkeys of the new continent, which, as has been said, differ from those of the old in the shape of their nostrils, in their having no callosity upon their posteriors, and in their having no pouches on each side of the jaw. They differ also in each other-a part of them making no use of their tails to hang by; while others of them have the tail very strong and muscular, which serves by way of a fifth hand to hold by. Those with muscular holding tails are called sapajous;" those with feeble, useless tails are called “ sagoins." Of the sapajous there are five sorts of the sagoins there are six.

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The first of the sapajous is the "warine," or the "Brazilian guariba." This monkey is as large as a fox, with long black hair, and remarkable for the loudness of its voice. It is the largest of the monkey kind to be found in America.

The second is the "coaiti," which may be distinguished from the rest by having no thumb, and therefore but four fingers on each of the fore-paws. The tail, however, supplies the defects of the hand; and with this the animal flings itself from one tree to another with surprising rapidity.

The third is the "saiou," distinguished from the rest of the sapajous by its yellowish and flesh-coloured face. The fourth is the "sai." It is somewhat larger than the sajou, and has a broader muzzle. It is also called the "bewailer," from its peculiar manner of lamenting when either threatened or beaten.

The fifth and last of the sapajou kind, or monkeys that hold by the tail, is the "saimiri," or "aurora," which is the smallest and most beautiful of all. It is a very tender, delicate animal, and held in high price. Of the sagoins with feeble tails there are six kinds. The first and the largest is the " saki," or " cagui"remarkable for the length of the hair on its tail, that it has been often termed the "fox-tailed monkey." It is of different sizes, some being twice as large as others. The second of this kind is the "tamaim," which is usually black, with feet yellow. Some, however, are found all over brown, spotted with yellow.

The third is the "wististi," remarkable for the large tufts of hair upon its face, and its annulated tail. The fourth is the "marikina," with a mane round the neck and a bunch of hair at the end of the tail like a lion.

The fifth is called the "pinch," with the face of a beautiful black, and white hair that descends on each side of the face like that of man.

The last, least, and most beautiful of all, is the mico," an animal too curiously adorned not to demand a particular description, which is thus given of it by Mr. Condamine:-That," says he, "which the Governor of Para made me a present of was the only one of its kind that was seen in the country The hair on its body was of a beautiful silver colour, brighter than that of the most venerable human hair; while the tail was of a deep brown, inclining to blackness. It had another singularity more remarkable than the former; its ears, its cheeks, and lips were tinctured with so bright a vermilion, that one could scarce be led to suppose that it was natural. I kept it a year; and it was still alive when I made this description of it, almost within sight of the coasts of France: all I could then do was to preserve it in spirits of wine, which might serve to keep in such a state as to show that I did not in the least exaggerate in my description."

OF THE MAKI.—The last of the monkey kind are the makies, which have no other pretensions to be placed in this class except that of having hands like the former,

and making use of them to climb trees or to pluck their food. Animals of the hare kind, indeed, are often seen to feed themselves with their fore-paws; but they can hold nothing in one of them singly, and are obliged to take up whatever they eat in both at once. But it is otherwise with the maki; as well as the monkey kinds, they seize their food with one hand pretty much like a man, and grasp it with great ease and firmness. The maki, therefore, from this conformation in its hands both before and behind, approaches nearly to the monkey kind; but in other respects, such as the make of the snout, the form of the ears, and the parts that distinguish the sexes, it entirely differs from them. There are many different kinds of these animals-all varying from each other in colour and size, but agreeing in the human-like figure of their hands and feet, and in their long nose, which somewhat resembles that of a dog. As most of these are bred in the depths of the forest, we know little more concerning them than their figure. Their way of living and their power of pursuit and escape can only be supposed, from the analogy of their conformation, somewhat to resemble those of the monkey.

The first of this kind is the "mococo"-a beautiful animal, about the size of a common cat, but the body and limbs slenderer, and of a longer make. It has a very long tail, at least double the length of its body; it is covered with fur, and marked alternately with broad rings of black and white. But what it is chiefly remarkable for, besides the form of its hands and feet, is the largeness of its eyes, which are surrounded with a broad, black space; and the length of the hinder legs, which by far exceed those before. When it sleeps, it brings its nose to its belly and its tail over its head. When it plays, it uses a sort of galloping, with its tail raised over its back, which keeps continually in motion. The head is covered with dark ash-coloured hair-the back and sides with a red ash-colour, and not so dark as on the head, the whole being glossy, soft, and delicate, smooth to the touch, and standing almost upright like the pile of velvet. It is a native of Madagascar, and appears to be a harmless, gentle animal; and though it resembles the monkey in many respects, yet it has neither its malice nor its mischief: nevertheless, like the monkey it seems to be always in motion, and moves like all four-handed animals in an oblique direction.

A second of this kind, which is also a native of Madagascar, is the "mongooz," which is less than the former, with a soft, glossy robe, but a little curled. The nose is also thicker than that of the mococo; the eyes are black, with orange-coloured circles round the pupil; and the tail is of one uniform colour. As to the rest, it is found of various colours, some being black, others brown; and its actions somewhat resemble those of a monkey.

The "vari" is much larger than either of the former; its hair is much longer, and it has a kind of ruff round the neck, consisting of very long hair, by which it may be easily distinguished from the rest. It differs also in its disposition, which is fierce and savage; as also in the loudness of its voice, which somewhat resembles the roaring of the lion. This also is a native of Madagascar.

To this tribe we may refer a little four-handed animal, of the island of Ceylon, which Mr. Buffon calls the "lori," very remarkable for the singularity of its figure. This is of all other animals the longest in proportion to its size, having nine vertebræ in the loins, whereas other quadrupeds have only seven. The body appears still longer by having no tail. In other respects it resembles those of the maki kind, as well in its hands and feet as in its snout, and in the glossy qualities of its hair. It is about the size of a squirrel, and appears to be a tame, harmless little animal.

OF THE OPOSSUM AND ITS KINDS.-To those fourhanded animals of the ancient continent we may add the four-handed animals of the new, which use their hands like the former as well as their tails, and which fill up the chasm between the monkey tribe and the lower orders of the forest. As the maki kind in some measure seem to unite the fox and the monkey in their figure and size, so these seem to unite the monkey and the rat. They are all less than the former: they have long tails, almost bare of hair; and their fur as well as their shape seem to place them near the rat kind. Some have accordingly ranked them in that class; but their being four-handed is a sufficient reason for placing them in the rear of the monkeys

The first and the most remarkable of this tribe is the "opossum," an animal found both in North and South America, of the size of a small cat. The head resembles that of a fox; it has fifty teeth in all, but two great ones in the midst like those of a rat. The eyes are little, round, clear, lively, and placed upright; the ears are long, broad, and transparent, like those of the rat kind; its tail also increases the similitude, being round, long, a little hairy in the beginning, but quite naked towards the end. The fore-legs are short, being about three inches long, while those behind are about four. The feet are like hands, each having five toes or fingers, with white, crooked nails, and rather longer behind than before. But it is particular in this animal that the thumb on the hinder-legs wants a nail, whereas the fingers are furnished with clawed nails as usual.

But that which distinguishes this animal from all others, and what has excited the wonder of mankind for more than two centuries, is the extraordinary conformation of its belly, as it is found to have a false womb, into which the young, when brought forth in the usual manner, creep, and continue for some days longer to lodge and suckle securely. This bag, if we may so call it, being one of the most extraordinary things in natural history, requires a more minute description. Under the belly of the female is a kind of slit or opening of about three inches long; this opening is composed of a skin, which makes a bag internally, and which is covered on the inside with hair; in this bag are the teats of the female, and into it the young when brought forth retire, either to suckle or to escape from danger. This bag has a power of opening and shutting at the will of the animal; and this is performed by means of several muscles and two bones, which are fitted for this purpose, and which are peculiar to this animal only. These two bones are placed before the "os pubis," to which they are joined at the base; they are about two inches long, and grow smaller and smaller to their extremities. These support the muscles that serve to open the bag, and give them a fixture. To these muscles there are antagonists, that serve in the same manner to shut the bag; and this they perform so exactly, that in the living animal the opening can scarce be discerned, except when the sides are forcibly drawn asunder. The inside of this bag is furnished with glands, that exude a musky substance, which communicates to the flesh of the animal and renders it unfit to be eaten. It is not to be supposed that this is the place where the young are conceived, as some have been led to imagine; for the opossum has another womb, like that of the generality of animals, in which generation is performed in the ordinary manner. The bag we have been describing may rather be considered as a supplementary womb. In the real womb the little animal is partly brought to perfection; in the ordinary one, it receives a kind of additional incubation, and acquires at last strength enough to follow the dam wherever she goes. We have many reasons to suppose that the young of this animal are all brought forth prematurely, or before they have acquired that degree of perfection which is common in other quadrupeds. The little ones when

first produced are in a manner but half completed, and some travellers assert that they are at that time not much larger than flies. We are assured, also, that immediately on quitting the real womb they creep into the false one, where they continue fixed to the teat, until they have strength sufficient to venture once more into the open air, and share the fatigues of the parent. Ulloa assures us that he has found five of these little creatures hidden in the belly of the dam three days after she was dead, still alive, and all clinging to the teat with great avidity. It is probable, therefore, that upon their first entering the false womb they seldom stir out from thence; but when more advanced they venture forth several times in the day, and, at last, seldom make use of their retreat except in cases of necessity or danger. Travellers are not agreed in their accounts of the time which these animals take to continue in the false womb; some assure us they remain there for several weeks; and others, more precisely, mention a month. During this period of strange gestation there is no difficulty in opening the bag in which they are concealed; they may be reckoned, examined, and handled without much inconvenience; for they keep fixed to the teat, and cliug there as firmly as if they made a part of the body of the animal that bears them. When they are grown stronger they drop from the teat into the bag in which they are contained; and at last find their way out in search of more copious subsistence. Still, however, the false belly serves them for a retreat, either when they want to sleep or to suckle, or when they are pursued by an enemy. The dam on such occasions opens her bag to receive them, which they enter.

The opossum when on the ground is a slow, helpless animal; the formation of its hands are alone sufficient to show its incapacity for running with any degree of swiftness; but to counterbalance this inconvenience it climbs trees with great ease and expedition. It chiefly subsists upon birds, and hides among the leaves of the trees to seize them by surprise. It often also hangs by the tail, which is long and muscular; and in this situation, for hours together, with the head downwards, it keeps watching for its prey. If any lesser animal which it is able to overcome passes underneath, it drops upon it with deadly aim, and quickly devours it. By means of its tail the opossum also flings from one tree to another, hunts insects, escapes its pursuers, and provides for its safety. It seems to be a creature that lives upon vegetables, as well as animal substances, roots, sugar-canes, the bark, and even the leaves, of trees. It is easily tamed, but it is a disagreeable domestic, as well from its stupidity and figure as its scent, which, however fragrant in small quantities, fails not to be ungrateful when copiously supplied.

An animal greatly resembling the former is the "marmose," which is found in the same continent. It seems only to differ in size, being less; and, instead of a bag to receive its young, has only two longitudinal folds near the thighs, within which the young, which are prematurely brought forth, as in the last instance, continue to suckle. The young of these when first produced are not above the size of a bean, but continue sticking to the teat until they have arrived at greater maturity.

The "cayopolin" is somewhat larger than the former, and a good deal resembling it in habits and figure, except that its snout is more pointed, its tail is longer in proportion, and its colour is different, being of an ash, somewhat inclining to yellow; however, I should suppose it to be only a variety of the former.

To this number we may add the "phalanger," so called by Mr. Buffon-a good deal resembling the former, but distinguished by the fashion of its hinder hands, the thumb and fore-finger being joined together except at the extremities. This animal is about the size of a rat, and has been called the "rat of Surinam."