. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE MARIMONDA. 21 unconsciously draws a parallel between these monkeys and the long legged spiders that scuttle so awkwardly over the ground, and are so indififerent respecting their complement of legs. The resemblance holds good even when the monkey is at rest, or when it only appears before the eye in an illustration. But when the creature begins to walk on level ground, and especially if it be hurried, its clumsy movements are so very spider-like, that the similitude is ten times more striking. Be it remarked, that both creatures are supposed to be p
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE MARIMONDA. 21 unconsciously draws a parallel between these monkeys and the long legged spiders that scuttle so awkwardly over the ground, and are so indififerent respecting their complement of legs. The resemblance holds good even when the monkey is at rest, or when it only appears before the eye in an illustration. But when the creature begins to walk on level ground, and especially if it be hurried, its clumsy movements are so very spider-like, that the similitude is ten times more striking. Be it remarked, that both creatures are supposed to be placed in uncongenial circumstances. The spider is deft and active enough among the many threads of its air-suspended nets, as is the monkey among the slight twigs of the air-bathed branches. But when both animals are subjected to circumstances which are directly opposed to their natural mode of existence, they become alike awkward, and alike afford subjects of MARIMONDA.â(Ateles Behebuth.) The mode by which a Spider Monkey walks on level ground is rather singular, and difficult to describe, being different from that which is employed by the large apes. They do not set the sole of either paw, or hand, flat upon the ground, but, turning the hinder feet inwards, they walk upon their outer sides. The reverse process takes place with the fore-paws, which are twisted outwards, so. that the weight of the animal is thrown upon their inner edges. It will easily be seen how very awkward an animal must be which is forced to employ so complicated a means for the purpose of locomotion. Although the Spider Monkey has been known to walk in a manner much more steady than that of any other monkey, yet this bipedal progression was only em- ployed for a few paces, and with a haven of rest in view in the shape of a window-sill, on v^hich the creature could rest its hands. The tail is also curled over the head, like the letter S, by way of a balance. â â ,â¢/. Please note that these im
Size: 1725px × 1449px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
