Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
May 26, 1791
Primary Source Reference:
Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia), 26 May 1791
Additional Source Text:
"It is the smallest species of the Monkey, being no bigger than a large rat. What is wonderful in this little animal is that it hath a soft whistling note, something resembling the singing of a Canary bird."
In his Natural History Lecture No. 1 (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University), Peale wrote: Little Lyon Monkey, is I believe the smallest of Monkies – It is called Tamarin in Cayenne, where it is a Native. Bedipus Linn. Cinche, N[ouvelle] Enc[yclopédie] Méth[odique] it is a species of the Little Lyon Monkey brought from Carthagene – Its voice also resembled the Chirping notes of the bird – and its nails is sharpe pointed. The face, neck & Ears black – The head is covered with long fine white hair – the hair on its back is long & soft, of a brown colour – that on the tail is more of a Russet colour except toward the end, it inclines to black. I had it alive, it was an affectionate and interesting Animal but unable to bear the least cold, but if they attempt to bite their jaws are so feeble that they hurt no more than the bill of the Sparrow."
In his Walk through the Philad[elphi]a Museum (1805-1806), p. 11, Peale wrote: "It is not only curious in size and figure, but its voice is a sort of whistling not much unlike the notes of small Birds."
Also listed in the General Advertiser (Philadelphia), 26 May 1791; Independent Gazetteer (Philadelphia), 28 May 1791; Osborne's New-Hampshire Spy, 8 Jun 1791; and Maryland Gazette (Annapolis), 9 June 1791
Notes:
Little Lion Monkey is the name given in 1750 by George Edwards to the cotton-top, or Pinché tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) in A Natural History of Uncommon Birds: And of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals, Quadrupedes, Fishes, Reptiles, Insects, &c., Part 3 (London, 1750), p. 195 and plate following (pictured here). See also Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon, Histoire naturelle, générale et particuliere (Paris, 1785-1791), 7: 261-263 ("Le Pinché").
The cotton-top tamarin vocalizes with bird-like whistles, soft chirping sounds, high-pitched trilling, and staccato calls.
Specimen Type:
Live (presumably eventually taxidermied/preserved)
Peale's Common Name:
Little lion monkey
Current Common Name:
Cotton-top tamarin
Current Scientific Name
Saguinus oedipus
