Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/102

* MABMOSA. 82 Its navigation is not difficult and it is a great avenue of conimerce. It contains many islands, of which the largest is Marmora or iMarniara, famous for its marble quarries. MARMOSET (OF. marmoset, marmoiisct, Vv. mannousvt, puppet, from JIL. muniioiitiini, marble figure, from Lat. marmor, tik. napfiapoi, marmaros, marble, from impimlpuv, mnrmaircin, to sparkle). One of the small :uul jirptty Ameri- can monkeys of the family Hapa!id;c. These lit- tle creatures are distinguished from all other American monkeys by several features besides their diminutive size, long hind legs, Umg fur, and penciled ears. Their dentition is like that of the Old World monkeys in that it comprises only 'i'i teeth, without the four "wisdom' molars possessed by the t'ebidae. (See Mo.nkky. I Their thumbs are not opposable, their nails are in the form of claws., and their tails (which are lung and bushy) are not prehensile. These and other characters place them at the foot of the scale of the monkeys, and next to the lemurs. They are arboreal in habits and climb about in small parties in search of fruit and in.sects, much as squirrels do; and they habitually produce two or three young at a birth instead of one, as is usual with higher monkeys. Two genera are estab- lished, one the typical marmosets or "ouistitis' (Hapale). and the other the silky marmusets or 'tamarins' (Midas). Of the former, the com- mon ouistiti (Hapale jacchus) of Brazil is a familiar pet throughout tropical .America, and is often brought to the United States or taken to Europe, but rarely survives even the first northern winter. It is not larger than a half-grown kitten, and is usually black- ish, with the hack and thighs banded with gray, and two great tufts of hair on the ears pure white; the tail is ringed with black and gray. Several other sjiecics and va- rieties are known, some of which arc varicolored, and others pure white. The smallest, and one of the most widely distributed, is only seven inches long. The tamarins or marmosets of the genus Midas differ in ilentition and also in the absence of tufts on the ears, and the rings of color on the tail. Like the others, they are eonunon jx-ts in South and Central .Xmerica, and some kinds stray as far north as Central Mexico. Several species are well known, especially the negro tainarin i Midiis iirxiiliix) of the lower .maziiM Valley; the queer little pinche (Miilns fT-V/i/ii/.s) of the Isthmus, which has a great growth of white hair on the bead; and the silky marmoset, or "marikina' I Midnx rnmilin), which is clothed in long silky hair of a golilen hue; this hair forms a long mane on the head and neck, giving the name 'lion monkey' to some varieties. This species is often seen in menageries, and is a common pet in its own country. Consult authori- ties mentioned under MoxkeV; especially Hates, .•t ynturalim tin Ihr Hirer .ImnroH (London, 1802). See Plate of .American Monkey.s. MARMOT (Fr. mnrmotlr, from Tt. mnrmotta. mnrnifiiilinifi. frpm Rumanian murmnni, from OH<i. murmuulo. Oer. Vtirmrl, from ML. iiii/.i monlanun. mountain mni«e. nmrniot). A genus of rodents (Aretomys) of the ground squirrel UE.N'TITION or THE MABM08ET8. MARNIAN EPOCH. family. They resemble squirrels in their denti- tion, although in their form and habits they more resemble rats and mice. The animal to which the term (now little used) was first applied was the common species (Arctumys alpimis) of the moun- tains of Kurope. It is about the size of a rabbit, grayish yellow, brown toward the head. It feeds on roots, leaves, insects, and the like, is gregari- ous, and often lives in large societies. It digs large burrows with several chambers and two entrances, generally on the slopes of the moun- tains, where the marmots may be seen sporting and basking in the siuishine during the fine weather of suunncr. They spend the winter in their burrows, in one chamber of which is a store of dried grass; but the greater part of the winter is [xisscd in torpiditj-. The alpine marmot is easily tamed. These features and habits are characteristic of the group. A half dozen other species occur in Europe. Asia, and North Amer- ica. The best known American species are the woodcbuik and its larger relative of the Rocky .l(MnilMiri>. See WiIISTLEK; WooDCIIlCK. MARMOUSETS, miir'moo'za' (Fr., little men). . name given in contempt to the coun- cilors of t liarlcs '. and Charles VI. of France (q.v. ). They were for the most part members of the lesser nobility or of the citizen cla.ss and were despised by his uncles, who governed the kingdom during the minority of Charles. MARNE, niiirn (Lat. Malrona). A river of Franci'. llic principal tributary of the Seine (Map: France, K 2). It rises in the Plateau of Lungrcs, tlijws first northwest, then westward, with iii;iny windings through the departments of llautc-.l;irne. .Iarne, .Visiic, ;uul Seine-et-.Marne, passes CbauiMont, Saint-Dizier, CliAloiis, I'^pernay, and Mcaux. and joins the Seine at Charenton, about four miles above Paris. Its length is .'ViS miles, and it is navigable for 221! miles to Saint- Dizier. It is a rather rapid stream, supplying power to a number of mills. Its large trallie has been extended by means of canals, of which the most important is the Marne-Rhine Canal, which extends lil5 miles from Vitry to Strasshurg. pass- ing Ihniugh several tunnels. MARNE. . inland department in the north- cast iif France, part of the old Province of Champagiu'. extending southward from the fron- tier dep:irtinent of .rdennes (Map: Fr;inie. K 3). Area, .31:>!) sqiiarc miles. The department is traversed by the Marne River. The soil is very fertile in the south, but chalky and arid in the north; on this dry and chalky soil, however, the best grapes for champagne wine are grown, •■specially in the neighborhood of Kpernay and .vizc and between the M;irne and the Veslc. Cotton, niet:il. and woolen manufactures are largelv I'lirried on. Capitiil. ChAlons. Popula- tion, in ISltC, 4,3n,.i77; in 1901. 4,32,882. MARNE, H.M'TE. A department of Friince. Sei' II.M tk-Mahnk. MAR'NIAN EPOCH. The name applied to the second Iron .ge. or culture stage of Europe. It is so {'ailed from the I>epartment of Marne, in Northeastern France; also termed La T?ne Period, from a station of that name in Switzer- land. It lasted until the first century n.c. in France. Rohemia, and England, and until the tenth century A.n. in Scandinavia. Tt corre- sponds with the late Celtic of English areh.ToIo- gists. The Marnian or La T&ne culture probably