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diff --git a/43991-0.txt b/43991-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5483195 --- /dev/null +++ b/43991-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9913 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43991 *** + +Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they +are listed at the end of the text. + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). A carat character +is used to denote superscription: a single character following the carat is +superscripted (example: A^4). + +Page numbers enclosed by curly braces (example: {25}) have been +incorporated to facilitate the use of the Alphabetical Index (in Volume +II.). + +Project Gutenberg has the other volume of this work. +Volume II: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43992 + + + * * * * * + + + + +_ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY._ + +EDITED BY R. BOWDLER SHARPE, LL.D., F.L.S., ETC. + +A HAND-BOOK +TO THE +PRIMATES. + +BY +HENRY O. FORBES, LL.D., F.Z.S., ETC., +DIRECTOR OF MUSEUMS, LIVERPOOL, +_Author of "A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago," +etc., etc., etc._ + +_VOL. I._ + +LONDON: +W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED, +13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. +1894. + + + +PREFACE. + + +The great increase in our knowledge of animals which has taken place since +the volume on Monkeys was published in "Jardine's Naturalist's Library" +some sixty years ago, cannot be better illustrated than by the fact that +our excellent contributor, Dr. H. O. Forbes, has found it impossible to +compress that knowledge into a single volume of the present issue. There +is, moreover, no Museum which contains such a complete series of skins of +the Primates, as to render a perfect "monograph" of the Order possible. Dr. +Forbes has endeavoured in these volumes to bring the subject up to date, +and has devoted some years of study to the two which now appear under his +name, and he has had the great advantage of having seen many of the species +of which these volumes treat, in a state of nature. If diligent research +and patient work, combined with a sound anatomical knowledge and an +acquaintance with many species of Monkeys in their natural habitat, avail +anything, then these volumes should present to the student a more concise +epitome of the characteristics of the Primates than any other essay yet +offered to the public. It has been found impossible to reproduce any of the +plates in the old "Naturalist's Library" of Jardine. They would have +formed, with appropriate inscriptions, a very good instalment of a series +of "Comic Natural History" volumes, as they were, in fact, nothing but a +set of extraordinary caricatures of Monkeys. I have, therefore, again to +acknowledge the liberality of the publishers, in adopting my suggestion +that a perfectly new set of illustrations should be prepared. These have +been executed by Mr. J. G. Keulemans, with a result, I hope, that will +satisfy the reader. + +R. BOWDLER SHARPE. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +In the first volume will be found an account of the _Lemuroidea_, and the +_Anthropoidea_ as far as the group of the Macaques of the family +_Cercopithecidæ_. The second volume continues with the latter genus, and +contains the rest of the Monkeys, and the Apes, as well as a summary of the +geographical distribution of the species of the Order Primates. + +I have not attempted to write a complete synonymy of the species of +Monkeys. The literature is scattered over many, often obscure, periodicals, +and without seeing the actual specimens described by some of the older +writers, it would be easy to introduce a great deal of confusion into the +synonymy. I have, therefore, only attempted to give the principal +references. + +I must express my obligation to Dr. Günther, F.R.S., the Keeper of the +Zoological Department in the British Museum, for the facilities of study +afforded to me in that institution. To Mr. Oldfield Thomas I am likewise +greatly indebted for much assistance, and for many a kindly hint. + +Dr. Forsyth Major, who is well-known as one of the foremost authorities on +the Lemurs, not only gave me valuable information as to the species and +literature of the _Lemuroidea_, but was even so good as to furnish me with +the descriptions of several new species. + +Lastly, to my friend the Editor, I have to return my sincere thanks for the +patience with which he has revised my MSS., and for the verification of +numbers of references, only to be found in the great libraries of London, +and inaccessible to an author dwelling in the provinces. + +HENRY O. FORBES. + + + + +SYSTEMATIC INDEX. + + + + PAGE + ORDER PRIMATES 1 + + SUB-ORDER I. LEMUROIDEA 8 + + FAMILY I. CHIROMYIDÆ 14 + + I. CHIROMYS, Cuvier 14 + 1. madagascariensis (Gm.) 14 + + FAMILY II. TARSIIDÆ 18 + + I. TARSIUS, Storr. 18 + 1. tarsius (Erxl.) 20, 286 + 2. fuscus, Fischer 21 + + FAMILY III. LEMURIDÆ 22 + + SUB-FAMILY I. LORISINÆ 24 + + I. PERODICTICUS, Bennett 26 + 1. calabarensis, Smith 27 + 2. potto (Geoffr.) 28 + + II. LORIS, Geoffr. 31 + 1. gracilis, Geoffr. 31 + + III. NYCTICEBUS, Geoffr. 33 + 1. tardigradus (Linn.) 33, 286 + + SUB-FAMILY II. GALAGINÆ 37 + + I. GALAGO, Geoffr. 38 + 1. garnetti (Ogilby) 40 + 2. senegalensis, Geoffr. 41 + 3. alleni, Waterh. 43 + 4. demidoffi, Fischer 44 + 5. monteiri, Bartlett 46 + 6. crassicaudata, Geoffr. 47 + + II. CHIROGALE, Geoffr. 49 + 1. milii, Geoffr. 50 + 2. melanotis, Forsyth Major 51 + 3. trichotis, Günth. 52 + 4. crossleyi, Grandid. 53 + + III. MICROCEBUS, Geoffr. 54 + 1. minor (Gray) 55 + 2. myoxinus, Peters 56 + 3. smithii (Gray) 57 + 4. furcifer (Blainv.) 59 + 5. coquereli (Grandid.) 60 + + IV. OPOLEMUR, Gray 61 + 1. samati (Grandid.) 62 + 2. thomasi, Forsyth Major 63 + + SUB-FAMILY III. LEMURINÆ 64 + + I. LEMUR, Linn. 65 + 1. varius, Is. Geoffr. 68 + 2. macaco, Linn. 69 + 3. mongoz, Linn. 71 + [alpha]. rufipes 72 + [beta]. rufifrons 72 + [gamma]. cinereiceps 72 + [delta]. collaris 72 + [epsilon]. rufus 73 + [zeta]. nigrifrons 73 + [eta]. albifrons 73 + 4. nigerrimus, Scl. 73 + 5. albimanus, Is. Geoffr. 74 + 6. coronatus, Gray 75 + 7. rubriventer, Is. Geoffr. 76 + 8. catta, Linn. 76 + + II. MIXOCEBUS, Peters 78 + 1. caniceps, Peters 78 + + III. HAPALEMUR, Is. Geoffr. 79 + 1. griseus (Geoffr.) 81 + 2. simus, Gray 82 + + IV. LEPIDOLEMUR, Is. Geoffr. 83 + + _Section A.--Species Majores._ + 1. mustelinus, Is. Geoffr. 86 + 2. ruficaudatus, Grandid. 86 + 3. edwardsi, Forsyth Major 87 + 4. microdon, Forsyth Major 88 + + _Section B.--Species Minores._ + 5. globiceps, Forsyth Major 89 + 6. grandidieri, Forsyth Major 89 + 7. leucopus, Forsyth Major 89 + + SUB-FAMILY IV. INDRISINÆ 90 + + I. AVAHIS, Jourdan 94 + 1. laniger (Gm.) 94 + + II. PROPITHECUS, Bennett 96 + 1. diadema, Bennett 98 + [alpha]. sericeus 99 + [beta]. edwardsi 99 + 2. verreauxi, Grandid. 100 + [alpha]. deckeni 101 + [beta]. coquereli 102 + 2a. majori, Rothschild 286 + 3. coronatus, Milne-Edwards 102 + + III. INDRIS, Cuv. et Geoffr. 105 + 1. brevicaudatus, Geoffr. 105 + + EXTINCT LEMUROIDEA 110 + + FAMILY I. MEGALADAPIDÆ 112 + 1. Megaladapis, Forsyth Major 112 + + FAMILY LEMURIDÆ 22, 114 + + FAMILY ANAPTOMORPHIDÆ 114 + 1. Microchærus, Wood 115 + 2. Mixodectes, Cope 116 + 3. Cynodontomys, Cope 116 + 4. Omomys, Leidy 117 + 5. Anaptomorphus, Cope 117 + + FAMILY ADAPIDÆ 119 + 1. Adapis, Cuvier 120 + 2. Tomitherium, Cope 120 + 3. Laopithecus, Marsh 121 + 4. Pelycodus, Cope 121 + 5. Microsyops, Leidy 122 + 6. Hyopsodus, Leidy 123 + + SUB-ORDER II.--ANTHROPOIDEA 123 + + FAMILY I. HAPALIDÆ 129 + + I. HAPALE, Illig. 131 + 1. jacchus (Linn.) 132 + 2. humeralifer, Geoffr. 133 + 3. aurita (Geoffr.) 133 + 4. leucopus, Günther 134 + 5. chrysoleuca, Wagn. 135 + 6. pygmæa (Spix) 135 + 7. melanura (Geoffr.) 136 + + II. MIDAS, Geoffr. 138 + 1. rosalia (Linn.) 138 + 2. geoffroyi (Pucher.) 139 + 3. oedipus (Linn.) 140 + 4. labiatus, Geoffr. 141 + 5. rufiventer, Gray 142 + [alpha]. mystax, Spix 142 + [beta]. pileatus, Is. Geoffr. 143 + 6. weddelli, Deville 143 + 7. nigrifrons, Geoffr. 143 + 8. fuscicollis, Spix 144 + 9. chrysopygus (Wagner) 144 + 10. nigricollis, Spix 145 + 11. illigeri (Pucher.) 145 + 12. bicolor, Spix 147 + 13. midas (Linn.) 148 + 14. ursulus, Geoffr. 148 + + FAMILY II. CEBIDÆ 150 + + SUB-FAMILY I. NYCTIPITHECINÆ 152 + + I. CHRYSOTHRIX, Kaup 152 + 1. usta (Is. Geoffr.) 154 + 2. entomophaga (d'Orb.) 155 + 3. sciurea (Linn.) 156 + 4. oerstedi, Reinh. 158 + + II. CALLITHRIX, Geoffr. 158 + 1. torquata (Hoffm.) 159 + 2. cuprea, Spix 160 + 3. amicta (Humb.) 161 + 4. cinerascens, Spix 161 + 5. moloch (Hoffm.) 162 + 6. ornata, Gray 162 + 7. personata, Geoffr. 163 + 8. nigrifrons, Spix 164 + 9. castaneiventris, Gray 164 + 10. melanochir, Neuwied 165 + 11. gigot, Spix 165 + + III. NYCTIPITHECUS, Spix 166 + 1. trivirgatus (Humb.) 168 + 2. lemurinus, Is. Geoffr. 168 + 3. rufipes, Sclater 169 + 4. azaræ (Humb.) 170 + 5. felinus, Spix 170 + + SUB-FAMILY II. PITHECIINÆ 173 + + I. BRACHYURUS, Spix 174 + 1. melanocephalus (Humb.) 175 + 2. rubicundus, Is. Geoffr. 176 + 3. calvus, Is. Geoffr. 177 + + II. PITHECIA, Geoffr. 182 + 1. monachus, Humb. and Bonpl. 182 + 2. pithecia (Linn.) 185 + 3. satanas (Hoffm.) 186 + 4. chiropotes (Humb.) 187 + 5. albinasa, Is. Geoffr. 188 + + SUB-FAMILY MYCETINÆ 189 + + I. ALOUATTA, Lacép. 192 + 1. seniculus, Linn. 192 + 2. nigra (Geoffr.) 195 + 3. beelzebul (L.) 197 + 4. ursina (Humb.) 198 + 5. villosa (Gray) 199 + 6. palliata (Gray) 202 + + SUB-FAMILY CEBINÆ 204 + + I. CEBUS, Erxl. 204 + 1. hypoleucus (Humb.) 207 + 2. lunatus, F. Cuv. 208 + 3. flavus, Geoffr. 208 + 4. monachus, F. Cuv. 209 + 5. fatuellus (Linn.) 211 + 6. variegatus, Geoffr. 211 + 7. cirrifer, Geoffr. 212 + 8. robustus, Kuhl. 212 + 9. annellatus, Gray 213 + 10. albifrons (Humb.) 213 + 11. capucinus (Linn.) 215 + 12. vellerosus, Is. Geoffr. 217 + 13. flavescens, Gray 217 + 14. chrysopus, F. Cuv. 218 + 15. subcristatus, Gray 218 + 16. capillatus, Gray 219 + 17. azaræ, Rennger 219 + 18. fallax, Schl. 220 + + II. LAGOTHRIX, Geoffr. 220 + 1. lagothrix (Humb.) 222 + 2. infumatus (Spix) 223 + + III. BRACHYTELES, Spix 224 + 1. arachnoides (Geoffr.) 226 + + IV. ATELES, Geoffr. 227 + 1. variegatus, Wagner 231 + 2. geoffroyi, Kuhl 233 + 3. rufiventris, Scl. 236 + 4. paniscus (Linn.) 237 + 5. marginatus, Kuhl 239 + 6. ater, F. Cuv. 241 + 7. grisescens, Gray 242 + 8. fusciceps, Gray 242 + 9. cucullatus, Gray 243 + 10. vellerosus, Gray 244 + + FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDÆ 249 + + SUB-FAMILY CERCOPITHECINÆ 252 + + I. PAPIO, Erxl. 253 + 1. maimon (Linn.) 258 + 2. leucophæus (F. Cuv.) 260 + 3. doguera (Pucher. and Schimp.) 262 + 4. porcarius (Bodd.) 263 + 5. babouin (Desm.) 265 + 6. anubis (F. Cuv. and Geoffr.) 266 + 7. thoth (Ogilby) 268 + 8. ibeanus, Thomas 269 + 9. sphynx (Geoffr.) 269 + 10. hamadryas (Linn.) 272 + 11. langheldi, Matschie 275 + + II. THEROPITHECUS, Is. Geoffr. 276 + 1. gelada (Rüpp.) 276 + 2. obscurus, Hengl. 278 + + III. CYNOPITHECUS, Is. Geoffr. 280 + 1. niger (Desm.) 281 + + + + +LIST OF PLATES. + + + I.--Aye-Aye _Chiromys madagascariensis._ + II.--Spectral Tarsier _Tarsius tarsius._ + III.--Javan Slow-Loris _Nycticebus tardigradus._ + IV.--Allen's Galago _Galago alleni._ + V.--Black-eared Mouse-Lemur _Chirogale melanotis._ + VI.--Smith's Dwarf-Lemur _Microcebus smithii._ + VII.--Red-ruffed Lemur _Lemur ruber._ + VIII.--Grey Gentle-Lemur _Hapalemur griseus._ + IX.--White-footed Sportive-Lemur _Lepidolemur leucopus._ + X.--Woolly Avahi _Avahis laniger._ + XI.--Coquerel's Sifaka _Propithecus coquereli._ + XII.--Endrina _Indris brevicaudatus._ + XIII.--Geoffroy's Tamarin _Midas geoffroyi._ + XIV.--Red Titi _Callithrix cuprea._ + XV.--Red-footed Douroucouli or + Night-Monkey _Nyctipithecus rufipes._ + XVI.--Bald Uakari _Brachyurus calvus._ + XVII.--White-nosed Saki _Pithecia albinasa._ + XVIII.--Red Howler _Alouatta senicula._ + XIX.--Smooth-headed Capuchin _Cebus monachus._ + XX.--Humboldt's Woolly-Monkey _Lagothrix lagothrix._ + XXI.--Variegated Spider-Monkey _Ateles variegatus._ + XXII.--Drill _Papio leucophæus._ + + + + +{1}_ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY._ + +MAMMALS. + + + + +ORDER PRIMATES. + +LEMURS, MONKEYS AND APES. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +Of the varied forms of animal life that people the globe, those that +possess a back-bone and two pairs of limbs (the VERTEBRATA) are considered +the highest in the scale. Of the _Vertebrata_, those are held to be of +superior organisation which possess warm red blood and suckle their young +with milk from the breast (_i.e._, MAMMALIA). Our present volume deals with +the highest and most specialised group of the Mammalia, and, therefore, of +the whole Animal Kingdom. + +Man, in respect of his mental endowments, stands alone and unapproachable +among living creatures. Considered as to his "place in nature," however, he +must be described as an erect-walking Mammal, possessing anterior +extremities developed into hands of great perfection, for exclusive use as +tactile and grasping organs, and posterior limbs, on which his body is +perfectly balanced and entirely supported, exclusively devoted to +locomotion, as well as highly specialised cerebral characters. These +attributes in part constitute the standard by which we estimate superiority +in animal structure, and fitness of adaptation. + +Notwithstanding the numerous varieties and races of {2}mankind distributed +over every region of the globe, each exhibiting differences in habits, +customs and superficial complexion, Man forms but one species, _Homo +sapiens_, the sole representative of the unique genus of his family. Though +the genus _Homo_ is thus far apparently zoologically isolated, there is a +remarkable group of animals, which we designate "Apes," and which, +possessing many of the same structural characters more or less modified, +stand apart from all the other Mammalia, and make a distinct approach to +Man. Between Man, however, and the Apes, even the untrained eye at once +perceives, amid obvious marks of inferiority, unmistakable resemblances, +while anatomical investigations reveal that "the points in which Man +differs from the Apes most nearly resembling him, are not of greater +importance than those in which the Ape differs from other and universally +acknowledged members of the group." (_Flower_ and _Lydekker_.) The Apes, on +the other hand, are so nearly related to the Monkeys, the Baboons and the +Marmosets, by characters which insensibly merge into each other that they, +along with Man, must logically be embraced in the same zoological division. +The animals known to us as Lemurs, called by the Germans "Half-Apes" and by +the French "False-Monkeys," are the nearest to the Apes and Man of all the +remaining Mammals, though there are many points of divergence from the +above-named groups. The Lemurs, in fact, exhibit considerable affinity to +lower forms of Mammalia, especially to the Insectivora, but in internal +structure and habit they approach the Anthropiform[1] group just referred +to--in the flattened form of the digits, the opposable great toe, with its +ankle-bone (the ento-cuneiform) rounded for its articulation, as in the +higher Apes and Man. + +{3}The Lemurs have, by many distinguished naturalists, been relegated to a +distinct Order quite separate from the latter; but by such pre-eminent +authorities as Linnæus, Lesson, Huxley, Broca and Flower, they have been +assigned a subordinate position within that great Order, on which has been +conferred the rank of the Primates of the Animal Kingdom. + +The Order PRIMATES, therefore, comprises two very homogeneous +sub-orders--(1) The Lemur-like animals (LEMUROIDEA) including the Aye-Aye, +the Tarsier, and the True Lemurs; and (2) the Man-like animals (the +ANTHROPOIDEA), which embrace the Marmosets, the Baboons, the great Apes, +and Man. + +In common with all other Mammals, the Primates are furnished with an +epidermal covering, which, except in Man, consists of a woolly or hairy +fur. They possess four limbs and a tail, which may be long, short, or +concealed, and which is often used as a prehensile organ. The young are +born in a condition of greater or less helplessness, with their eyes, as a +rule, unopened, and the framework of their bodies incompletely ossified, +and consequently requiring protective care and entire nourishment from the +mother, for a considerable period. At maturity this skeleton consists of a +skull, a breast- and a back-bone of many pieces, ribs, jointed limbs, and a +pair of collar-bones. As a knowledge of many of these bones and some of the +more prominent organs of the body are necessary for an accurate +comprehension of the description and classification of the animals +discussed in this volume, a few of the more important must be briefly +referred to. + +The _cranium_, formed of many bones firmly united together, consists of a +cerebral region, or box, containing and guarding the brain, and a facial +region, in which are situated, besides the mouth, the organs of sight and +smell. The bones connected with the {4}mouth are the two maxillæ, along the +margins of which are placed the grinding- or cheek-teeth; the two +pre-maxillæ, in which are set the cutting- and the eye-teeth; and lastly, +the palatine bones which form the roof of the mouth. Hinged on to the sides +of the cranium is the toothed mandible, or lower jaw, composed of two +halves, which may be solidly or loosely joined together in the mid-line, or +symphysis. Along the under surface of the skull, there are, besides the +great (often posterior) orifice for the entrance of the spinal cord, +numerous _foramina_, or openings, for the passage of blood-vessels for the +nourishment of the brain, and of nerves which bring all parts of the body +into relation with the supreme directing centre. Conspicuous near its +posterior part, on each side, is an ivory-like capsule, the periotic bone, +containing the essential organ of hearing. Lying beneath the lower jaw is +the hyoid arch, a slender framework of bones, supporting the tongue and the +upper end of the windpipe with the organ of voice. In a few of the Monkeys +and Apes certain of the bones of this arch are much enlarged and hollowed +for increasing the volume of sound emitted by them. On either side of the +great opening which is so conspicuous at the hinder part of the skull, for +the reception of the spinal cord, is a smooth kidney-shaped surface, called +a "condyle." These two condyles serve for the articulation of the first +segment of the back-bone to the cranium, and by the possession of this pair +of condyles the Mammalian skull can always be distinguished from that of +Birds and Reptiles. The pieces of which the back-bone are composed are +named the _vertebræ_. Those of the neck, the "cervical" vertebræ, are +recognised by having no true ribs attached to them, and are, in all +Primates, seven in number. Those of the back, or "dorsal" vertebræ, may be +distinguished by having articulated to them, on each side, {5}a movable +rib, the other end of which is attached to the breast-bone; they follow +next to the cervical vertebræ, while to them succeed the "lumbar" vertebræ +which carry no complete ribs. The dorsal and lumbar segments vary in +number, but together they rarely exceed seventeen. Behind these extend the +"sacral" vertebræ--completely ossified together, and lastly, the bones of +the tail or "caudal" vertebræ, which may be many or few, according to the +length of that appendage. + +The fore-limb is composed of three segments, the arm, fore-arm, and hand, +together with a block by which it is attached to the side of the body. To +this block--the blade-bone or _scapula_--is articulated the arm-bone, or +_humerus_, which at its elbow-joint hinges with the two bones, the _ulna_ +and the _radius_, of the fore-arm, on which in turn the hand is rotated. +The hand is made up of three parts, the wrist-bones, or _carpus_, closely +united together in two transverse rows with a central bone intervening +between them; next the elongated bones of the palm of the hand, or +_metacarpus_, one to each finger, and lastly the _phalanges_, or +finger-bones, three to each digit, except in the thumb, where there are but +two. The hind-limb is formed on exactly the same plan. It has a connecting +block--the pelvis; giving suspension to the thigh, with its single bone, +the _femur_, to which articulates the leg, with two bones (_tibia_ and +_fibula_), and the tripartite foot, composed of _tarsus_, _metatarsus_, and +_phalanges_. + +Of the digestive organs of the Primates the teeth present very important +characters, from the point of view of the classification of the Order. They +differ in form and number, and have distinct functions to perform. The +teeth situated in front are the _incisors_ and _canines_, sharp and +pointed, for seizing, cutting, and holding the food. Behind them come the +{6}_pre-molars_, and still further back the _molars_, both with broad +crowns of complicated tubercles and ridges for milling the hard portions +contained in the food. Animals provided--as all the Primates are--with +these different sorts of teeth, are said to be _Heterodont_,[2] in +contradistinction to forms like the Dolphins and Whales, which are termed +_Homodont_,[3] because the whole of these teeth are of the same pattern. +The Primates are _Diphyodont_[4] as well, because many of their permanent +teeth are preceded by another set, commonly known as the _milk-teeth_. In +order to present to the eye at a glance the number of each sort that any +species possesses, a _dental formula_ has been adopted by naturalists. Such +a formula as I2/2, C1/1, P3/3, M3/3 = 36, indicates that in _one half of +the mouth_, above and below, there are 2 incisors, 1 canine, 3 pre-molars, +and 3 molars = 18; and therefore in the _two halves_ of the mouth together +there are 36 teeth in all. + +The masticated food, partially digested by the saliva of the mouth, +descends the gullet by the muscular contractions of its walls to the +simple, sac-like, stomach, and thence to the intestines. These latter +consist of two portions, one smaller and narrower, nearer to the stomach, +and a second portion further down, larger and wider; the junction of the +two portions being marked by a process of varying length, the _cæcum_. The +stomach and intestines, with other important structures, such as the liver, +kidneys and generative organs, are contained in a lower cavity, separated +by a muscular midriff, the diaphragm, from the upper part or thorax, +containing the blood-purifying and pumping organs, the lungs and the heart. + +{7}The upper part of the windpipe is, in all Primates, modified to form the +larynx, or organ of voice, constituted by fibrous strings stretched across +its orifice, where they may be set in vibration by the air, in its passage +to and from the lungs. + +The brain is relatively large in proportion to the body, and attains in the +higher of the two sub-orders its most perfect development. The main brain +(or cerebral hemispheres), when viewed from above, in size preponderates +over, and conceals (except in the Lemurs) all the other parts of that +organ. The surface of its lateral halves, which are connected by transverse +bands so as to insure harmony of action between them, is marked by fissures +and foldings, or convolutions, which vary in number and complexity, +evidently in relation to the intelligence of the animal. The brain within +the skull gives origin to the nerves for the chief organs of sense; while +from its posterior part it is continued along the back--within a canal +formed by the neural arches of the vertebræ--as the spinal column, from +which arise the rest of the nerves for the body. + +The young of all the Primates are nourished in the mother's womb by the +passage of material from the blood-vessels of the parent through an organ +known as the _placenta_. They are all born in a helpless condition, and +remain unable to look after themselves for a considerable period, during +which they are dependent on the milk secreted on the ventral surface of the +mother by two or four glands, the teats or _mammæ_--those characteristic +organs from which the "Mammalia" have derived their name. These glands are +present in both sexes, but are functional only in the female. + +We shall now proceed to describe more minutely the first of the two +sub-orders of the Primates--the Lemur-like animals. + + +{8}I. THE LEMURS--SUB-ORDER LEMUROIDEA. + +The Aye-Aye, the Tarsier, and the True Lemurs constitute this first +sub-order. They are characterised by having the muzzle long and narrow, +more or less Dog-like in shape, and the upper lip often divided into two by +the nose-pad. The external ears (Fig. 1) are enlarged, with flattened +margins, but have no "hem" as in the higher Anthropoids. (Fig. 2.) + + +[Illustration: Fig. 1. Lemuroid Ear.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 2. Anthropoid Ear.] + + +The trunk is relatively long and compressed, and the tail when long is +never truly prehensile. Of the limbs, the posterior are longer than the +anterior, and all have five digits, each bearing a flat nail except the +second toe, which has invariably a long pointed claw, their tips ending in +prominent discoidal tactile pads. (Fig. 3.) + +Of the digits, the index is sometimes quite rudimentary, while the thumb is +large, and the great toe especially so, both being opposable. Teats occur +on the breast, on the abdomen, or on both. + +Of the skeleton, the eye-sockets, or orbits, are directed forward, and have +complete bony margins, which, however, are not {9}closed in by bone behind +(as in Monkeys), but freely communicating beneath the post-orbital process +(except in _Tarsius_) with the temporal hollow behind. In the young of some +species the orbit is more enclosed than it is in the adult: the orifice for +the lachrymal duct of the eye is placed external to the margin of the +orbit: the hollow for the olfactory lobes of the brain is always large. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3. Foot of _Chirogale trichotis_, Günther. +(P. Z. S., 1875, p. 79.)] + +Having four kinds of teeth, and a set in succession to the milk-teeth, they +are Heterodont and Diphyodont. The dental formula is I2/2, C1/1, P3/3, M3/3 += 36 (_vide_ anteà, p. 6), and the upper jaw has a toothless space in the +centre (except in the Aye-Aye). Of the upper teeth, the _incisors_ are +sometimes absent, but generally present; if unequal in size the inner one +is the larger of the two. The canines are prominent; the pre-molars all +have a _cingulum_, or girdle, round the base, more or less enlarged +backwards into a process ("talon" or "heel"); the anterior pre-molar +vertically long and canine-shaped; the median and posterior with three main +points (tubercles or cusps) and one or two smaller ones on the crown, and +having a bar or ridge uniting the front inner with the hind outer cusp. The +anterior and median _molars_ have three or four main cusps, and one {10}or +two smaller or subsidiary ones on the crown; the cingulum is well +developed. The posterior molars have generally three cusps. + +In the lower jaw the _incisors_ are close-set and comb-like, remarkable for +protruding in front, like the teeth of a Rat or a Rabbit. The _canines_ +also protrude horizontally, and, being placed alongside of the incisors, +are difficult to distinguish from the latter excepting that they are +broader and thicker. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 4. Skull of Lemuroid. + +From Blanford's "Mammalia of British India" (by permission of the author).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 5. Skull of Anthropoid. + +From Blanford's "Mammalia of British India" (by permission of the author).] + + +Of the _pre-molars_ the anterior are canine-shaped, the median and +posterior ones have three main, and one or two subordinate, cusps on the +crowns. In both the upper and lower _molars_, cross-bridges stretch between +the outer and inner front cusps as well as between the outer and inner hind +cusps. {11}There is an oblique ridge between the hind outer and the front +inner cusp, and another is often present between the front outer cusp and +the anterior "heel," producing, as Huxley has pointed out, almost a double +crescentic pattern, as in many lower Mammals. The posterior molar has four +or five cusps. + +Of the _milk-teeth_, the incisors in the upper jaw change first. Of the +molars, two are developed before the change of the pre-molars. In the lower +jaw the incisors change first, and when two or three pre-molars have +developed the last molar has still to come. + +The arm-bone, or _humerus_, has one perforation (_entepicondylar foramen_) +on its inner margin, and another above the joint (except in +_Perodicticus_). The bones of the fore-arm (_radius_ and _ulna_), and those +of the leg (_tibia_ and _fibula_) are not co-ossified (except in +_Tarsius_), so that the palm or sole can be turned up at will. + +The bones of the _digits_ are more or less flat and rounded at the tips +(differing in this respect from the _Insectivora_). One of the ankle-bones, +for the articulation of the opposable great toe, the ento-cuneiform, as it +is called, is rounded, as in the Anthropoid Apes and Man. The thumb is +opposable, but its articulating bone in the wrist is not rounded, except in +_Avahis_ and _Indris_, which genera agree in this respect with +_Anthropopithecus_ and Man. The wrist has its central bone (_os centrale_) +present; it is absent in Man and the higher Apes. + +The knee is free and not united to the side of the body by integument. + +The two halves of the lower jaw are not always co-ossified (as is the case +in the _Anthropoidea_). + +The opening in the base of the skull (the _foramen rotundum_) which +transmits from the brain a branch of the fifth nerve {12}for the upper jaw, +and the sphenoidal fissure, which gives exit to the third, fourth and sixth +cranial nerves, have but one aperture, as in the Rabbit, which belongs to +the _Rodentia_. + +The sacral vertebræ are generally three in number, and the lumbar and +dorsal together vary from nineteen to twenty-three. + +The brain, as Sir William Flower has observed, departs considerably from +the form of what may be called the primatial type, and approaches in form +to that of the carnivorous animals. The hind-brain, or _cerebellum_, is not +completely covered by the cerebrum. The latter has but few convolutions +(indicating a low intelligence), but its posterior lobe is always present, +though more or less rudimentary, and so also are many fissures, which are +characteristic of its surface in the higher Primates. The olfactory lobes +are usually large and not covered by the cerebrum. + +The uterus and structures for the nutrition of the young prior to birth are +low in type, and approximate to the conditions seen in the Pig, the Horse, +the Chevrotains, and the Ruminants. The unborn Lemur is often encased (as +among the Sloths) in a skin-like covering (_epitrichium_) which breaks into +patches before birth. + +The tongue has a horny supplementary under-tongue (_sublingua_) attached +beneath it. The stomach is simple, not formed of several compartments. The +transverse portion of the great intestine is convoluted in a remarkable +manner upon itself, the cæcum also being very large. The main arteries of +the arm and leg break up (as in the Sloths) into an immense number of small +vessels (called _retia mirabilia_) parallel to one another instead of being +simple branching trunks. + +The long tendons of the muscles for flexing the digits (the {13}_flexor +longus digitorum_) differ generally in arrangement from those of the higher +Primates. + +The Lemuroids are of no commercial value to Man. + +As regards their distribution, the _Lemuroidea_ are now absolutely confined +to the Old World, and predominate in the island of Madagascar, where, as M. +Grandidier remarks in his magnificent work on that country, there is +scarcely a little wood in any district in which they are not found. Indeed, +of the nearly seventy species of Mammals inhabiting that island, +thirty-five, or one-half, are Lemurs. Members of the family also occur +across the whole of the neighbouring continent of Africa, but their +northern range does not reach quite to the tropic, whereas it extends some +few degrees beyond it in the Southern Hemisphere. Elsewhere they are +confined to the forests of the Oriental region. More or less isolated in +Southern India, they re-appear in China, and spreading south to Java they +reach as far east as Celebes and the Philippine Islands. The present +isolation of the Lemurs in two such distant areas--in Africa and Madagascar +and some of the Mascarene Islands on the one hand, and in Southern India, +China, Ceylon, and the Malayan Islands on the other--has been considered by +some naturalists as weighty evidence in favour of a former land connection +between these distant regions. + +Though so restricted in their distribution at the present day, this group +was more widely represented in past ages of the world's history, as we +shall have to point out later on. Abundant fossil remains prove that they +lived in Europe and in North America, where to-day they are quite unknown. + +The _Lemuroidea_ are almost entirely arboreal, and seldom come to the +ground, except the Sifakas, which then progress {14}on their hind legs by a +series of bounds, holding their hands over their head in a ludicrous +fashion. Most of them are nocturnal, or crepuscular, sleeping the greater +part of the day in holes or on a branch of a tree coiled up in a ball. +Their food consists chiefly of leaves, fruits, honey, birds' eggs, and +birds, or any small animals they can pounce upon. + +The Lemurs now living are divided into three families. The Aye-Aye and the +Tarsiers, on account of their very special characters, constitute each a +distinct family--named _Chiromyidæ_ and _Tarsiidæ_ respectively--while the +True Lemurs form the third, the _Lemuridæ_, to which all the remaining +forms belong. + + + + +THE AYE-AYES. FAMILY CHIROMYIDÆ. + + +This very aberrant family contains only one species; the characters of the +family and of the genus _Chiromys_ are, therefore, necessarily those of the +single species known. + + +THE AYE-AYE. CHIROMYS MADAGASCARIENSIS. + + _Sciurus madagascariensis_, Gmel., S. N., i., p. 152 (1788). + + _Daubentonia madagascariensis_, Geoffr., Décad. Philos., iv., p. 193 + (1795); Dahlbom, Studia, p. 326, t. 12. + + _Chiromys madagascariensis_, Cuv., Leçons d'Anat. Comp., Tabl. de Class., + 1 (1800); Owen, Tr. Z. S., vol. v., p. 33; Peters, Abhandl. K. Akad. + Berlin, 1865, p. 79. + + (_Plate I._) + +PLATE I. + +[Illustration: THE AYE-AYE.] + + +{15}CHARACTERS.--Head short and round; face short-snouted, with a patch of +bristles below the eye, between the ear and the angle of the mouth; eyes +round, prominent; eyebrows long and bristly; pupils wide, furnished with a +false eyelid (a nictitating membrane); ears large, rounded, directed +backwards, naked, and studded with small protuberances; tail longer than +the body, bushy, with hair 3-4 inches long; hind-limbs longer than the +fore-limbs, the thigh-bone being one third longer than the humerus, the +hand the longest segment of the fore-limb; fingers long--the fourth the +longest--with compressed and pointed claws, which are proportionately much +longer than the toes; the middle or third digit slender and very +remarkable, being extremely attenuated and wire-like; thumb opposable, and +placed at an acute angle to the short index; great toe opposable, set at an +open angle to the other digits, its nail flat; the remaining toes with +pointed compressed claws (like the second toe of _Lemuridæ_ and second and +third of _Tarsiidæ_). Teats, two, placed low down on the abdomen. Length of +body and tail together 36 inches. Skull highly arched, convex transversely; +muzzle short and deep; bony palate not extending behind the middle of the +posterior molar tooth; lower jaw with condyle elongated from before +backwards and on a level with the cheek-teeth, its two halves united at an +acute angle by elastic tissue, allowing each half to play independently of +the other. Its dental formula, I1/1, C0/0, P1/0, M3/3 = 18. Incisors very +large, curved, with persistent pulp, and enamel only in front, growing up +as fast as worn away; canines absent (the last two characters as in the +Rodents); long vacuity between incisors and pre-molar; pre-molar much +smaller than molars; molars with flat crowns and very indistinct +tubercules; milk-teeth agreeing more in number and form with those seen +among Lemurs than with the permanent set; the upper jaw having its full set +of two incisors, one canine, and a pre-molar tooth present; the lower jaw +having one incisor, no canine, and one pre-molar tooth on each side. Dorsal +and lumbar vertebræ together 18, sacral 3, and caudal 22-27. + +{16}Olfactory lobes of brain covered by the cerebrum; convolutions and +grooves of cerebrum similar to those in normal Lemurs. Intestine 26 inches +long; no striped tissue in the muscular sheath of the gullet at the +anterior end of the stomach. Digastric muscle (for moving the jaws) very +much developed in accordance with the great gnawing powers of the species. + +Fur on back, flanks, tail, and limbs dark brown, nearly black, but with the +white of the basal half of the hairs shining through; hair woolly at base; +long hairs on top of head and back of neck tipped with white; short hairs +of face dirty white. Nose and lips naked, flesh-coloured; ears black; sides +of head and throat greyish-yellow; chest often bright yellow, the chin +paler. Inner sides of limbs yellowish-white, and on the under surface of +the body the basal part of hairs showing through, producing a pale +yellowish-white, or sub-rufous, colour. Feet and digits black. Tail black, +at its base greyish-white or greyish-brown, and often with long white hairs +throughout. The species is more nearly related to the members of the genus +_Galago_ to be described later on, than to any other of the _Lemuroidea_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Aye-Aye is confined to the island of Madagascar. It +makes its home in the dense parts of the great forest that runs along the +eastern border of its central plateau, but only in that part of it which +separates the Sihànaka Province from that of the Betsimisàraka, which is +about 25 miles from the east coast, in latitude 17° 22[prime] S. It is more +common than has been supposed, its noctural habits and the superstitious +awe with which it is regarded accounting for its apparent rarity, and for +the contradictory reports given of its habits. + +HABITS.--The Aye-Aye, whose name is derived from its call of "hai-hay," is +one of the most singular of living animals. It was first discovered by +Sonnerat during his travels in {17}Madagascar in 1780, and by him sent to +Paris. The skin remained unique in Europe for the best part of a century. +Greatly owing to the superstitious dread in which the creature is held by +the natives, it was for a long period, and is still, very difficult to +procure, or to induce the natives to capture, specimens. Mr. Baron says +that it is sometimes accidentally caught in traps by the natives, "but the +owner of the trap, unless one of those versed in the Aye-Aye mysteries who +know the charm by which to counteract its evil power, smears fat over it, +thus securing its forgiveness and goodwill, and sets it free." In 1863 Dr. +Sandwith sent a second example to Europe, the anatomy of whose body was +made the subject of an exhaustive monograph by the late Sir Richard Owen. +Since that date more than one specimen has been received alive, and its +habits and constitution are now fairly well known. The Aye-Aye is entirely +arboreal and nocturnal, sleeping during the day, with its body coiled +round, lying on its side with its bushy tail spread over it as a covering. +It suspends itself by its hind-limbs, and in this position it has been +observed in captivity by Mr. Bartlett, using its hook-like finger to comb +out its tail, to cleanse its face, the corners of its eyes, its nose, +mouth, and ears, keeping meanwhile its other fingers closed. It lives in +the depths of the forests, going about in pairs. Exquisitely keen of +hearing, it can detect by sound the boring of insects within the dead +branches of trees. Its attenuated wire-like finger acts as a probe to +discover their position, and its powerful incisor teeth are used to cut +down upon the tunnel of its prey, which consists principally of the +Andraitra, the larva of a Beetle, which it then extracts with the same +digit. The juices of plants are also supposed to form part of its food. It +drinks after the manner of many Monkeys, by dipping its fingers into the +water, and {18}drawing them through its mouth. The Aye-Aye is fearless of +Man, but in its wakeful hours, during the night, when irritated it can be +very savage and strike out with its hands. The female produces but one +young at a birth, and builds, in the fork of a tree, a ball-like nest, two +feet in diameter, with an entrance hole in the side, forming it of the +rolled up leaves of the Travellers'-tree, and lining it with small twigs +and dry leaves. (_Baron._) + + + + +THE TARSIERS. FAMILY TARSIIDÆ. + + +This family, like the preceding, has been constituted for the reception of +two animals which are so remarkably distinct from all the other species of +Lemurs, as to necessitate their being thus segregated. Between these two +forms however, so close a relationship exists, that they have often been +considered as only varieties of the same species. The family, therefore, +consists, as in the _Chiromyidæ_, of a single genus, the characters of +which constitute also those of the family. + + +THE TARSIERS. GENUS TARSIUS. + + _Tarsius_, Storr. Prod. Method. Mamm., p. 32 (1780). + +The Tarsiers are distinguished externally by the possession of a rounded +head, and a very short, pointed muzzle; by their very large, long and naked +ears, and eyes so remarkably large and protruding, as to form the most +prominent feature of the face. The hind-limb, which is much longer than the +fore-limb, is also very remarkable on account of the great elongation of +the ankle-region (or tarsus) of the limb. The long and slender toes +terminate in round, sucker-like discs, and are furnished with flat nails, +except on the second and third toes, where the nails are merely compressed +claws. The {19}fore-limb, with or without the hand, is longer than the +trunk; its digits also are long and slender (the third being longest, and +the second equal to the fourth) and, like those of the foot, terminate in +round sucker-like discs. Both the wrist and ankle are haired. + +The long and Rat-like tail is longer than the body, and has a tufted +termination. The skull presents enormous eye-cavities, the inner margins of +the latter almost meeting in the centre. The orbits are nearly closed in +from the temporal fossa by the union of the malar and alisphenoid bones--a +character in which they differ from all other Lemurs, and approach the +Anthropoid section of the Primates. Their dental formula is I2/1, C1/1, +P3/3, M3/3 = 34. Of the upper jaw, the incisors are prominent and unequal, +the anterior ones being larger than the posterior, and in contact in the +middle line, thus leaving no central gap in the front of the jaw, as is the +rule among Lemurs; the canines are about as long vertically as the inner +incisor, and are smaller than the corresponding tooth in the True Lemurs; +the pre-molars are canine-like, sharp, pointed, and furnished with a +cingulum; the anterior pre-molar is smaller than the two others; the +posterior pre-molar has one external and one internal cusp; the molars, all +nearly equal in size, are wide transversely, strongly cingulate, and have +two prominent external cusps. In the lower jaw, the solitary incisor in +each half is small, and, instead of protruding horizontally, is nearly +erect; the canines are also almost erect, and less like incisors than is +usual in the Sub-order. The pre-molars are sharp, but the anterior is +smaller than the two posterior; the anterior and median molars have four +cusps, and are cingulate, while the posterior molar has five cusps. + +{20}The Tarsiers have nineteen dorsal and lumbar vertebræ together, and +twenty-seven in the tail. The humerus presents a perforation (the +entepicondylar foramen) at its lower inner side, and another nearly in the +centre above the hinge. The femur is more than twice the length of the +arm-bone; the lower half of the slender fibula is co-ossified with the +tibia, while two of the tarsal, or ankle-bones (the _calcaneum_ and +_naviculare_), are remarkably elongated, thus giving to the hind-limb of +these animals the singular conformation from which they derive their name. +The large intestine is not convoluted upon itself as in so many of the +Lemurs, nor is there a cæcum at the junction of its smaller and larger +portions. + + +I. THE SPECTRAL TARSIER. TARSIUS TARSIUS. + + _Lemur tarsius_, Erxl., Syst. Regn. Anim., Mamm., p. 71 (1777). + + _Tarsius spectrum_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 168 (1812); Dahlb., + Studia, p. 231, tab. 11. + + _Lemur spectrum_, Pallas, Nova Sp. Glir. Ord., p. 275, note (1778). + + (_Plate II._) + +CHARACTERS.--On the upper lip, sides of nostrils, and over the eyes long, +delicate black hairs (_vibrissæ_); hair on nose very short, longer in front +of ears and at angles of mouth. Fur of body generally thick, woolly, the +basal two thirds slate-grey, the terminal third brownish-yellow. Face to +forehead fawn-brown, somewhat darker around and between the enormous liquid +brown eyes. Top and back of head and shoulders of a more uniform and darker +shade; rest of back apparently mottled, owing to the light-tipped hairs of +that region gathering into locks. Under side of body, inside of arms and +legs paler. Tail darker brown, rufous at base of upper side. Size not +exceeding that of a small Rat. + +PLATE II. + +[Illustration: THE SPECTRAL TARSIER.] + + +{21}DISTRIBUTION.--Found only in the jungles of the Malayan islands of +Sumatra, Java, Banka, Billiton, and Borneo. + + +II. THE DUSKY-HANDED TARSIER. TARSIUS FUSCUS. + + _? Lemur podje_, Kerr, Linn. Anim. Kingdom, p. 86 (1792). + + _Tarsius fuscus, s. fuscomanus_, Fischer, Anat. der Maki, pp. 3, 7 + (1784). + + _Tarsius fuscomanus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 168 (1812); Max Weber, + Zool. Ergebn. Reis. Nederl. Ost-Indien, iii., p. 264 (1893). + + _Tarsius fischeri_, Burm. Tarsius, pp. 29, 129 (1846). + +CHARACTERS.--Closely related to the preceding species in size and other +characters, but distinguished by the colour of the hands, which are dark +brown. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Inhabits the islands of the Indian Archipelago, farther to +the eastward than those in which _Tarsius Tarsius_ is found. It has been +recorded from Celebes, and the neighbouring groups of Salayer and Sanghir, +and from some of the Philippine Islands, such as Bohol and Mindanao. + +HABITS.--The habits of both species of Tarsier are identical, and may be +described together. They are almost entirely nocturnal and arboreal +animals, rarely, of their own accord, coming to the ground. They move from +place to place by leaping along the larger branches, or from tree to tree, +even when these stand several feet distant. When they do descend, however, +they advance on the ground by the same curious Frog-like leaps, without +bringing their fore-limbs down to the ground. The Tarsier is said to climb +easily, even without grasping, by means of the round discs on its slender +finger-tips, which, like suckers, enable it to hold on by the side pressure +of its limbs to any smooth surface, such as the stems of the +{22}bamboo-brakes which it frequents. Mr. Charles Hose, in his "Mammals of +Borneo," states that, in that island, the Tarsier is found in the jungles +of the low country, skipping about from branch to branch. According to the +notes of this excellent field-naturalist, it has a habit of turning its +head almost completely round without moving the rest of its body. This very +remarkable creature lives in pairs in the tropical forests, in holes in the +tree stems, or under their roots, feeding chiefly on insects and small +lizards, which, as Mr. Cuming has recorded, it holds by its fore-paws while +devouring, sitting up the while on its posterior. In drinking it is also +said to lap water like a Cat. The Tarsier seldom makes any kind of noise, +but when it does emit a sound, it is a sharp, shrill call. The female +produces one, rarely two, young at a birth; these are similar to the +parents. They are covered with hair, and have the eyes open. Mr. Hose +further states that the mother often carries her young one about in her +mouth, after the manner of a Cat. On the second day after its birth, the +infant Tarsier can move about by itself. By the natives of Sumatra, and, +indeed, of most of the islands inhabited by these animals, the Tarsiers are +held in superstitious dread, their presence in the neighbourhood of the +rice-fields being supposed to portend misfortune to the owner or to some +member of his family. + +Their elongated ankle-bones, and their leaping habits, seem to indicate +that the Galagos and the Chirogales, or Mouse-Lemurs, are the nearest +relatives of the Tarsiers. + + + + +THE TYPICAL LEMURS. FAMILY LEMURIDÆ. + + +Under this family heading are included the whole of the remaining members +of the Sub-order. They all possess certain main characters in common; but +on account of the presence or {23}absence of certain subordinate features +in some of the groups, the family has been further subdivided into four +sub-families. The more important characters which they have in common are +the thick woolly fur, the Dog- or Fox-like snout and nostrils--a character +obviously distinguishing them from the bulk of the Monkeys, in which the +nose forms a subsidiary feature, and is not the main part of the face,--and +especially the number and form of their teeth. In the centre of the upper +jaw there is always a toothless gap, or _diastema_, on each side of which +the teeth are arranged according to the following formula: I2/2, C1/1, +P3/3, M3/3 = 36. Among the Endrinas, however, the formula is I2/2, C1/(1 or +0), P2/2, M3/3 = 32 or 30 in number. In the upper jaw the incisors are +small and perpendicular; but in the lower, where they are long and narrow, +they protrude horizontally in front, and then follow, parallel and close to +them, the somewhat thicker canines, the six teeth together forming a +comb-like series. The anterior pre-molar is always vertically longer than +the others, and assumes the form and function of the canines in other +animals. + +In some genera (e.g., _Propithecus_), Milne-Edwards has observed that in +the young animal the cerebellum is more overlapped by the cerebrum (or main +brain) than it is later in life; and Dr. Major believes that the _Lemuridæ_ +are highly specialised members of the Sub-order, developed from ancient +types which were not unlike the American Monkeys of the family _Cebidæ_. + +The Typical Lemurs are arranged in the following four sub-divisions: The +Pottos and Slow-paced Lemurs (_Lorisinæ_); the Galagos and Mouse-Lemurs +(_Galaginæ_); the True Lemurs (_Lemurinæ_); and the Endrinas (_Indrisinæ_). + + + + +{24}THE SLOW-LEMURS. SUB-FAMILY I. LORISINÆ. + + +This Sub-family has been constituted to receive a small number of Lemurs, +which, although occupying limited areas in two widely separated +continents--one genus being African and the others Asiatic--present certain +characters in common. They are recognised by having soft woolly fur, a +triangular head and pointed face, very large and staring eyes, set close +together, while their ears are naked along their margin. Their fore- and +hind-limbs are nearly equal. In the Asiatic genera the index finger is very +small, while in the African it is quite rudimentary and nail-less. In both +groups the thumb diverges widely from the other fingers, and the great toe +is directed backwards, but the ankle-bones of the foot are not elongated. +The tail is either so short as to be quite concealed in the fur, or is less +than one-third of the length of the body. + +[Illustration: Fig. 6. Front Teeth of Perodicticus, Nycticebus and Loris, +after Mivart (P. Z. S., 1864, p. 631).] + +In the skull the squamosal region with the outer and posterior portion of +the ear capsules (the periotic) are inflated. The dental formula of the +Slow-Lemurs is the same as given above for the family generally. In the +upper jaw, the two incisors are usually equal, but, if unequal, the inner +incisor is always the larger (Fig. 6); the vertically long canine, which is +separated by a gap from the anterior pre-molar, presents both in front and +behind a neck or cingulum, which is cusped behind; the pre-molars are +canine-like, and have the cingulum produced behind into a heel (or talon). +The anterior of the three is {25}vertically longer than the median, while +both the median and posterior have, to the outside, one main cusp with a +minute one on each side of it, and two inner cusps; the molars are all +cingulate, and have to the outside two main cusps (separated by a minute +cusp) and two inner cusps, the outer and inner cusps alternating. Of the +anterior and median molars, the two main outside cusps are sub-equal, and +are flanked on each side by a minute cusp; the posterior molar is short and +wide, and has only one minute cusp in front of its anterior main cusp. Of +the lower jaw, the pre-molars are canine-like, the anterior being +vertically long and having a posterior heel; the posterior pre-molar, which +differs in size from the anterior, presents two main cusps to the outside +and one minute cusp in front; the molars, both anterior and median, are +four-cusped, with a minute cusp in front, the posterior being five-cusped, +while all have their front cusps vertically taller than the hind ones. + +Among the _Lorisinæ_ the dorsal and lumbar vertebræ together number from +twenty-one to twenty-three. The cæcum, at the junction of the larger and +smaller intestine, is long. The main artery of the fore- and hind-limbs +breaks up into a _rete mirabile_ of numerous small parallel branches. + +The Slow-Lemurs are distributed in the western parts of the African +continent, and in the Indian, Malayan and Indo-Chinese portions of the +Oriental region. It is a remarkable fact that this group should be confined +to one portion of Africa and be entirely absent from Madagascar, the +country where the Lemurs form so characteristic a feature in the fauna. + +The _Lorisinæ_ embrace three genera, the Pottos (_Perodicticus_) from the +African continent; the Slender Loris (_Loris_), and the Slow-Loris +(_Nycticebus_), both of which inhabit the Oriental region. + + +{26}THE POTTOS. GENUS PERODICTICUS. + + _Perodicticus_, Bennett, P. Z. S., 1839, p. 109; Huxley, P. Z. S., 1864, + p. 235. + + _Arctocebus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 150; Mivart, P.Z.S., 1864, p. 644. + +This genus contains two species, both confined to the West Coast of Africa. +The Pottos are slender-bodied animals, with oval heads and blunt Dog-shaped +muzzles. Their eyes are large and full, and their external ears erect, with +shelf-like lamellæ inside. They have slender and sub-equal limbs. The +second digit of the fore-limb is rudimentary and nail-less; it is supported +on one wrist-bone, and has two phalanges or finger-bones. The great toe is +opposable, and the fourth and fifth digits of both limbs are united +together by membrane as far as the first joint. The processes of the +vertebræ in the neck and back are long and protruding. The tail is very +short. + +The pre-maxillæ (which carry the incisor teeth) do not project in front, +nor does the bony palate extend farther back than the end of the posterior +molar teeth. Of the upper teeth the incisors are equal in size (Fig. 6); +the median and posterior pre-molars have on their crowns three cusps, of +which the two outer are the larger; the anterior and median molars are +cingulate, have four-cusped crowns, and are larger than the pre-molars; the +posterior is narrow from before backwards, and its crown presents only two +or three cusps. Of the lower teeth, the anterior pre-molar is recurved and +larger than the canine, with a ridge on its inner face and a cusped heel +behind; the median and posterior ones are shorter than their anterior +fellow, each having a strong posterior cusped heel; the anterior and median +{27}molars have their crowns four-cusped and are nearly equal in length; +the crown of the posterior molar is 4-5-cusped, and has a ridge joining its +anterior heel to its front outer cusp. Transverse and oblique ridges are +well marked on the crowns of both the upper and lower cheek-teeth. + + +I. THE CALABAR POTTO. PERODICTICUS CALABARENSIS. + + _Perodicticus calabarensis_, Smith, Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc., Edinb., 1860, + p. 172, figs. 1, 2. + + _Arctocebus calabarensis_, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 150; Huxley, P. + Z. S., p. 314, pl. 28 (1864). + + _Nycticebus calabarensis_, Schlegel, Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 287 (1876). + +[Illustration: Fig. 7. Hand and Foot of _P. calabarensis_ (after Huxley, P. +Z. S., 1864, p. 319).] + +CHARACTERS.--Hair long, wool-like; face, hands, and feet thinly haired. +Head 2½ inches long, tapering in front; muzzle prominent and blunt; ears +large, pointed, and projecting above the level of the head, with short +hairs, two lamellæ inside, and marginal tufts; neck short; hind-limbs +slightly larger and {28}longer than the fore-limbs; hands smaller than the +feet; thumb thick, with a tubercle at base; the wrist-bone of the very +rudimentary index-finger supporting two rudimentary finger-bones; third +finger not parallel to fourth and fifth; the fourth longest (Fig. 7). Great +toe with a tubercle at its base, opposable. Tail ¼ inch long, hidden in the +fur of the body. + +Fur grey at base of hairs, fawn-coloured farther up, and tipped with dark +brown, uniform over the body and limbs; face darker; sides of head lighter; +line from brow down the nose white. No vibrissæ on face and no eyebrows; +chin, throat, inner surface of limbs, and under side of body, +greyish-white. + +Posterior upper molar nearly equal to posterior pre-molar, with the hind +inner cusp of the crown rudimentary. Lower incisors not visible beyond the +lip, cingulate; posterior molar five-cusped and relatively larger than in +the next species (_P. potto_). Bony palate with large perforations behind +the incisors. Intestines, 40 inches long; cæcum, 2½ inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The "Angwantibo," as this species is called, is known only +from Old Calabar, on the west coast of Africa. + + +II. BOSMAN'S POTTO, PERODICTICUS POTTO. + + _Potto_, Bosman, Beschrijving van de Guinese Goudkust, ii., p. 32, fig. 4 + (1704). + + _Nycticebus potto_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 165 (1812); Schlegel, + Mus. Pays Bas vii., p. 287 (1876). + + _Perodicticus geoffroyi_, Bennett, P. Z. S., 1830, p. 109. + + _Perodicticus potto_, V. der Hoeven, Tijdschr. v. Natuurl. Gesch., xi., + p. 41 (1844); Wagner, in Schreber's Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 183 (1855). + + _Stenops potto_, Pel, Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 1852, p. 41. + +CHARACTERS.--More common than the Angwantibo and {29}distinguished from it +by its rounder, shorter, and wider head, less produced muzzle, smaller +mouth, and eyes farther apart; ears shorter, rounder, and directed more +backwards, with one lamella on the inner surface. Hands longer, flat and +thin; index-finger not so reduced as in _P. calabarensis_. Tail very short, +little more than an inch long, but visible beyond the fur. Length of body, +8 inches. + +Upper pre-molars less canine-like than in the preceding species; posterior +upper molar differing in size from and set farther out than the others, +short and wide, with the crown elliptical and only two-cusped, the two +hind-cusps wanting. Lower incisors more prominent and projecting than in +_P. calabarensis_; crown of posterior lower molar four-cusped. + +ADULT.--Upper surface rich reddish-brown with a black dorsal stripe +widening opposite the shoulders, and fading out towards the tail; under +side yellowish or reddish-white. Hair on face shorter and paler, with a +dark ring round the eyes. + +YOUNG.--Reddish-brown all over, redder on the back of the head and neck, +darker on the shoulders; creamy-white, washed with rufous, beneath. + +Fur silver-grey at the base of the hairs, with reddish-brown tips in +younger, and dark golden-brown in older, individuals. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Potto is one of the oldest known members of the Lemuroid +group, having been described in 1704 by Bosman, who met with it on his +voyage to Guinea. It was, however, lost sight of until 1825, when it was +rediscovered in Sierra Leone and fully described by Bennett in 1830. It is +known also from Gaboon. + +HABITS.--Both species of Potto are nocturnal and arboreal, and are +exceedingly slow in their movements. In catching {30}insects or flies, +which form part of their food, they proceed with extraordinary +deliberation, never quickening their movements, and yet rarely, if ever, +missing their prey. + +Bosman in his description of the Gold Coast of Guinea, gives a woodcut of +the Potto, which, he says, is a "Draught of a Creature, by the _Negroes_ +called _Potto_, but known to us by the Name of Sluggard, doubtless from its +lazy, sluggish Nature; a whole day being little enough for it to advance +ten Steps forward. + +"Some Writers affirm, that when this Creature has climbed upon a Tree, he +doth not leave it until he hath eaten up not only the Fruit, but the leaves +intirely; and then descends fat and in very good case in order to get up +into another Tree; but before his slow pace can compass this, he becomes as +poor and lean as 'tis possible to imagine: And if the trees be high, or the +way anything distant, and he meets with nothing on his journey, he +inevitably dies of Hunger, betwixt one tree and the other. Thus 'tis +represented by others, but I will not undertake for the Truth of it; though +the _Negroes_ are apt to believe something like it. + +"This is such a horrible ugly Creature that I don't believe anything +besides so very disagreeable is to be found on the whole Earth; the Print +is a very lively Description of it: Its Fore-feet are very like Hands, the +Head strangely disproportionately large; that from whence this Print was +taken was of a pale Mouse colour: but it was then very young, and his Skin +yet smooth, but when old, as I saw one at _Elmina_ in the year 1699, 'tis +red and covered with a sort of Hair as thick set as Flocks of Wool. I know +nothing more of this Animal, than that 'tis impossible to look on him +without Horrour, and that he hath nothing very particular but his odious +Ugliness." + + +{31}THE SLENDER LORIS. GENUS LORIS. + + _Loris_, Geoffr., Mag. Encycl., Ann. 2, i., p. 48 (1796). + + _Stenops_, Illiger, Prodr., p. 73 (1811). + +As this genus contains only a solitary species, its characters are +necessarily those of the species. + + +I. THE SLENDER LORIS. LORIS GRACILIS. + + _Loris gracilis_, Geoffr., Magas. Encycl. Ann. 4, i., p. 48 (1796); id. + Catal., p. 37, no. 1 (1803); id. Ann. Mus., xix., p. 163 (1812); Is. + Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 79 (1851); Blyth, Cat. Mamm. As. Soc., + p. 19 (1863); Anderson, Cat. Mamm. Ind. Mus., p. 97 (1881); Blanf., Faun. + Brit. Ind. Mamm., p. 47 (1888). + + _Nycticebus gracilis_, Fischer, Syn. Mamm., p. 70 (1829); Schl., Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 284 (1876). + + _Stenops tardigradus_, Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm., p. 73 (1811, pt.). + + _Stenops gracilis_, Van der Hoeven, Tijdschr., Nat. Ges., xi., p. 39 + (1844); Kelaart, Prod. Fauna Zeyl., p. 9 (1852). + +CHARACTERS.--A slender-bodied animal covered with close, soft, and woolly +fur. Head short and round; eyes very large; nose narrow and much pointed; +ears small and haired externally; tips nude. Limbs long, remarkably slender +and angularly bent; hands and feet covered with short hair; index-finger +with three phalanges and finger-bones. + +Skull with eye-sockets closely approximating, in the centre separated only +by a thin plate of bone; nasal and premaxillary bones prolonged forward to +support the narrow pointed nose; cranium, along its base to end of nasal +bones, two inches long, broader across the orbits than behind in front of +the articulation of lower jaw; bony palate extending back beyond the +{32}posterior molar tooth. In the upper jaw the incisors are small and +equal (Fig. 6); posterior pre-molar similar to, but smaller than the +anterior molar; anterior molar with the oblique ridge on crown well +developed; crown of posterior molar four-cusped, that of the posterior +lower molar five-cusped. Dorsal and lumbar vertebræ together, 23; caudal +vertebræ, 6-8. + +The alimentary canal is four times the length of the body. + +ADULT.--Dingy grey above, darker on back, paler on lower back; the hairs +tipped with white. Sides of body, outside of fore- and hind-limbs dingy +white, with a faint rufous wash on the outside of the hind-limbs. Face and +ring round eyes dark greyish-brown; streak along nose white, branching on +forehead above the eyes on each side into a broad ring encircling the dark +ocular ring; this frontal branch sometimes absent. Under side +greyish-white. Hairs of fur greyish-white at base, dark in the middle, and +tipped with white. Length, 8 inches. + +YOUNG.--More rust-coloured than the adult. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Slender Loris is common in the lower forests of Ceylon +and of Southern India, south of the Godaveri river, as well as in those of +the Eastern Ghats. + +HABITS.--This curious, emaciated-looking, little creature is nocturnal, +living entirely in trees. It sleeps during the day rolled up in a ball, +with its head between its legs, grasping its perch with its hands. +According to Jerdon these animals are occasionally brought in large numbers +to the Madras market, their eyes being a favourite remedy of the Tamil +doctors for ophthalmic diseases. + +In its movements it is slightly more active than the Slow-Loris. Its food +consists of succulent leaves, honey, insects, birds' eggs, and small +animals. + +PLATE III. + +[Illustration: THE JAVAN SLOW-LORIS.] + + + +{33}THE SLOW-LORIS. GENUS NYCTICEBUS. + + _Nycticebus_, Geoffr., Ann. du Mus., xix., p. 162 (1812). + + _Stenops_ (nec Illiger), Van der Hoeven, Tijdsch. Nat. Ges., xi., p. 39 + (1844). + + _Bradycebus_, Cuv. et Geoffr., Mém. Class. Mamm. (1795). + +This genus, like the last, is represented by a single species, and its +characters, therefore, are detailed below. + + +I. THE JAVAN SLOW-LORIS. NYCTICEBUS TARDIGRADUS. + + _Lemur tardigradus_, Linn., S. N., i., p. 44 (1766, pt.). + + _Nycticebus bengalensis_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 164 (1812). + + _Nycticebus javanicus_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 164 (1812); id. Cat. Primates, + p. 78 (1851); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 286 (1876). + + _Nycticebus tardigradus_, Fischer, Syn. Mamm., p. 71, no. 2 (1829); Is. + Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 78 (1851); Blyth, Cat. Mam. As. Soc., p. + 18 (1863); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 285 (1876); Anderson, Cat. + Mamm. Ind. Mus., p. 94 (1881); Blanf., Faun. Brit. Ind. Mamm., p. 44 + (1888). + + _Stenops tardigradus_, Van der Hoeven, Tijdschr. Nat. Ges., xi., p. 39 + (1844); Wagner in Schreb., Säug. Suppl., v., p. 151 (1855). + + _Stenops javanicus_, Van der Hoeven, _op. cit._, p. 40 (1844); Wagner, + _op. cit._, p. 152 (1855). + + _Nycticebus cinereus_, Milne-Edw., Ann. Mus., vii., p. 161 (1867); id. N. + Arch. Mus., iii., p. 9, pl. 3 (1867); Anderson, Rep. Zool., Yun-nan, p. + 103 (1879); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 286 (1876). + + _Lemur menagensis_, Nachtrieb, Zool. Anz., xv., p. 147 (1892). + + (_Plate III._) + +CHARACTERS.--Body larger and fuller than in _Loris_, and covered {34}with +close and woolly fur. Head short and round. Eyes large, set close together, +and having a gentle expression; face short and flat; muzzle less projecting +than in _Loris_; ears small, rounded, hairy, and nearly buried in the fur; +neck short; tail invisible externally. Limbs short; index-finger small, +containing three bones; toes remaining spontaneously contracted after +death. Top of skull with prominent crests, globular behind; facial bones +conspicuously projecting in front; orbits large, their inner margins +separated from each other by a narrow flat space. Pre-maxillæ not produced +far in front; hind border of bony palate not extending backwards beyond the +median molar. Of the upper teeth, the inner incisor larger than the outer, +one often absent on each side; canine vertically very long, with a gap +between it and the anterior pre-molar; anterior pre-molar elongate, the +posterior differing considerably from the anterior molar, and having a +short cusped heel behind; posterior molar with a three-cusped crown. Teeth +of lower jaw agreeing with those in the diagnosis of the family (_suprà_, +p. 24). Vertebræ in dorsal and lumbar regions together 23 or 24. The long +flexor muscle of the thumb, so characteristic of the Anthropoid Apes, is +present in _Nycticebus_. The interlacement of the tendons of the muscles of +its foot (according to Huxley and Murie) closely resembles the arrangement +in the higher Primates. The long flexor muscle of the toes (_flexor longus +digitorum_) is very large, and has one important origin on the lower end +(internal condyle) of the thigh-bone correlated with the powerful grasp of +its hind-limbs. The female bears one young at a birth. + +Above, ashy-grey, rather paler below; more or less silvery on the back, +often rufescent on the rump, with the hairs dark ashy at the roots; dorsal +stripe from crown to loins chestnut {35}brown; circle round the eyes dark +brown; a white line down the nose between the eyes; oral patch, including +the ears, brown. + +The Slow-Loris varies greatly in size and colour in the different regions +it inhabits, and its varieties have been recognised by many naturalists as +distinct species. + +Every shade of colour occurs among specimens from different habitats. The +colour varies between rufescent grey, or greyish-rufous, or white (with a +brown tinge showing through from below) and silvery grey. The dorsal stripe +varies from rufous to dull grey or even black, expanding out, or not, on +the crown of the head, arms, and cheeks, bifurcating to the orbital rings +and ear-patches, or to one or other only. Sometimes the dorsal stripe and +face-markings are wanting altogether. Under side varying from pale +rufescent grey to light rufous or dull grey. Length of head and body +varying from 12¾ to 16 inches. + +"It is an interesting fact," observes St. George Mivart, "that as far as +concerns the skull and dentition, the Asiatic _Nycticebus_ far more +resembles the African _Perodicticus_ than it does its Oriental neighbour +_Loris_." + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Slow-Loris has a comparatively wide and interrupted +range. It is common in the dense mountain forests of Assam and Burma (where +it has received the distinctive appellation of _N. bengalensis_), as well +as in Tenasserim and the Malayan Peninsula. It has also been obtained in +Siam and Cochin-China, whence it has been described as a distinct species +(_N. cinereus_), from its silvery-grey fur; while it also occurs--somewhat +reduced in size--and often (but not invariably) without the upper incisor +teeth--in the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo with its surrounding +islet groups, {36}as well as in the Philippine Islands. The form from the +last-named localities (figured on Plate III.) has generally been recognised +as _N. javanicus_; but, from a careful examination of the material in the +British Museum, it appears to the present writer that the specimens from +all these localities merge so insensibly into each other that it is +impossible to separate them into distinct species. The Slow-Loris, though +occurring on the north-eastern frontier of India, has not yet been +discovered in the Himalayas. + +HABITS.--Like the Slender Loris, the Slow-Loris is arboreal and nocturnal, +hardly differing in its food and general habits from the latter. It lives +alone or in pairs, and moves about very slowly, with its head curiously +drawn up close to its body, with the latter arched and its limbs very +angularly disposed. Colonel Tickell has observed it, however, to raise +itself on its hind-legs and throw itself upon an insect. It is generally +silent, but can utter a low growl when angry. In captivity it becomes +docile, but is never very long-lived. Tickell records that "it never by +choice leaves the trees.... It climbs readily and grasps with great +tenacity. If placed on the ground, it proceeds, if frightened, in a +wavering kind of trot, the limbs placed at right angles. It sleeps rolled +up in a ball, its head and hands buried between its thighs, and wakes up in +the dusk of the evening to commence its nocturnal rambles." Another +observer records: "When he climbs he first lays hold of the branch with one +of his hands and then with the other. When he has obtained a firm hold with +both hands, he moves one of his hind-paws, and after firmly grasping the +branch with it, he moves the other. He never quits his hold with his +hind-paws until he has obtained a secure grasp with his hands." The +remarkable tenacity of grasp in its feet is largely due to the +{37}automatic action of the flexor muscles of the toes (the digits +continuing flexed even after death), and the mere extension of the leg +largely contributes to the "effortless suspension of the body" (_Murie_), +as in the Fruit-Bats and other species which hang passively by their +hind-limbs. (_Huxley._) + +Dr. Coghlan, speaking of the Chinese race (_N. cinereus_), says: "They make +a curious chattering noise when angry, and when pleased at night they utter +a short though tuneful whistle of one unvaried note; this whistle is +thought by Chinese sailors, who take them to sea, to denote the coming of +wind.... Their intelligence seems to be much below that of the Monkey.... +The Slow-Loris, when newly-born, is about four inches long, and covered +with fur; it holds on by its four hands to the mother's fur, and in that +attitude sucks the milk from its parent's breast." + + + + +THE GALAGOS. SUB-FAMILY II. GALAGINÆ. + + +The Lemurs comprised in the present Sub-family are divisible into two +groups--those inhabiting the mainland of Africa and those confined to the +island of Madagascar. The exclusively African species, the True Galagos, +constitute the single genus _Galago_; while the Malagasy group is +represented by three genera, the so-called Fat-tailed Lemurs (_Opolemur_), +the Dwarf-Lemurs (_Microcebus_), and the Mouse-Lemurs (_Chirogale_). The +members of this Sub-family vary considerably in size, and are all covered +with soft woolly fur. Their ears especially are largely developed, being +more or less membranaceous and naked, and their sense of hearing very +acute. The eyes are large and the tail always elongated. In the skull the +length of the muzzle is less that the greatest longitudinal diameter of the +orbit (except in the genus _Galago_). {38}Their teeth number 36--18 above +and 18 below--as in the bulk of the _Lemuridæ_; the upper molars present on +their crown an oblique ridge from the outer hind cusp to the inner front +cusp. The ankle region (_tarsus_) of the hind-limb is much elongated, +through the lengthening of two of its bones (the _calcaneum_ and +_naviculare_): this feature occurring to a greater extent among the African +than among the Malagasy species. The mammæ are four in number, two on the +breast and two on the abdomen. + +Many of the species hibernate during the dry winter season, and to enable +them to survive, they accumulate during the summer months a thick deposit +of fat over their bodies, more especially at the root of the tail, a fact +first conspicuously observed in the Opolemurids. This fat is absorbed for +their sustenance during their prolonged torpidity. + + +THE AFRICAN GALAGOS. GENUS GALAGO. + + _Galago_, Geoffr., Mag. Encycl., Ann. 2, i., p. 49 (1796). + +The African Galagos are generally larger in size than the Madagascar +members of the group, and have the snout produced beyond the lower jaw. +Their ears are large, membranaceous, and have a very mobile contractile +hinder edge, the animal having the power of folding them up at will. The +eyes are also large and approximated; the fingers and toes very long and +slender, and the tail thick and bushy. + +The skull presents a high, broad, and round brain-case, with a relatively +short facial region. The pre-maxillary bones are very much reduced, so that +the muzzle, measured from the anterior margin of the orbit forward, is +shorter than the longitudinal diameter of the orbits. The bony palate is +also relatively short. Compared with those of the Madagascar genera {39}the +orbits are, according to Dr. Forsyth Major, much broader vertically and +horizontally in the genus _Galago_. The squamosal region of the skull and +the outer portion of the ear-capsules (the periotic) are large and +inflated. The mandible (or lower jaw) has its lower hind edge, or angle, +produced backward. + +The dentition of the Galagos presents several important characters. In +respect to their upper teeth, the incisors are small, equal, and have a +hind cusp on the cingulum. A distinct gap exists between the canine and the +pre-molar teeth. Of the pre-molars, the anterior one is canine-like, and is +equally distant from the canine and its own next neighbour. To the outside +it has one main cusp, and generally one minute supplementary cusp on each +side. The median pre-molar shows three cusps, and one strong inner front +cusp. The posterior pre-molar is always molar-like. It has one front +supplementary and two main cusps to the outside; and one front and one +supplementary hind cusp to the inside: it has also on the crown the oblique +ridge spoken of above. + +The molars have a deep concavity on their hind border, due to the +development of the cingulum on the inner half only of that border of the +tooth; to the outside they present two main cusps (and often supplementary +minute fore and hind cusps); while to the inside they present two cusps, +and also an intermediate cusp in front between the two fore cusps; the +oblique ridge is also here present; the hindmost molar is three-cusped. The +five hind molars are, therefore, nearly equal in size. In the lower jaw the +pre-molars are complicated. The anterior and median are canine-like and +procumbent, with a cusped heel behind; the posterior is distinguished from +a molar only by the lesser size of its fore-part. The molars are also +complicated; the anterior and median are equal in size {40}and +four-cusped--the two front cusps (united by a ridge) are taller than the +two hind ones, and there is a minute cusp between the two hind cusps. The +posterior molar, though smaller than the others, is five-cusped. The +oblique ridge is not present in the lower molars. + +The brain of the Galagos is narrower and shallower than that in the +_Lemurinæ_. + +The female gives birth to two or three young at a time. + +According to Dr. Forsyth Major, who has made the Lemuroidea a special +study, the smaller African Galagos have departed less from the primitive +Lemuroid type than the Madagascar genera, in which greater specialisation +has taken place. + +The members of the genus _Galago_ are widely distributed on the African +continent, but are unknown in Madagascar. They range throughout the dense +forest regions, from Abyssinia in the north-east, to Senegambia in the +west, and southward as far as Natal and Mozambique. + +Almost all the Galagos are nocturnal. They are chiefly arboreal, and when +they descend to the ground they advance by hops on their long hind-limbs. +They feed chiefly on fruits, insects, birds, and birds' eggs. + + +I. GARNETT'S GALAGO. GALAGO GARNETTI. + + _Otolicnus garnettii_, Ogilby, P. Z. S., 1838, p. 6. + + _Otolemur agisymbianus_, Coquerel, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1859, p. 457. + + _Otogale garnettii_, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 140. + + _Galago garnettii_, Sclater, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 711, pl. xi. Schlegel, + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 429 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Head round; snout elongate, protruding over {41}the lower jaw; +ears very long, wide and rounded; eyes large and approximated. Toes and +fingers not united by a membrane. Posterior upper molar with its fourth +cusp little developed; the posterior lower molar four-cusped. + +Fur woolly, the basal part of the hair Mouse-grey, the tips dull +yellowish-white. Ears greyish-black; face from the middle of crown along +the nose and round the eyes greyish-white. Top of head and neck dark +pepper-grey; rest of upper side yellowish-grey, with longer black hairs +distributed over the body; outside of arms and legs washed faintly with +faded rufous. Under side and inner side of arms and legs greyish-white. +Tail brownish-red at base, darker at tip. Length, 8 inches; tail, 8¾ +inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--East coast of Africa. + +HABITS.--Garnett's Galago is essentially nocturnal in its habits, feeding +on fruits. According to Mr. Bartlett, it exhibited in confinement no fear +of Cats or Dogs, and was very sprightly and tricky. It kills all it can +pounce upon and overpower. On the ground it jumps upright, like a Kangaroo, +on its hind-limbs, without using its fore feet, covering several feet at a +spring. + + +II. THE SENEGAL GALAGO. GALAGO SENEGALENSIS. + + _Galago du Sénégal_, Geoffr., Mag. Encycl. Ann. 4^e, p. 1 (1796). + + _Galago senegalensis_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 166 (1812); Is. + Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 81 (1851); Schlegel, Mus. Pays Bas, + vii., p. 329 (1876). + + _Galagoides senegalensis_, Smith, S. Afr. Q. Journ., ii., pt. 1, p. 32 + (1833). + + _Galago moholi_, Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Mamm., pls. 8, 8 _bis_ (1839); + Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 147. + + {42}_Otolicnus galago_, Wagner in Schreber's Säug. Suppl., i., p. 292 + (1840); Van der Hoeven, Tijdschr. Nat. Ges., xi., p. 41 (1844). + + _Otolicnus senegalensis_, Peters, Reis Mozamb. Säug., p. 11 (1852). + + _Galago senaariensis_, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 147, Mivart, P. Z. + S., 1864, p. 647. + + _Galago (Otolicnus) moholi_, Mivart, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 647. + +CHARACTERS.--Body slender; head broad and sub-globular; nose high and +pointed; ears large, bare, and with narrow rounded tips; hind-limbs longer +than the fore-; tail with longer hair at tip. Fur very thick and soft on +body and tail. Upper side pinkish-grey, or faded white with a slight wash +of pink; back, sides of body, and outer surface of limbs pearly to +yellowish-white; sometimes a dark ring round the eyes; a streak down the +nose white or yellowish-white; ears flesh-coloured, sprinkled with pure +white down; head, face, whole of under sides and inner sides of limbs +white, yellowish, or whitish-buff; tail yellowish or reddish brown, darker +at tip, lighter beneath; upper surface of hands and feet white, washed with +yellow. Length of body, 7-8½ inches; tail of about the same length. The +male and female are of the same size and of the same colour, but the male +is somewhat more washed with yellow. Muzzle shorter than the diameter of +the eye-socket; the bony palate not extending past the hinder end of the +median molar. Anterior and median upper molars slightly larger than the +posterior pre-molar; the latter as well as the two anterior molars with a +small cusp between the two front cusps. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This beautiful little Lemur was first recorded from Senegal, +in West Africa. It occurs, however, from about 25° S. lat. in South Africa +northwards to Tete on the Zambesi, through the mountainous regions of East +Africa, on the shores of Lake Nyasa, to as far north as Senaar. + +PLATE IV. + +[Illustration: ALLEN'S GALAGO.] + + +{43}HABITS.--The Senegal Galago is nocturnal and arboreal, occurring in the +forests singly or in pairs. It makes a nest of leaves in the fork of a +tree, and during its diurnal rest it either retreats thither, or composes +itself on a branch, unwilling to move, and staring at passers-by, with its +tail invariably folded across its body and round its neck. After sunset, +these Galagos become lively, and in their movements they evince great +activity; they spring from branch to branch, and even from tree to tree, +with extraordinary facility (as both Sir Andrew Smith and Sir John Kirk +have recorded), often clearing at single leaps distances of six feet. When +seen in the dim light they may easily be taken for Bats. "They always seize +with one of their fore feet the branch upon which they intend to rest. In +their manners they manifest considerable resemblance to Monkeys, +particularly in their propensity to the practice of ridiculous grimaces." +(_Sir A. Smith._) In this habit they resemble also some species of the +genus Lemur. Their food consists chiefly of fruits and of insects. The +female produces generally two young at a birth. + + +III. ALLEN'S GALAGO. GALAGO ALLENI. + + _Galago allenii_, Waterh., P. Z. S., 1837, p. 87; Sclater, P. Z. S., + 1863, p. 375, pl. xxxii. + + _Galago allenii_, var. _gabonensis_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 146. + + _Galago gabonensis_, Mivart, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 630. + + _Galago (Otolicnus) allenii_, Mivart, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 647. + + _Otogale pallida_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 140, pl. xix. + + _Otolicnus apicalis_, du Chaillu, Equat. Africa, App., p. 471. + + _Galago elegantulus_, Slack, Proc. Ac. Sc. Phil., 1861, p. 153. + + (_Plate IV._) + +{44}CHARACTERS.--Head round; muzzle pointed; eyes very large; ears also +very large, long, nude, and membranaceous; fingers and toes very long, +slender, and fine. Tail thick, round, and longer than the body; ankle-bones +elongated. Length of body, 8¼ inches; tail, 10 inches. Head brownish-grey; +a narrow black ring round the eyes; a streak from the forehead down the +nose whitish; back greyish-brown, washed (sometimes markedly) with rufous +on the upper back, fading out towards the root of the tail; the latter +black or greyish-black. Outside of arms and legs washed with rufous, +sometimes with a white spot on the shoulder-joint and over the groin; +posterior aspect of legs sooty-black; cheeks, sides of nose, entire under +surface, and inner side of limbs creamy-white with a rufous-washed bar +across the chest. Muzzle shorter than the diameter of eye-socket. Incisors +seen from the side, more or less hidden by the canines; anterior upper +pre-molar very canine-like, relatively much produced longitudinally, with +an interval between the anterior and median pre-molars; posterior upper +pre-molar four-cusped, and with an intermediate cusp on the oblique ridge; +posterior upper molar almost equal in size to the median one. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species has been recorded from the Gaboon, in West +Africa, and from Fernando Po, whence it was first obtained by Captain +Allen, R.N., in 1837. + +HABITS.--Although little or nothing has been recorded of its habits, it is +unlikely that they differ much from those of the species already known. + + +IV. DEMIDOFF'S GALAGO. GALAGO DEMIDOFFI. + + _Galago demidoffi_, Fischer, Act. Soc. des Nat. Mosc., i., p. 24, f. 1 + (1806); Peters, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 380, pl. xxxv.; Mivart, P. Z. S., + 1864, p. 648. + + {45}_Otolicnus peli_, Temm., Esquis. Zool. Mamm., p. 42 (1853). + + _Otolicnus demidoffi_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 160 + (1855). + + _Hemigalago demidoffi_, Dahlb., Stud. Zool., p. 230 (1856). + + _Galago murinus_, Murray, Edinb. Phil. Journ. (n.s.), x., pp. 243-251, + pl. 11 (1859). + +CHARACTERS.--Head round; body short and thick; snout very narrow; long +bristles on the face, corners of the eyes, and sides of the nose; ears +long, oval, membranaceous, transparent, the inner margin haired; eyes large +and projecting; nose elongated in front, and projecting above the upper +lip; fingers slender; wrist, ankle, hands and feet short-haired; digits +naked; tail longer than body, round and slender. Length, 5 inches; tail, 8 +inches. + +Basal part of hair Mouse-grey. Upper side reddish-brown, more rufous down +the back, and on the tail, except its distal half, which is darker. Top of +head and sides of face darker; a narrow white streak from the brow down the +nose; ring round the eyes dark, wider on the inner side; chin, throat, +inner side of limbs, and under surface of body creamy-white. In the young, +which remains blind for several days after birth, the white nose-streak is +less defined, and the fur is shorter and lighter than that of the parents. + +Orbits approximating; front bones of jaw (the pre-maxillæ) projecting +beyond the incisors; upper median pre-molar teeth with enlarged heel, and +with one or two diminutive cusps; upper molars with a small cusp on the +oblique ridge; wrist-bones elongated. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Demidoff's Galago occurs in Senegal, in West Africa, and has +been obtained in Central Africa in the {46}Niam-Niam country by Dr. +Schweinfurth, and in the Monbuttu country by the late Emin Pasha. + +HABITS.--Writing of Demidoff's Galago in a letter from Africa addressed to +Mr. A. Murray, Mr. Thomson says: "It was a most interesting and amusing +pet, not only quite tame, but manifesting strong attachment. It was a very +epitome of zoology, of the size and colour of a large Rat; it had the tail +of a Squirrel, the facial outline of the Fox, the membranous ears of the +Bat, the eyes and somewhat of the manners of the Owl in its cool odd way of +peering at objects, the long slender fingers of a lean old man who +habitually eats down his nails, and all the mirthfulness and agility of a +diminutive Monkey. It hated its cage at night, but delighted to leap among +the bars of the chairs ranged purposely round the table for it. It could +clear a horizontal distance of at least six feet at a bound.... It +possessed a curious power of folding its membranous ears back upon +themselves and somewhat corrugating them at pleasure; and it appeared to me +that the palms of its hands and feet were endowed in some degree with the +power of suction.... I have seen it maintain itself in positions where the +mere lateral pressure of its limbs appeared to be inadequate for the +purpose.... I never saw it muster courage enough to attack either a +Grasshopper or a Mantis."... + + +V. MONTEIRO'S GALAGO. GALAGO MONTEIRI. + + _Galago monteiri_, Bartlett, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 231, pl. xxviii. + + _Callotus monteiri_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 145. + +CHARACTERS.--Fur Mouse-grey at base, with white tips; pupils of eyes oval +and vertical; ears very large and naked; hairs on face and cheeks short; +feet broad, short, and strong; toes {47}broad, with rounded discs; thumb +very broad; tail very long. Entirely pale grey over the head, face, cheeks, +body, and tail; throat nearly white; hands and feet dark brown, nearly +black; nose black; ears nearly black. One of the largest species of the +Sub-family. Length, 12 inches; tail, 16 inches long. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species was discovered by Mr. Monteiro in Cuio Bay on +the West Coast of Africa, to the south of Loanda; and the late Captain +Cameron, R.N., brought a few specimens home with him from Bailunda, on his +return from his celebrated march across the Continent. + +HABITS.--Little is known of this species from observation in the field. A +few specimens have reached Europe, and on one that lived in the Zoological +Gardens in London, Mr. Bartlett made the following observation: "The animal +has the power of turning its ears back by the complex muscles of their +external aspect, and folding them up when at rest. When moving about or in +search of food they spread out and stand upward and forward, reminding one +of those of the Aye-Aye; but when folded back and down, the animal's face +bears a strong resemblance to the Douroucouli (_Nyctipithecus_)." + + +VI. THE GREAT GALAGO. GALAGO CRASSICAUDATA. + + _Galago crassicaudatus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 166 (1812). + + _Otolicnus crassicaudatus_, Peters, Reis, Mossamb. Saügeth., t. 2, t. 4, + figs. 1-5. + + _Otogale crassicaudata_, var. kirkii, Gray, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 456. + + _? Galago lasiotis_, Peters, S. B. Ges., Nat. Fr. Berl., 1892, p. 224. + +CHARACTERS.--Hair long and woolly. Head round; muzzle more elongated than +in other Galagos; nose-pad with a deep {48}furrow; eyes large; ears large, +the upper half membranaceous and nude; tail long, thick and bushy; fourth +digit of hand and foot longest; fingers and toes not united by a membrane, +but with flat disc-like terminations. + +Hair Mouse-grey at base, silver-grey at tips; the hair on the belly white +tipped, sometimes entirely white; hairs on back longer and with black tips. +General colour yellowish-brown, with a lighter band from the forehead along +the centre of the nose and round the eye-circles, which are darker. Iris +reddish-brown. Top of head rusty-brown; back grey; sides of body, cheeks, +and outer side of limbs grey, faintly washed with rusty-red; whole under +side grey or yellowish-white. Tail ferruginous; hands and feet deep +rufous-brown; short hairs of digits blackish-brown. Length, 13 inches; +tail, 16 inches. The female has the pelage similar to that of the male. + +The coast form, which has been described as Kirk's Galago (_G. kirkii_), is +only a variety of the present species. In it the fur is pale ashy-grey; the +hairs at the base Mouse-grey, tipped with grey, with longer black hairs +distributed over the body; cheeks, inner sides of limbs, and under side +greyish-white; face, crown, and nape washed with reddish-brown, which +extends on the outer side of the limbs; lower back more lightly washed; +tail, dirty grey. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Great Galago is found on the south-east coast of Africa +to 24° S lat., and extends into the interior for about 140 miles from +Quilimane. Kirk's Galago (_G. crassicaudata_, var. _kirkii_) is confined to +the maritime regions and mangrove forests of the east coast. Sir John Kirk +states that it has been observed at the Luabo mouth of the Zambesi, at +Quilimane, and at Mozambique. It has also been procured at Taveita. + +{49}HABITS.--This species, named by the Portuguese "Rat of the Cocoanut +Palm," nestles by day among the palm fronds, its ears folded up like a +Beetle's wing, and, if disturbed, it performs feats of agility, darting +from one palm to another. "It will spring with great rapidity," says Sir +John Kirk, "adhering to any object as if it were a lump of wet clay. It has +one failing,--should a pot of palm-wine be left on the top of the tree the +creature drinks to excess, comes down and rushes about intoxicated," and +can then be easily caught. "It becomes active just after darkness sets in. +The rapidity and length of its leaps, which were absolutely noiseless, must +give great facilities to its capturing live prey. I never knew it give a +loud call, but it would often make a low chattering noise." + + +THE MOUSE-LEMURS. GENUS CHIROGALE. + + _Cheirogaleus_, Geoffr., Ann. du Mus., xix., p. 171 (1812). + + _Chirogale_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., i., p. 1 (1894). + +In this genus are included a group of Lemurs of very small dimensions, and +of which the following are the more important characters: The rounded head +has a short face covered with fur. The eyes are very large and set close +together, agreeing well with their nocturnal life. The ears are +conspicuous, projecting beyond the fur, thin, and membranaceous. The +hind-limbs are larger than the fore-, the foot being remarkably elongated +by the lengthening of the heel-bone (_Astragalus_). The nail of the second +finger is pointed, but all the rest are flat. The length of the tail +exceeds that of the body. In some the orbits are directed outwards instead +of directly forwards as is generally the case among the members of the +Sub-order. Of the teeth in the upper jaw, the inner incisors are larger +than the outer; the anterior pre-molar is as long {50}vertically as its +median neighbour; while the posterior, which is smaller than the anterior +molar, has one internal and one large external cusp. Of the molars, the +inner hind cusp is either small or wanting. The bony palate is long, its +hind margin extending behind the posterior molar. The pre-maxillary bones, +carrying the incisor teeth, are largely developed. The mastoid portion of +the ear-capsules (periotic) is not inflated as in many species of Lemurs. +Several of the species of this genus remain somnolent and torpid throughout +the dry season, in regions where it is then impossible to obtain the +vegetable food they require. The Mouse-Lemurs are confined to the island of +Madagascar. + + +I. MILIUS' MOUSE-LEMUR. CHIROGALE MILII. + + _Cheirogaleus milii_, Geoffr., Cours de l'Hist. Nat., Mamm., ii^e. leçon, + p. 24 (1829). + + _Cheirogaleus typicus_, A. Smith, S. Afr. Q. Journ., ii., p. 56 (1833). + + _Chirogale milii_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 21 (1894), Taf. + ii., figs. 1, 8, 9 (with full synonymy). + +CHARACTERS.--Snout pointed; eyes prominent; ears moderately large, oval, +membranaceous, and sparsely-haired externally; tail Rat-like, thick at +base, becoming thinner towards its extremity. Brain-case of skull less +vaulted than in the true Lemurs. Bony palate prolonged behind the posterior +molar, its hind perforations large; mastoid portion of ear-capsule +(periotic) not swollen. No gap in upper jaw between the canines and +anterior pre-molar teeth; anterior upper pre-molar canine-like, and longer +than the median; no gap between the anterior and median pre-molars; +posterior lower molar reduced in size. The anterior milk pre-molar changes +first, the posterior next, and median last. The posterior upper +{51}milk-molar has one inner and two outer cusps. (_Forsyth Major._) +Heel-bone elongated. + +General colour varying considerably; top of head, neck, and upper part of +back, brownish-grey or uniform delicate fawn-brown, sometimes "grizzled +with silvery-grey" or washed with rufous, more especially on the head; rest +of back, sides, outer sides of limbs and tail ashy-brown; under side and +inner side of limbs greyish-white, or white slightly washed with yellowish. +Ring round orbits and side of nose, black; space between the eyes lighter +than the back of the head. Length, 7-8 inches. The young are dark +Mouse-grey. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Milius' Mouse-Lemur, though a rare species, is widely +distributed in Madagascar, being found in the Ankay Forest on the +north-east coast as well as along the west coast as far south as +Mouroundava. + +HABITS.--This beautiful little Lemur, no bigger than a Guinea-pig, is, like +most of the other species of its group, nocturnal and arboreal, feeding on +fruits and probably honey. It runs on all fours, but sits up to eat, +holding its food in its hands. In the winter months it is believed to +hibernate in hollow trees. Having scooped out a cavity big enough to +contain its body, the little animal collects, according to the Rev. G. A. +Shaw, sufficient loose leaves and grass to cover it; it then retires, and, +burying itself in the heap, is sustained during its period of hibernation +by the store of fat which, during the summer months, becomes deposited at +the root of the tail, and swells the latter out to an enormous size. + + +II. THE BLACK-EARED MOUSE-LEMUR. CHIROGALE MELANOTIS. + + _Cheirogaleus typicus_ (nec Smith), Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus. App., + p. 133 (1870); id. P. Z. S., 1872, p. 855 (partim), pl. lxxi., fig. 3. + + {52}_Chirogale melanotis_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 25, + Tab. ii., fig. 10 (1894). + + (_Plate V._) + +CHARACTERS.--Very similar to _C. milii_, but distinguished by the far less +woolly and more silky fur; face pointed; ears rounded, somewhat large, the +outside and half the inside haired; lips flesh-colour. Upper side rather +light brownish (almost reddish) grey; upper side of tail darker; tips of +hair silvery, but less so than in _C. milii_. No white stripe between the +eyes as in that species, the space not lighter than the top of the head and +back; ears very dark brown; a dark brown ring round the eyes; a white +stripe along the side of the neck. Under side of body and inner side of +limbs greyish-white. Length, 10½ inches; tail, 9 inches. Skull smaller in +all its dimensions than _C. milii_; the face longer and more tapering; the +nasal bones broader before and behind; the posterior perforations in the +palate large, as in _C. milii_; mandible less spread; the inner cusp of the +anterior upper pre-molar less developed; basal heel of upper and lower +canines stronger; posterior lower molar longer and with a distinct heel. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species is known from a single skin in the collection +of the British Museum, which was obtained at Vohima, on the north-east +coast of Madagascar. + + +III. THE HAIRY-EARED MOUSE-LEMUR. CHIROGALE TRICHOTIS. + + _Chirogaleus trichotis_, Günther, P. Z. S., 1875, p. 78, pl. xv. + + _Chirogale trichotis_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 26 (1894). + +PLATE V. + +[Illustration: THE BLACK-EARED MOUSE-LEMUR.] + + +{53}CHARACTERS.--Brownish-grey above; lower parts grey with the hairs +white-tipped; a spot in front of the eye black; the lips and a line down +the nose, white. Hands and feet grey, the hairs white-tipped. Ears short, +concealed in fur, with tufts of long hair on the lower part and on the +space in front of the ears. Tail shorter than the body, its hair short +except forwards, where it is longer. + +Skull depressed and flattened; cranial portion short. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The only known specimen of this species is the type in the +British Museum, obtained by Crossley during his journey from Tamatave to +Mouroundava. + + +IV. CROSSLEY'S MOUSE-LEMUR. CHIROGALE CROSSLEYI. + + _Chirogaleus crossleyi_, Grandid., Rev. et Mag. de Zool., xxii., p. 49 + (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Smaller than _C. melanotis_ (Major); tail short and very +hairy. Head very large, rounded; ears small and haired. Hind-limbs longer +than fore. Upper side, especially the head, rufous; under side +greyish-white. Round the eyes a black ring; inner aspect of the ears dark +brown, the upper border black. (_Grandidier._) + +Length, 8 inches; tail, 4¾ inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Crossley's Mouse-Lemur is known as yet only from the forests +to the east of Antsianak, in Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The two species last described (_Chirogale trichotis_ and _C. +crossleyi_) are very closely related together. They are nocturnal animals, +and very rare; consequently but little is known of their habits. It is, +however, very improbable that they depart widely from those of the better +known Mouse-Lemurs. + + +{54}THE DWARF-LEMURS. GENUS MICROCEBUS. + + _Microcebus_, Geoffr., Cours de l'Hist. Nat., Mamm., leçon vi., p. 24 + (1828). + +Under this genus are arranged five species of very small Lemurs, whose +hind-limbs are longer than their fore-, though less so in proportion than +is the case among the African Galagos. Their snout is also shorter; their +eyes are large, approximated together, very prominent and very bright, and +their ears are elongated. On the ventral surface are situated four mammæ, +two on the breast and two on the abdomen. + +Of their bony framework, the brain-case is high, broad, and more vaulted +than that of either the Mouse-Lemurs or the species of the next genus, +_Opolemur_. The facial region is also shorter. The mastoid portion of the +ear-capsules (periotic bones) and the squamosal region is somewhat less +inflated than in _Galago_. With regard to their dentition, the inner upper +incisor is larger than its outer fellow. Between the upper canine and the +anterior pre-molar of its own side there exists no gap, nor is there a +space between the anterior and the median upper pre-molars. The molars have +three-cusped crowns, but these cusps are very sharp, and are weaker than +those in _Galago_; the intermediate cusp between the two main cusps to the +front is wanting. The concavity also of the hinder margin (so marked in +_Galago_) is here very slight, but the basal ring (_cingulum_) is swollen +internally to form an inner hind cusp. The posterior upper molar is smaller +than the anterior, and its inner hind cusp is rudimentary. The hind border +of the bony palate extends to behind the last molar tooth, its posterior +perforations being very large. The angle of the lower jaw is not produced +downwards. + +{55}The foot in the Dwarf-Lemurs is long, on account of the elongation of +two of its ankle-bones (the _cuboid_ and the _naviculare_). + +The species of this genus are confined to the island of Madagascar. They +are entirely nocturnal, as their large eyes and inflated ear-capsules might +suggest. They are chiefly arboreal and frugivorous. + + +I. SMALL DWARF-LEMUR. MICROCEBUS MINOR. + + _Microcebus murinus_, Martin, P. Z. S., 1835, pp. 125. + + _Galago minor_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. H., x., p. 255 (1842). + + _? Chirogalus gliroides_, Grandid., C. R., 14 Dec., 1868. + + _Chirogaleus pusillus_, Flower and Lydekker, Mammalia, p. 690 (1891 + partim). + + _Microcebus minor_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 8 (1894), Taf. + i., fig. 2; ii., figs. 5-7, 14, 15 (with full synonymy). + +CHARACTERS.--Head rounded; muzzle short and pointed; eyes large and +brilliant; ears large and naked; tail longer than body. Length of body, 5 +inches; of tail, 6 inches. + +Upper side, either for the most part Mouse-grey, washed with light +rufous-brown, with the stripe down the back more or less distinct and +somewhat darker; or with the rufous-brown colour preponderating. In grey +specimens the upper side of the tail is washed with rufous, the under side +being somewhat lighter. Cheeks, throat, breast, belly, and inner side of +limbs almost pure white, here and there washed with grey. Between the eyes +a white stripe; over the eyes in grey specimens a rusty-brown spot. Base of +the hairs slate-grey; the tips silvery. (_Forsyth Major._) Skull variable; +the brain-case short and high, or long and depressed; the facial region +short; posterior {56}upper pre-molar less than the anterior molar. Length +of intestine, 20 inches; cæcum blunt, 1¾ inches long; main arteries of +fore- and hind-limbs not broken up into a _rete mirabile_ of small parallel +vessels. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This beautiful little animal, sometimes called the "Rat" of +Madagascar, the smallest of all the Lemurs, is known from Ambulisatra on +the south-west coast of Madagascar, and from Fort Dauphin on the south-east +coast. + + +II. THE DORMOUSE DWARF-LEMUR. MICROCEBUS MYOXINUS. + + _Microcebus myoxinus_, Peters, Reis, Mossamb. Zool., i., Säugeth., pp. + 14-20, Taf. iii. and iv. (1852); Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. + 11 (1894). + +CHARACTERS.--Head Cat-like and round; muzzle pointed and broader than in +_M. minor_. Ears large, one-third shorter than the head and short-haired; +eyes large and round. Fourth digit of hand longest; second and fifth +shortest. Tail longer than the body, its hair stronger and shorter than on +the body, but longer at the tip and on the upper side than it is beneath. +Two pairs of teats, one pair on the breast, and one pair on the abdomen. + +Resembles _M. minor_, but is redder in colour. Back reddish-yellow, washed +with ferruginous, brighter on the forehead and under the eyes; a dark brown +spot on the upper and lower corners of the eyes; sides of body between the +limbs, hands and wrists, feet and ankles, as well as the external margins +of the limbs, and the whole under side, as well as a spot on the brow, a +line down the centre of the nose, and the sides of the head and cheeks, +pure white, washed with yellowish-brown. {57}Tail golden-yellow, washed +with ferruginous on the upper side, the entire distal third darker; rest of +the under side of the tail paler. Naked part of ears flesh-colour. +(_Peters._) Hairs slate-grey at base, the tips ferruginous. + +Mastoid portion of ear-capsules (periotic-bones) not so inflated as in _M. +minor_; hind border of bony palate extending to the posterior border of the +last molar, its posterior foramina being large; pre-maxillary bones very +large and projecting beyond the incisor teeth; angle of lower jaw pointed +and hooked. Upper inner incisors standing in front of the canines, and +nearly twice the size of the outer; no gap between the canines and the +anterior pre-molar; the pre-molars vertically sub-equal, and with one +external cusp; molars with two external cusps, the hinder of the two united +to the large inner front cusp by an oblique ridge, their inner side bounded +by the cingulum; the posterior molar smaller than the two anterior. +Anterior and median lower molars four-cusped; the posterior, the largest of +the cheek-teeth, five-cusped. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Dormouse Dwarf-Lemur inhabits the south-west coast of +Madagascar; it has also been obtained at Bambotoka in St. Augustin's Bay on +the west coast. + + +III. SMITH'S DWARF-LEMUR. MICROCEBUS SMITHI. + + _Microcebus pusillus_, G. R. Waterh., Cat. Mamm. Mus. Zool. Soc., 2nd + ed., p. 12 (1838). + + _Cheirogaleus smithii_, J. E. Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1842, p. 257. + + _Chirogaleus pusillus_, Flower and Lydekker, Introd. Mamm., p. 690 (1891, + pt.) + + {58}_Microcebus smithii_, Mivart, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 641; Forsyth Major, + Nov. Zool., vol. 1., p. 12; Taf. ii., figs. 3, 4, 12, and 13 (1894) (with + full synonymy). + + (_Plate VI._) + +CHARACTERS.--Closely related to the foregoing; the fur in most specimens +less woolly than in the other species; eyes large; snout longer and more +pointed; ears shorter, less than half the length of the head; ankles +proportionally shorter; fingers and toes longer; fur generally darker, the +tail not markedly different from the back, very Rat-like in form; the dark +marks in front of the eye extending to the tip of the nose, inside of the +ears more ferruginous; size about that of a Rat. Muzzle longer and more +pointed than in _M. myoxinus_; pre-maxillæ more produced in front, and +nasals more produced above the nostrils; bony palate less prolonged +backwards beyond the posterior molar, the hind perforations of the latter +large; the line of union of the two halves of the lower jaw shorter than in +_M. myoxinus_; upper incisors set anterior to the canines, and distant from +the inner margin of the pre-maxillæ, the inner pair larger than the outer +pair; the anterior upper pre-molar less vertically extended than the median +one; median and posterior lower molars having the hind outer cusp lower and +longer than the front outer cusp. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Smith's Dwarf-Lemur is known from Fort Dauphin, on the +south-east coast, from Betsileo in the centre, and from the south coast of +Madagascar. + +PLATE VI. + +[Illustration: SMITH'S DWARF-LEMUR.] + + +{59}HABITS.--Of the habits of both this and of the preceding species little +is known, for they have rarely, if ever, been seen alive by Europeans. +According to the Rev. G. A. Shaw, the present species lives in the belt of +forest-land stretching from the eastern forest into the heart of Betsileo, +a few miles north of Fianarantsoa, where they are tolerably abundant, +frequenting the tops of the highest trees. Among these it moves about on +all fours (its very stout limbs having beautifully perfect hands), using +its tail as a balance by twisting it round a branch. The tail is, however, +not truly prehensile, the animal only employing it to steady itself, or to +hold on slightly by. This species, whose food consists chiefly of fruit and +insects, builds a nest in a fork amid the smallest branches near the top of +some very high tree, the female bringing forth two and sometimes three +young at a birth. + + +IV. THE FORK-MARKED DWARF-LEMUR. MICROCEBUS FURCIFER. + + _Lemur furcifer_, Blainv., Ostéogr. Mamm., 1841, p. 35, pl. vii. + + _Cheirogaleus furcifer_, Isid. Geoffr., C. R., xxxi., p. 876 (1850); + Mivart, P. Z. S., 1867, pp. 960-975 (skull and tarsus figured). + + _Lepilemur furcifer_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 145. + + _Phaner furcifer_, J. E. Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus. App., pp. 132, + 135 (1870). + + _Microcebus furcifer_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 16 (1894). + +CHARACTERS.--Ears large and long; snout pointed; tail longer than the body, +and equally haired; foot elongate. General colour reddish-grey. +Unmistakably recognisable by the black dorsal streak bifurcating on the +forehead into two branches, extending on the inner side of the ears and +terminating over each eye. + +Facial portion of skull longer than cranial; angle of lower jaw much +produced backwards and downwards; hind margin of palate extending back to +hinder margin of posterior molar; hind perforations of palate large; border +of maxillary swollen {60}in the canines and pre-molars. Upper anterior +incisors much larger than the posterior, and both anterior to canines; +anterior pre-molars canine-like, both vertically and proportionately longer +than the median pre-molars of any other species of the family; median +pre-molar compressed, with a fore and hind heel; the posterior pre-molar +with a large internal talon. Molars comparatively small, but longer and +narrower than in _M. coquereli_; anterior molar much larger than the +posterior pre-molar, its hind inner cusp rudimentary; the posterior molar +longer than the posterior pre-molar, and smaller than the other molars, its +inner cusp wanting. Lower anterior pre-molar lance-shaped, vertically +longer than the two posterior sub-equal grinders; molars sub-equal, much +larger than the posterior pre-molar; posterior molar comparatively short, +five-cusped. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Chiefly found on the west coast of Madagascar. + + +V. COQUEREL'S DWARF-LEMUR. MICROCEBUS COQUERELI. + + _Cheirogalus coquereli_, Grandid., Rev. Mag. de Zool., xix., 1867, p. 85. + + _Microcebus coquereli_, Mivart, P. Z. S., 1867, pp. 966-967; Forsyth + Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 14 (1894; with full synonymy). + + _Mirza coquerelii_, J. E. Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus. App., pp. 131, + 135, 136 (1870); Schlegel, Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 321 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Similar to _M. furcifer_, but slightly smaller; ears large, +long, and almost naked; tail longer than the body; fur soft and woolly. +Above dark grey, washed with rufous; tail, at base, of the same colour as +the back; remainder of tail dark rufous; throat, breast, and under side of +body yellowish-grey. {61}Length of body, 8½ inches; tail, 13 inches; skull +high and arched; outer and hinder portion of ear-capsules (periotic-bones) +and squamosal swollen; frontal bone longer than in _Opolemur_ and +_Chirogale_; occiput less sloping from behind and above forwards and +outwards. Upper median and posterior molars with one inner and two outer +cusps, united by a curved ridge, cingulate all round, and with a small cusp +or cingulum at the hind inner angle; posterior pre-molars smaller and +shorter than the molars, with strong and vertically longer outer cusp, and +a much more feeble inner cusp; posterior lower molar lengthened behind by a +fifth cusp. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Coquerel's Dwarf-Lemur, or the "Sisiba," as the natives call +it, is found round Passandava Bay, near Mouroundava, on the south-west +coast of Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The Sisiba, like its congeners, is nocturnal and arboreal, +constructing in the trees a nest of twigs. It feeds on fruits and leaves. + + +THE FAT-TAILED LEMURS. GENUS OPOLEMUR. + + _Opolemur_, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 853. + +The term _Opolemur_, by which this genus is designated, is not altogether +appropriate, and is, indeed, even somewhat misleading. It was applied in +the first instance to the typical species on account of the thickened base +of its tail, which in the type-specimen was a very conspicuous character. +The deposit of fat by which this thickening was caused was not then known +to be merely transitory--a store of food collected at the base of the tail +and on other parts of the body, to supply the needs of the animal during +the arid and foodless season, when it retires into a state of torpidity. It +is now known that {62}other species of this sub-family (as we have seen +above in the case of the Mouse-Lemurs), which are generically distinct from +_Opolemur_, share this peculiarity. + +The two species included in this genus are intermediate between the +Mouse-Lemurs and the Dwarf-Lemurs, and are really more nearly related to +the former than to the latter. The skull is flat and depressed as in +_Chirogale_, and the brain-case small and almost vertical behind. The +posterior foramina in the palate are small. In respect to their dentition, +the cusps of the upper molars are blunter and shorter than in the +Mouse-Lemurs, but less so than among the Dwarf-Lemurs; the hind inner cusps +of the anterior and median molars are large, and the ridge from the inner +cusp is less intimately joined to the two outer cusps than in the +Dwarf-Lemurs. + + +I. SAMAT'S FAT-TAILED LEMUR. OPOLEMUR SAMATI. + + _Chirogalus samatii_, Grandid., Rev. et Mag. de Zool., xx., p. 49 (1868). + + _Opolemur milii_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1872, pp. 853-4, pl. lxx., fig. i. (in + part). + + _Opolemur samati_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 18 (1894). + +CHARACTERS.--Head, Cat-like; hair on body and tail very short, longer at +tip of tail; tail very thick at base, from accumulation of fat, especially +in the month of August. Length, 7½ inches; tail, 6½. + +Fur above dark grey, washed with ferruginous, the tips of the hairs +silvery-grey; tail faded rufous; a white spot on the forehead, becoming a +line down the centre of the nose; a black circle round the eyes; ears +slightly longer; tail shorter {63}and thicker proportionately than in +_Chirogale milii_; under surface and inner side of limbs fulvous. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species, according to M. Grandidier, to whom all our +knowledge of it is due, has been obtained on the River Tsidsibon, but is +reported from other places on the west coast of Madagascar. + + +II. THOMAS' FAT-TAILED LEMUR. OPOLEMUR THOMASI. + + _Opolemur thomasi_, Forsyth Major, Nov. Zool., vol. i., p. 20, Taf. i., + fig. 1 Taf., ii., figs. 2 and 11 (1894). + +CHARACTERS.--Nearly allied to _O. samati_. Head broad, flat; snout short; +ears short. Above grey, with a wash of rusty brown, the tips of the hair +glistening silvery-grey; top of head somewhat darker; under side of tail +lighter; a white band between the eyes extending down to the nose-pad, +which is naked; round the neck a white ring broken by a grey spot; ring +round the eyes, and hair of ears, brownish-black; cheeks, lips, chin, +throat, breast, belly, inner side of limbs, upper side of hands and feet, +yellowish-white, and inclining to greyish-white, where it merges into the +upper side. Length, 9¼ inches; tail, 8 inches. + +Skull depressed; brain-case flat and short; facial portion blunt; +inter-parietal bone broad and short. Posterior upper pre-molar broader than +the median, and broader than the same tooth in _O. samati_, the median +pre-molar lacking the inner cusp. Nasal bones sharply keeled in the +mid-line. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Of this species only the three specimens, in the British +Museum, are yet known. They were obtained near Fort Dauphin, on the +south-east coast of Madagascar. + +HABITS.--Nothing is known of the habits of either of these two species of +_Opolemur_. + + + + +{64}THE TRUE LEMURS. SUB-FAMILY III. LEMURINÆ. + + +The third sub-family of the _Lemuridæ_ contains the True Lemurs, which are +characterised by the possession of a soft, thick, and woolly fur, the head +rounded behind, with a specially elongated muzzle. They have small and oval +ears, with the exterior aspect covered with long hair, but the inside +naked, except round the margin. Their hind-limbs do not show so great a +disproportionate length compared to that of the fore-limbs, as in the next +sub-family, the _Indrisinæ_. The ankle-bones (_tarsus_) are only slightly +elongated, and their toes are not united by a membrane. Their long and +bushy tail is sometimes longer and sometimes shorter than the body. The +females produce one or two, nearly naked, young at a birth, the mammæ being +either two or four in number. The skull presents a central ridge on the +frontal bone, and its facial portion is much elongated, the inter-orbital +space being depressed and wider, and the orbits also directed somewhat +outward and less straightforwardly than in several of the genera already +noticed. The maxillary bones are generally much reduced, and the incisor +teeth carried by them not unfrequently entirely aborted. The teeth in this +Sub-family vary in number from 32 to 36, the dental formula being I(0-2)/2, +C1/1, P3/3, M3/3. The foot is slightly elongated by the lengthening of the +_naviculare_ bone of the ankle, the others being short. In the wrist +(_carpus_) the central bone (_centrale_) may be present or absent; its +absence, however, is a character which is met with otherwise only in Man, +the Chimpanzees, and the Endrina and some other Lemurs, to be described +later on. The cæcum is not markedly developed. + +{65}The external coloration of the species of this Sub-family is remarkably +variable, the variation being chiefly in the upper portion of the hairs, as +their base is generally slate-grey. + +The sub-family _Lemurinæ_ embraces four genera: the True Lemurs (_Lemur_), +of which there are now eight recognised species; the Hattock (_Mixocebus_), +with a solitary species; the Gentle-Lemurs (_Hapalemur_), containing two +species, and the Sportive-Lemurs (_Lepidolemur_), with seven species. Some +of the most elegantly coloured species in the Animal Kingdom belong to this +group. They are gregarious, and most of them arboreal, though some are not +so. They form rather an exception to the general rule among Lemurs, in not +being nocturnal. They feed during the morning and evening, emitting loud +cries as they move about, and during the heat of the day, they often lie +stretched out in the sun; at night they rest with their long tails coiled +about them. In their mode of progression they are more quadrupedal than +most of the other Lemuroids; they jump, walk, or run on all fours. Their +food consists of fruits, birds' eggs, birds and insects. Their infants are +carried about close to, and concealed amid, the hair of their mother's +breast; when older they cling to her back. + +The True Lemurs are all inhabitants of Madagascar and of the adjacent +Comoro Islands. They are unknown on the African continent. + + +THE TRUE LEMURS. GENUS LEMUR. + + _Prosimia_, Brisson, Regn. Anim., p. 220 (1756). + + _Lemur_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 44 (1766). + + _Varecia_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 135. + +This genus contains the typical Lemurs, in their most restricted sense. +They are characterised by having a very {66}Fox-like head, and an elongate +and tapering face, shelving on each side of the nose. A long fringe of hair +surrounds their chin and cheeks. They have all large and tufted ears, and +large eyes, with superciliary ridges rising higher than the forehead. Their +tail is always half as long as the body at least. The fore-limbs are +somewhat shorter than the hind-limbs, and both the wrist and ankles are +haired. The ankle is not elongated, nor is the great toe as large as in the +next family--the _Indrisinæ_. On the outside of the palm of the hand and +under the base of the fingers are situated fleshy pads, giving them greater +grasping power. The True Lemurs have only one pair of mammæ, which are +situated on the breast. + +In the skull the facial region is much elongated, its measurement from the +anterior margin of the orbit forward being greater than the longitudinal +diameter of the orbit, and the space between the eye-sockets is narrow and +depressed. The bony palate is short, extending back only to the posterior +end of the median molar. The posterior portion of the ear-capsules (the +mastoidal and squamosal regions) is not inflated--a character which +separates this genus from _Galago_. The pre-maxillary bones are large and +protrude in front, if the skull be viewed from the side. The angle of the +lower jaw is not produced downwards and backwards. In some species a large +maxillary sinus projects into the anterior part of the orbit; in some also +the _foramen rotundum_ does not coalesce with the sphenoidal fissure (see +page 11), but has a distinct opening. The teeth are of the normal number, +namely thirty-six. In the upper jaw the incisors are small, sub-equal, and +situated anteriorly to the canines and are not in contact with each other, +or with the latter. The canines are very large, tusk-like, and set in an +excavated notch on the jaw. All the pre-molars {67}have one main cusp to +the outside; the anterior pre-molar, however, has a supplementary minute +front cusp, while the median has in addition one large interior cusp; both +it and the posterior pre-molars are vertically taller than their anterior +fellow. The molars have two inner cusps, and two main outer cusps with a +supplementary minute fore cusp, as well as two cusps on the ridge joining +the fore and hind outer cusps; the posterior molar--the smallest of the +three--is, however, larger than the posterior pre-molar, and has only the +front inner cusp and no supplementary external cusp. The lower jaw shows a +gap between the canine and the anterior pre-molar. The anterior pre-molar, +which is vertically taller than the rest, is edged and cutting, taking the +place of a tusk; the anterior and median pre-molars are also separated by a +small space; the latter, which is equal in vertical height to the +posterior, has an inner cusp and a low cusped heel. The molars have two +outer main cusps, of which the front one is more developed than the hind +one, and two inner cusps, often with an intermediate cusp between them; the +pair of fore and the pair of hind cusps are joined by transverse ridges, +and the two outside cusps by a backwardly directed semicircular ridge; the +posterior molar is four-cusped. + +The dorsal and lumbar vertebræ together do not exceed twenty in number. + +The hind portion of the cerebellum is large, which points to intellectual +inferiority in the True Lemurs as compared with the Apes. + +The species of this genus are all confined to the island of Madagascar and +some of the smaller adjacent islands. They are gregarious, living in large +companies in the forests, feeding on fruits, insects, and such small +animals, birds, and lizards {68}as they may capture. Like the Howlers of S. +America and the Gibbons of the East Indies, they are very noisy. Their +agility is wonderfully great, and is displayed chiefly in the evening. +During the brighter hours of the day they sit somnolent, either alone with +their heads buried between their arms, their tail coiled round the neck, or +in twos or threes embracing each other with their arms. In walking they use +their fore-limbs less as hands, and more as feet than do the members of the +next family--the _Indrisinæ_--both when on the ground, as well as when +climbing among the trees. + + +I. THE RUFFED LEMUR. LEMUR VARIUS. + + _Lemur macaco_, _var._ Schreber, Säugeth., p. 142, pl. 40 B (1775). + + _Lemur macaco et L. ruber_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 159 (1812). + + _Lemur varius_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 71, no. 2 (1851); + Schl., Mus. Pays. Bas., vii., p. 301 (1876); Milne-Edwards et Grandid., + H. N. Madag., Mamm., Atlas, pls. 123-129 (1690). + + (_Plate VII._) + +CHARACTERS.--Face and top of head black; a stripe over the eyes, ridge of +nose and tip of nostrils, creamy-white; a patch on the shoulder, the inside +of the fore-legs, the inner surface of body, a patch on the front of the +thighs, the inner side of the limbs, and the feet, black; tail black, +washed with white on the upper surface; rest of body creamy-white. + +PLATE VII. + +[Illustration: THE RED-RUFFED LEMUR.] + + +{69}The Ruffed or Variable Lemur derives its name from the remarkable +variability of its external markings: so much is this the case, indeed, +that not a few of them have been described as distinct species. This +variability appears to be entirely individual, and is by no means constant. +The Black-mantled variety has the back of the neck, the shoulders and +interscapular region entirely black. Another form has the ears, the ruff, +and a bar across the muzzle extending over and in front of the eyes, +joining the ruff, pure white; the fore-arms, legs, a bar across the +buttocks joining the thighs greyish-white; face, legs, and tail black; a +ring encircling the body like a belt between the fore- and hind-limbs, +yellowish-white; rest of body dark reddish-brown. A third variety has the +ears, ruff, and outer side of the arms and legs pure white; the flanks +rusty-red, the rest of the body black. + +THE RED-RUFFED LEMUR (_L. ruber_) is a very well-marked variety of the same +species, and may easily be recognised by the ears, ruff and whole upper +surface of body being dark rusty-red, with the outer surface of thighs and +legs white; or, the ears, ruff and whole upper surface (except a white +patch on the back of the neck) may be dark brown, with a white garter on +each ankle; otherwise it may be entirely black. It is this variety which we +have figured on Plate VII. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Throughout the north-east of Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The Ruffed Lemur, called by the natives "Varikossi," has a loud, +harsh and powerful voice, which can be heard for a long distance. + + +II. THE BLACK LEMUR. LEMUR MACACO. + + _Lemur macaco_, Linn., S. N., i., p. 44 (1766); Schl. Mus. Pays. Bas., + vii., p. 302 (1876); Milne-Edwards et Grandid., H. N. Madag., Mamm., pls. + 131, 132 (1890). + + _Lemur niger_, Schreb., Säugeth., pl. 40 A (1775). + + _Lemur leucomystax_, Bartlett, P. Z. S., 1862, p. 347, pl. xli. (female). + + _Varecia nigra_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 136. + +{70}CHARACTERS.--Ears tufted, with long hairs continuing down the side of +the neck to the angle of the mouth. + +MALE.--Entirely black. + +FEMALE.--Formerly described as a distinct species, and known as the +White-whiskered Lemur (_L. leucomystax_). Face and lips black, darkest on +the nose, round the eyes and hinder part of the head; forehead +blackish-grey; whiskers and ear-tufts white, almost concealing the ears. +General colour of body rich ferruginous brown, darker on the middle of the +back; arms, legs and neck reddish-yellow; tail whiter; throat, under side +of body and inner side of limbs creamy-white. + +There is a considerable amount of variation in this species. Some +individuals have the lower back and base of tail white; the belly +greyish-white, the feet brown, and the toes black. In others the black +frontal spot is wanting, the back of the head being reddish-white; the +basal half of the tail is dark orange-red, remainder of the body rich +rusty-brown. On the fore-arm is a cluster of stiff hairs, which occurs in +association with a large underlying sweat-gland, whose function is not yet +understood. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The north-west coast of Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The special habits of this species of Lemur are unknown, but in +all probability they agree with those of the group in general, as given +under the heading of the genus. It is said to utter a coarse grunting +call-note. + +The young males are born black like the father, and the young females have +the colour of the mother. Dr. Sclater has observed that in specimens in +confinement in the Zoological Gardens, in London, the female carried her +young one transversely across her belly, its long tail passing round her +back and then round its own neck. + + +{71}III. THE MONGOOSE LEMUR. LEMUR MONGOZ. + + _Lemur mongoz_, Linn., S. N., p. 44, no. 2 (1766); Scl., P. Z. S., 1871, + p. 231, figs, 1, 2; Schl., Mus. Pays. Bas., vii. p. 312 (1876); + Milne-Edw. et Grandid., H. N. Madag., Mamm., pls. 133-153 (1890). + + _Lemur anjuanensis_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 161 (1812). + + _Prosimia melanocephala_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 137, pl. xviii. + + _Prosimia xanthomystax_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 138, pl. xvii. + +CHARACTERS.--Fur woolly and thick; eyelashes long; some long bristles +behind the angle of the mouth; face long; no ear-tufts and whiskers, but a +sub-auricular patch of long hair; some long hairs on the digits; tail +bushy. + +MALE.--Head, face, streak across the crown of head and down the forehead +brownish-black; ears of the same colour, white-fringed; cheeks and a spot +on the sides of the forehead iron-grey; sub-auricular cheek-patch white, +slightly washed with rufous; rest of upper surface reddish-grey; tail +darker; chest and under side rufous-grey. + +FEMALE.--Rufous-brown above; neck and shoulders white; throat white; +frontal spot black; face whitish. + +The colour of the fur in this species varies to an extraordinary degree, +and before this fact was recognised, a number of supposed species, founded +on the colour of the animals alone, were described. In course of time, +however, as specimens were obtained in greater number, it became evident +that the variation was only in the colour of the fur, and that there was +none in their anatomical and osteological structure to warrant their being +considered distinct species. They have, therefore, all been now classified +by Professor Milne-Edwards and M. Grandidier in their great work on the +Natural History {72}of Madagascar, as so many varieties of one species, +_Lemur mongoz_. Of these varieties, the most important are:-- + + +THE RED-FOOTED LEMUR. LEMUR RUFIPES. + +MALE.--Face in front of a line above the eyes, dark reddish-brown; hands +and feet bright rufous-brown; under side of body and inner side of limbs +reddish-grey. + +FEMALE.--Wrist and ankles with adjacent part of limbs above brownish-red. + + +THE RED-FRONTED LEMUR. LEMUR RUFIFRONS. + +MALE.--Grizzly, washed with rufous; fore-arms, hands, feet, haunches, outer +side of legs, and top of the head between the ears, rufous. + +FEMALE.--Grizzly brown; top of head grizzly black; patch over and round the +eyes greyish-white. + + +THE GREY-HEADED LEMUR. LEMUR CINEREICEPS. + +Face and frontal spot black; cheeks, sides, top of head, side of neck, and +outside of ears grey; rest of body orange-red. + + +THE COLLARED LEMUR. LEMUR COLLARIS. + +MALE.--Head blackish-brown; cheeks, sides of throat, mark over eyes, and +base of ears, yellowish-grey, washed with orange-red or rufous; a spot at +the side of the nose, grey; chin, throat, and under side of the body, +blackish-grey. + +FEMALE.--Centre of nose black; sides of nose, chin, cheeks, including the +eyes, ears, sides of throat, iron-grey, slightly flushed at the lower side +of the neck under the ears with reddish-orange. Specimens from the island +of Mayotte (_L. mayottensis_, Schl.) differ from _L. collaris_ in having a +blackish spot over the root of the tail. + + +{73}THE RUFOUS LEMUR. LEMUR RUFUS. + +Has a yellowish-white frontal band and whiskers. + + +THE BLACK-FACED LEMUR. LEMUR NIGRIFRONS. + +Has a brownish-black band over the forehead, including the eyes; muzzle, +patch on top of head including the ears, the side of the head below the +ears, sub-auricular tufts, throat and under surface, grey. + + +THE WHITE-FACED LEMUR. LEMUR ALBIFRONS. + +Forehead, top of head, ears, throat, and chest white. + +Pure albino varieties are also quite common. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Mongoose Lemur with its numerous varieties is found +throughout the island of Madagascar, in Mayotte, and in Anjuan or Johanna +Island, one of the Comoro group. + +HABITS.--Gregarious and diurnal, feeding on fruits, insects, and small +animals. + + +IV. SCLATER'S LEMUR. LEMUR NIGERRIMUS. + + _Lemur nigerrimus_, Scl., P. Z. S., 1880, p. 451, figs. 1 and 2; + Milne-Edw. et Grandid., H. N. Madag., Mamm., pls. 154, 155 (1890). + + _Lemur macaco_ (nec L.), Scl., P. Z. S., 1878, p. 1016. + + _Prosimia rufipes_, Gray, Ann. N. H., 1871, p. 339 (female). + +CHARACTERS.--Face covered with short hair; ears nude and without tufts; +nose-pad and lower lips nude. Similar to _L. macaco_, but larger and more +intensely black, with a raised crest of upstanding hair on the head, formed +by the longer fur of the body terminating arcuately on the forehead. +External ears pinkish flesh-colour. Eyes blue, turning to green. Length, 16 +inches; tail, 20 inches. + +{74}FEMALE.--(_Prosimia rufipes_ of Gray) Brown; eyes brownish-yellow. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Cap d'Ambra, N. Madagascar. + +Nothing is known of the habits of this species. + + +V. THE WHITE-HANDED LEMUR. LEMUR ALBIMANUS. + + _Le Maki aux pieds blancs_, Audebert, H. N. Singes, p. 10, pl. 1 (1797: + male). + + _Lemur albimanus_, Is. Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., pp. 161-169 (1812); + Milne-Edw. et Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., Atlas, pls. 156, 157, + 162-164, 165, figs, 1 and 2 (1890). + + _Lemur mongoz_ (nec L.), Schl., Mus. Pays. Bas., vii., p. 312 (1876, + pt.). + +CHARACTERS.--Nose sharp and Dog-like; eyes oblique; ears, except the +central portion, haired. + +MALE.--Face, anterior to a line over the forehead, cheeks, snout (except a +greyish wash on its sides and the upper lip) umber-brown; rest of head, +neck, down to the middle of the back, and fore-limbs, grey; margins of +ears, chin, and under surface of body white; rest of back and hind-limbs +umber-brown; tail darker, except for a short distance at the base; upper +surface of hands and feet grey. The nose varies in different species in the +amount of grey colouring, and the forehead and face in depth of brown. Some +specimens also have an arcuate black band over the forehead from one outer +corner of the eye to the other. + +FEMALE.--Greyish-black; nose grey; rest of face washed with brick-red, +deeper on the forehead, cheeks, ears, and sides of neck, fainter in tint on +the upper back; lower back and tail darker, except at the base, where it is +washed with reddish-yellow. Hands and feet greyish-white. The colour of the +face varies much in different specimens, being deeper or lighter rufous. +{75}The arcuate band from the corners of the eyes over the forehead varies +in breadth and depth of colour. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Madagascar; the precise locality unknown. + + +VI. THE CROWNED LEMUR. LEMUR CORONATUS. + + _Lemur coronatus_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. Hist., x., p. 257 (1842); + Schl., Mus. Pays. Bas., vii., p. 313 (1876); Milne-Edwards et Grandid., + Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., Atlas, pls. 158-161, 165, 166. + + _Lemur chrysampyx_, Scheurm. Mém. Cour. Acad. Brux., xxii., p. 6 (1848 = + female). + + _Prosimia coronata_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1863, p. 138. + +CHARACTERS.--Tips of ears naked; tail a little more than the length of the +body. + +MALE.--Face, nose, and region round the eyes greyish-white; cheeks and +forehead rufous or yellowish-red; a conical spot in the centre of the head +between the eyes, dark brown or black, intruding sometimes on the rufous of +the forehead; ears white; inner side of limbs and under side of body +greyish-white; tail rufous at base, the upper side blackish, and the under +side lighter; rest of body sienna-grey. + +FEMALE.--Upper side entirely grey, washed with yellowish cream-colour on +the middle and lower part of the back, and on the upper side of the tail; +long black hairs present in the tail; the under side entirely silvery-grey; +fur at base black, the tips grey or silvery; instead of the black spot on +the forehead there is a golden yellow-hooped, or widely V-shaped, bar above +the eyes, narrower in the centre over the nose. + +Albino specimens are sometimes found, which are entirely white, except for +the golden bar over the eyes. + + +{76}VII. THE RED-BELLIED LEMUR. LEMUR RUBRIVENTER. + + _Lemur rubriventer_, Is. Geoffr., C. R., xxxi., p. 876 (1850); Schl., + Mus. Pays. Bas., vii., p. 311 (1876); Milne-Edw. & Grandid., Hist. Nat. + Madag., Mamm., Atlas, ii., pls. 167-170 (1890). + + _Lemur flaviventer_, Is. Geoffr., _tom. cit._, p. 876 (1850). + +CHARACTERS.--Inner margins and outside of ears haired, the interior nude. + +MALE.--Face, a line down the forehead, and snout dark maroon-brown; a ring +round the eyes cobalt-blue; rest of head and cheeks reddish-brown; upper +side of body speckled reddish-brown, darker on the lower back; tail almost +black, with long white hairs distributed throughout its length; feet +rufous; under side of body pale. + +FEMALE.--Like the male, but having the cheeks whitish; a narrow ring round +the eyes pale blue; upper surface umber-brown, washed with reddish-yellow; +under side and inner sides of limbs yellowish; ruff reddish-chestnut. + +YOUNG.--Head entirely rufous; nose black. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Madagascar. + + +VIII. THE RING-TAILED LEMUR. LEMUR CATTA. + + _Lemur catta_, Linn., S. N., i., p. 45, no. 4 (1766); Schl., Mus. Pays. + Bas., vii., p. 314 (1876); Milne-Edw. et Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., + Mamm., Atlas, pls. 171-172 (1890). + +CHARACTERS.--Inside of ears naked; no ruff round the face; top of head +greyish-black; face, rest of head, lower surface of body, and inner side of +the limbs pearl-grey; upper surface sienna-grey. Tail pearl-grey, banded +with from ten to twelve black rings, distinguishing it from all other +Lemurs, which have the tail of one colour. Length of body and tail +together, 40 inches. + +{77}On the fore-arm above the wrist-joint there is, in both sexes, a +comb-like bony outgrowth (becoming in old males a prominent spur) +continuous with the palm of the hand by means of a narrow strip of black, +hairless skin; near it there is a cluster of long stiff hairs over an +underlying sweat-gland, the function of which is still unknown. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species inhabits chiefly the rocky and treeless regions +of the south and south-western borders of the Betsileo province of +Madagascar. It is, however, not entirely confined to these treeless +districts, for it has been recorded as occurring in bands of some numbers +in the neighbouring forest regions. + +HABITS.--The Ring-tailed Lemur--one of the handsomest species of the genus +and the only one in which the tail is not uniformly coloured--is of gentle +manners, active, and graceful. According to the notes of the Rev. G. A. +Shaw, as recorded in a paper in the Zoological Society's "Proceedings," it +lives among the rocks where a few stunted trees occur, and over this rocky +ground it can easily travel, in places where it is impossible for the +natives, although bare-footed, to follow it. The palms of its hands and +feet are smooth and leather-like, enabling the animal to apply them firmly +to the wet rocks. This Lemur feeds on bananas and wild figs. In the winter +its chief sustenance consists of the prickly-pear, peeling off the spiny +skin with its long upper canines. According to the same observer, this +Lemur rarely drinks water; indeed, it is said that the species living in +the west of Madagascar, including two kinds of White Lemur, subsist without +water, while those on the east coast invariably drink water with their +meals. When fighting, the Ring-tailed Lemur scratches vigorously and +strikes out with its hands. + + +{78}THE HATTOCKS. GENUS MIXOCEBUS. + + _Mixocebus_, Peters, M. B. Akad. Berlin, 1874. p. 690. + +This genus contains but one species, whose characters are therefore those +of the genus also. + + +THE HATTOCK. MIXOCEBUS CANICEPS. + + _Mixocebus caniceps_, Peters, M. B. Akad. Berlin, 1874, p. 690, pl. i., + pl. ii. (Skull.) + +CHARACTERS.--Snout sharp, with a naked nose-pad; eyes very large; ears very +short, rounded, higher than broad, scarcely appearing beyond the fur, and +sparsely covered with short hair; limbs long, the digits with unkeeled +nails; tail as long as the body, or slightly longer; inter-maxillary bones +more prominent than in the species of the next genus, and containing a +small incisor tooth on each side; no inter-parietal bone; upper canine not +vertically longer than the grinders; the upper pre-molar and molar series +of teeth arranged to converge but slightly anteriorly, forming, as seen +from the front, a somewhat convex line, differing in this from some species +of _Lepidolemur_, in which these teeth are arranged in a nearly straight +line. + +Top of head grey, the base of the hairs Mouse-grey, with black or white +tips; a triangular patch on the middle of the head, darker; band on the +sides and middle of the nose dark brown, widening out on the forehead and +over the eyes; a dark ring round the eyes, merging into the dark brown +colour of the nose; front border of the ears, a patch behind the latter, +the lips, chin, sides of cheek, and chest a creamy- or yellowish-white; +throat grey; upper side of the body, outside of the limbs, and dorsal end +of the tail, rufous-grey; back portion of {79}the upper part of the thigh, +the hinder part of the belly, and the greater part of the upper side of the +tail yellowish-rufous; the upper side of hands dark brown, of the feet +yellowish-grey; extremity of tail blackish-brown. Length of body, 12½ +inches; tail, 13½ inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The habits of the Hattock, as the natives name this animal, are +quite unknown. + + +THE GENTLE-LEMURS. GENUS HAPALEMUR. + + _Hapalemur_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 74 (1851). + +This genus has been constituted for two species of a specialised type of +Lemur, characterised by a globose head, a short muzzle, with a tapering +nose and short hairy ears. The hind-limbs are longer than the fore-limbs, +the feet short and broad, and the tail hairy and equal in length to the +body. The female has four teats, two on the breast, or on the shoulder, and +two on the abdomen. + +In regard to their skeletal characters, the facial portion of the skull is +short and narrow in front--the nasal bones being arched--and the brain-case +rounded. The cranium presents no elevated frontal crests, as among the +members of the next genus (_Lepidolemur_). The pre-maxillary bones are very +small. The hind margin of the bony palate, which dilates posteriorly, does +not extend behind the mid-line of the last molar. The squamosal region of +the skull and the outer and posterior--the mastoidal--portion of the +ear-capsules (periotic bones), is not inflated in the members of this +genus. Their lower jaw is very characteristic, being massive in front and +possessing a very long symphysis (or line of junction of its two halves), +its angle being {80}also very large, and produced downward, inward, and +backward, even more than in the genus _Indris_. The _naviculare_ bone of +the ankle (_tarsus_) is relatively short, thus differing from the same +region in _Microcebus_ and in _Galago_; the _carpus_ (or wrist) has no +central (_os centrale_) bone. + +In _Hapalemur_ the teeth are of the normal Lemurine number, viz., 36; but +the dentition as a whole is peculiar and characteristic. Each series of +teeth is very uniform and equal, and those anterior to the molars are +serrated. In the upper jaw the incisors are very small, sub-equal, and +situated close together; the posterior tooth on each side being (when the +skull is viewed from the side) internal to and touching the canines. The +canines are small, and the gap between them and the anterior pre-molar is +very small. The anterior pre-molar is slightly taller vertically than its +median fellow, and stands close up to it without an interval; it has one +main (and sometimes one rudimentary) outer cusp; the posterior pre-molar, +which closely resembles a molar, and is often the largest tooth in the jaw, +having one inner cusp united by ridges to its two outer cusps. The molar +teeth are sub-equal to the hindmost pre-molar, and have one front inner and +two outer cusps, without an oblique ridge between them, and also a +well-developed cingulum, cusped externally. Of the lower teeth, the +anterior and median pre-molars are set obliquely, the median having three +outer and two inner cusps (the two inner being united to the two hind outer +by ridges). The posterior pre-molar is quite molariform, and, with the +molars, presents three outer and two (or three) inner cusps, of which the +two inner are united by ridges to the outer hind cusps, while transverse +ridges unite the main outer and inner cusps together. The molars are +cingulate towards the outside. + +PLATE VIII. + +[Illustration: THE GREY GENTLE-LEMUR.] + + +{81}The brain is narrower and shallower than that of the genus _Lemur_, and +presents no specially close resemblance to the same organ in the +_Indrisinæ_ or the _Lorisinæ_. + + +I. THE GREY GENTLE-LEMUR. HAPALEMUR GRISEUS. + + _Lemur griseus_, Geoffr., Mém. sur les Makis. Mag. Enc., i., p. 48 + (1796). + + _Hapalemur griseus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 74 (1851); + Mivart, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 613 (Skull); Schleg., Mus. P. B., vii., p. 361 + (1876). + + _Hapalemur olivaceus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 75 (1851); + Schl., Mus. P. B., vii., p. 316 (1876). + + _Cheirogaleus griseus_, Giebel., Säugeth., p. 1018 (1856); V. der Hoeven, + Tijds. Natuurl. Gesch., p. 38, pl. i., fig. 1 (1844). + + _Hapalolemur griseus_, Scl., P. Z. S., 1863, p. 161; Gray, P. Z. S., + 1863, p. 828, pl. lii. + + (_Plate VIII._) + +CHARACTERS.--Fur long and soft, not woolly; ears short, hairy, with long +black vibrissæ between them; tail bushy, and as long as the body; general +shade above greyish Mouse-colour, washed with rufous and speckled with +black on the crown, back and external surface of limbs; shoulders and +fore-limbs bluish-grey; cheeks, throat, breast, and inner side of limbs +ochraceous white; under side of body whitish-yellow; tail and hands grey, +washed with black. Body and tail equal, 15 inches in length. + +Facial portion of skull short; brain-case rounded; lower jaw shorter and +higher than in Lemurs generally; great toe large and broad; on the inner +side of both arms close to the wrist occurs a rough patch (extending down +to the bare skin of the palm) corresponding to a gland beneath, {82}in the +male, spine-like, while in the female hairy processes are present, together +with a tuft of long hairs; external to this patch is a callous pad; mammæ +opening on the shoulder; intestine large; cæcum small. + +YOUNG.--Reddish-yellow below. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Grey Gentle-Lemur inhabits the eastern side of the +Betsileo province of Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The "Bokombouli," as the natives name this animal, is the smallest +of any of the True Lemurs. It is nocturnal, and lives, according to the +Rev. G. A. Shaw, among the bamboos in the higher-level forests of the +island. Its lower incisors are used as scrapers, and nearly all its teeth +are serrated and very effective in cutting off the bamboo shoots, on which +it feeds. To enable it to grasp smooth surfaces, such as the stems of the +bamboo and other trees it frequents, it possesses a broad pad under each +great toe. + + +II. THE BROAD-NOSED GENTLE-LEMUR. HAPALEMUR SIMUS. + + _Hapalemur (Prolemur) simus_, J. E. Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus. App., + p. 133 (1870); id. P. Z. S., 1870, p. 828, pl. lii., pp. 829, 830, figs. + 1-4 (Skull). + + _Prolemur simus_, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 851. + + _Hapalemur simus_, Beddard, P. Z. S., 1884, p. 392; Jentink, Notes Leyd. + Mus., vii., p. 33 (1885). + +CHARACTERS.--Nose broad and truncated; ears short, covered with long hair +on the outside and along the margin inside. + +Very similar to _H. griseus_; head and upper back dark reddish-grey, +faintly washed with rufous; sides of head, neck, and region round the eyes +lighter; sides of nose and region between the eyes black; ears dirty grey; +lower back, sides of {83}body, and outer surface of limbs sooty-grey, with +here and there a wash of rufous; the patch on the end of the rump and upper +part of the base of the tail uniform pale yellowish rust-colour; remainder +of tail sooty-grey; from the chin to the chest yellowish-grey; under side +of body and inner side of arms pale sooty-grey. + +No spines on the fore-arm above the wrist as in _H. griseus_. In the skull, +the nose is broad, square, and truncated; the pre-maxillæ very small; the +lower jaw weak and narrow in front. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Only known from Madagascar. + +HABITS.--The habits of the Broad-nosed Lemur are said to differ in no +respect from those of the foregoing species. + + +THE SPORTIVE-LEMURS. GENUS LEPIDOLEMUR. + + _Lepilemur_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 75 (1851). + + _Lepidolemur_, Peters, M. B. Akad. Berlin, 1874, p. 690 (1874). + +This genus contains, according to Dr. Forsyth Major, as many as seven +species. This excellent comparative anatomist has made a very careful +revision of the group, and the present writer has gratefully to acknowledge +from him many valuable notes incorporated under this section, as well as +his kindness in supplying for publication the diagnoses of his new species. + +Dr. Major divides these seven species into two series:--(A) a group of four +larger species, and (B) a group of three smaller species. + +The members of this genus are smaller than the True Lemurs of the genus +_Lemur_. Their head is conical and short, their ears large, round, and +membranaceous, and the tail is shorter than the body. In this latter +character and in their shorter limbs they differ from _Mixocebus_. The +fourth finger and toe are the longest digits of their respective +extremities, the nails of all are keeled, and that of the great toe is very +large and flat. + +{84}In the skull, the muzzle is longer than the longitudinal diameter of +its orbit in the series of larger species (Section A); in the smaller +species (Section B) the muzzle is shorter. + +Their dentition presents several important characters. The series of upper +molars and pre-molars form almost a straight line, both sides being almost +parallel, or only slightly convergent towards the front. In the upper jaw +the incisors are wanting; the canines are very large and grooved +internally, and have a posterior heel. There is no gap between them and the +anterior pre-molar, which last is vertically taller than the rest, and has +one cusp to the outside, whereas the median and posterior have an inner +cusp as well. The anterior and median molars have the inner hind cusp +rudimentary, but the cingulum rises into a minute cusp, both at the fore +and hind edge; the posterior molar is three-cusped. The whole of the +cheek-teeth gradually broaden and decrease in vertical height from before +backward as far as the median molar. In the lower jaw the anterior +pre-molars are large, canine-like, and decumbent, and have a strong process +on their anterior margin (resembling that in the corresponding tooth in +_Indris_); the median and posterior pre-molars have one external cusp, and +the latter tooth one interior cusp in addition. The anterior and median +molars have a rudimentary fifth cusp, which is large in the posterior +molar. + +The pre-maxillæ are very much reduced, so that the teeth they usually carry +are generally wanting. The bony palate is short, its hind margin extending +back only to the middle of the median molar; its anterior foramina are +small; and it differs from that of _Microcebus_ and _Chirogale_ in having +its posterior perforations small. The angle of the lower jaw is produced +downwards and backwards. The mastoid portion of the ear-capsules (periotic +bones) as well as the squamosal are markedly {85}enlarged and swollen, in +this respect differing from the skulls of _Lemur_ and _Hapalemur_. The +ridges in the temporal bone unite into a frontal (sagittal) ridge, and the +space between the orbits is depressed; a depression is also present on the +cheek in front of the lachrymal foramen. The foot is slightly elongated by +the lengthening of the _naviculare_ bone of the ankle (_tarsus_), the thin +bones of which are short. In the wrist (_carpus_) there is no _os centrale_ +or central bone, which is otherwise invariably present in the Primates, +except in Man, the Chimpanzees, the Gentle-Lemurs, and the Endrina. + +The Sportive-Lemurs are confined to Madagascar and are nocturnal and +arboreal creatures, feeding on leaves and fruits. + +In Group A (the larger species) are included: 1, The Weasel-like Lemur (_L. +mustelinus_); 2, the Red-tailed Sportive-Lemur (_L. ruficaudatus_); 3, +Edwards' Sportive-Lemur (_L. edwardsi_); and 4, the Small-toothed +Sportive-Lemur (_L. microdon_). Group B (consisting of the smaller species) +comprises: 1, The Round-headed Sportive-Lemur (_L. globiceps_); 2, +Grandidier's Sportive-Lemur (_L. grandidieri_); and 3, the White-footed +Sportive-Lemur (_L. leucopus_). With the exception of the two first-named +species, all the others are here made known for the first time by Dr. +Forsyth Major. Very little is recorded of the habits of these animals. They +are so rare that at present the various species are known from a few skins +or alcoholic specimens in European museums. They are said to be inhabitants +only of the forest-country, nocturnal in their habits, sleeping coiled up +in some retreat all day, but issuing forth at night, at which time they are +very agile in their movements. + + +{86}SECTION A. (SPECIES MAJORES.) + + +I. THE WEASEL-LIKE SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR MUSTELINUS. + + _Lepilemur mustelinus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 76 (1851); + Schl. et Pollen, Faun. Madag., Mammif., p. 10, pls. 4, 6, fig. 3; Schl., + Mus. P. B., vii., p. 317 (1876). + + _Lepilemur dorsalis_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus. App., p. 135 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur soft and woolly; ears rounded, naked excepting at the base +behind; muzzle elongated. Above, reddish-grey. Face and cheeks grey; throat +white; under side of body and inner side of limbs, pale grey; tail +short-haired, the posterior third dark brown. Length of body, 14 inches; +and tail 10 inches. + +Skull large and massive; the brain-case small and inflated; facial region +long, differing in this character from _L. ruficaudatus_; orbits very +large, thus differing from the three remaining species of the larger group +(A); the process of the maxilla intervening between the nasal and lachrymal +bones; molar teeth large. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species occurs in the north-east of Madagascar, and, +according to Grandidier, in the north-western corner of the island. + +HABITS.--The "Fitili-ki," as the natives have named this animal, is found +in the forests in small companies. It is nocturnal in its habits, feeding +on leaves and fruits. + + +II. THE RED-TAILED SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR RUFICAUDATUS. + + _Lepilemur ruficaudatus_, Grandidier, Rev. et. Mag. de Zool., 1867, p. + 256. + + {87}_Lepilemur pallidicauda_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 850. + + _Lepilemur mustelinus_ (nec. Is. Geoffr.), Schl., Mus. P. B., vii., p. + 317 (in part). + +CHARACTERS.--Smaller than the last species; head much broader than it is +long; snout short and conical; ears ovate, exposed, short-haired; tail +long, thicker at the end, and covered with softer and longer hairs. Fur +pale or reddish-grey; head dark brown; the shoulders and outer side of the +arms grey, washed with brown; chin, breast, and inner side of limbs and +under side of body whitish; upper side of the base of the tail rather dark +brown, this colour extending further down in the tail of the female; rest +of the tail uniform pale brownish or greyish-red. + +Skull very broad compared with its length, more massive, and showing a +shorter muzzle than in _L. mustelinus_; orbits smaller than in any of the +other species in Group A. + +DISTRIBUTION.--South-western Madagascar. + + +III. MILNE-EDWARDS' SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR EDWARDSI. + + _Lepidolemur edwardsi_, Forsyth Major.[5] + +CHARACTERS.--"Similar to _L. ruficaudatus_; upper part of head grey; ears +membranaceous, but encircled on the inner and posterior side by an +incomplete belt of dark brown colour, which distinguishes the species from +_L. ruficaudatus_; shoulders and outer side of the fore-limbs +reddish-brown. Back greyish-brown, lighter on the outer side of the +hind-limbs; an uninterrupted dark dorsal streak from the middle of the back +to the centre of {88}the forehead is very conspicuous between the +shoulders. Breast, inner sides of the fore- and hind-limbs, and lower +surface of the body greyish-white. + +"The skull long and narrow; molars and pre-molars large, especially +transversely; orbits small, yet larger than in _L. ruficaudatus_; the +mastoidal portion of the ear-capsules and squamosal region of the skull +conspicuously inflated. Bony palate more elongate than in _L. mustelinus_; +par-occipital process present." + +DISTRIBUTION.--Betsako, north-west of Madagascar. + + +IV. THE SMALL-TOOTHED SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR MICRODON. + + _Lepidolemur microdon_, Forsyth Major. + +CHARACTERS.--"Somewhat similar to the Weasel-like Lemur (_L. mustelinus_) +in coloration, but having the back and the outer portion of the shoulder +and fore-limbs bright chestnut, passing into russet on the back (darker +between the shoulders), on the outer parts of the hind-limbs and tail, as +well as on the top of the head, where it is washed with greyish. A dark, +dorsal stripe from the centre of the forehead to the middle of the back, +where it is darkest. Breast and under surface of body yellowish-grey. + +"Skull markedly distinguished from that of the other species by the small +size of the molars; pre-molars not diminished in size; a depression at the +base of the nasals; the bony palate more elongated than in _L. +mustelinus_." + +DISTRIBUTION.--The eastern districts of the Betsileo province, Central +Madagascar. + +PLATE IX. + +[Illustration: THE WHITE-FOOTED SPORTIVE-LEMUR.] + + + +{89}SECTION B. (SPECIES MINORES.) + + +V. THE ROUND-HEADED SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR GLOBICEPS. + + _Lepidolemur globiceps_, Forsyth Major. + +CHARACTERS.--"The smallest of the Sportive-Lemurs. Similar to _Lepidolemur +ruficaudatus_, but less rufous down the fore-limbs; the tail drab colour. + +"Skull very characteristic; the brain-case broad, high, and globose, the +facial region short; the premaxillæ more reduced than in any other species; +the external auditory channel very large; the occipital region less +vertical than in the species of Section A." + +DISTRIBUTION.--Ambulisatra, south-west Madagascar. + + +VI. GRANDIDIER'S SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR GRANDIDIERI. + + _Lepilemur mustelinus_, Gray (nec Geoffr.), P. Z. S., 1863, p. 144. + + _Lepidolemur grandidieri_, Forsyth Major. + +CHARACTERS.--"General colour cinnamon; head greyish; an indistinct median +dorsal streak from the forehead along the back; inner side of the limbs and +under side of the body yellowish-grey. + +"Skull remarkable for the large size of its orbits, and for the anterior +convergence of its upper dental cheek-series being greater than in the +other members of the group." + +DISTRIBUTION.--North-west Madagascar. + + +VII. WHITE-FOOTED SPORTIVE-LEMUR. LEPIDOLEMUR LEUCOPUS. + + _Lepidolemur leucopus_, Forsyth Major, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., xiii., + p. 211 (1894). + + (_Plate IX._) + +{90}CHARACTERS.--Ears large, long, membranaceous; tail shorter than the +body. Upper side Chinchilla-grey, with an indistinct median brownish stripe +from the neck to the root of the tail. Top of head brownish-grey, with a +darker median stripe; cheeks and chin whitish. Ears encircled by a broad +ring of whitish hair. Neck, shoulders, and upper parts of the fore-arm pale +rufous. Breast and belly greyish-white; inner surfaces of the hind-limbs +and the heels pure white.[6] Tail greyish, with a rusty tinge. Length, 12 +inches; tail, 10½ inches. + +The skull is longer and broader than that of _L. grandidieri_; the +mastoidal portion of the ear-capsules and the adjacent squamosal region +very largely inflated; bony palate elongated; dental cheek-series short; +molar teeth small and slender, distinguishing this species from _L. +grandidieri_, their small size also separating it from _L. globiceps_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species is at present known only from Fort Dauphin in +the south-east of Madagascar. [Type in British Museum.] + + + + +THE ENDRINAS. SUB-FAMILY INDRISINÆ. + + +This, the last sub-family of the _Lemuridæ_, is considered to contain the +highest members of the whole Sub-order. They are distinguished by having +their fur abundant, longer and woolly above, shorter beneath, with the +hands and feet haired to the tips of the digits. Their head, set at right +angles to the spinal column, is rounded, the face elongated and naked, with +a deep furrow separating the nostrils. The eyes are large, and have a third +eyelid, or nictitating membrane, to draw across the pupil during the day. +The ears, which are naked inside and fringed {91}on the outside, are +moderately long and buried in the fur, but are less movable at will than is +the case with the Galagos. Their fore-limbs are much shorter than the hind +ones. The arms, which are united to the body by a parachute-like fold of +integument, have long, narrow, and strong hands, of which the thumb is +short, set far back, and but little opposable. The rest of the fingers, +except the index, which is short, are long and slender, and terminate in a +round disc. The feet are elongate, and the great toe, which is freely +opposable to the other toes, is very large and broad, being, indeed, nearly +as wide as the rest of the digits together; the remaining toes are united +by a membrane as far as the second segment. The females have the mammæ +situated on the breast. + +In the skull the facial region is relatively small, and the cranial region +relatively large. The external nostrils communicate with a cavity on the +underlying bone; the pre-maxillary bones are deeply excavated in front, and +the anterior perforations in the bony palate, behind the incisor teeth, are +large. The lower jaw has its angle large, produced backwards, the line of +union of its two halves being long, and its lateral movements very limited. +In regard to their dentition, the number of the milk-teeth in the young +individual is greater than that of the permanent set in the adult, the +formula of the former being I2/2, C1/1, P2/3 [M3/3], while that of the +latter is I2/2, C1/0, P2/2, M3/3, the lower canine and one lower pre-molar +having disappeared. In the upper jaw the incisors are very small, the outer +one standing behind the inner one, with a space between the former and the +canine; the canines are long, curved behind, and set close up to the +anterior pre-molar. The pre-molars are longer than they are broad, +laterally compressed, and present to the outside one main triangular cusp +with a small accessory cusp on each {92}side, the posterior tooth of the +series having a hind inner cusp. The anterior and median molars are +four-cusped, of which the outer and inner pairs are separated by a +longitudinal groove; to the outside they have one supernumerary cusp on +each main cusp, and one between them. The median molar is the largest tooth +of the jaw, and the posterior is small, triangular and three-cusped. Of the +lower jaw, the outer pair of the long, and almost horizontally protruding +incisors, is larger than the inner pair, and is separated by a space from +the anterior pre-molar. Of the elongate laterally compressed pre-molars, +the anterior is the larger, and is vertically taller than its fellows, +being slightly depressed forward and curved behind; the posterior pre-molar +has one cusp. The molars have four cusps, of which the inner ones alternate +with the outer cusps. + +The intestinal canal in the _Indrisinæ_ is very long, the cæcum, or blind +diverticulum at the junction of its two portions, being extremely long and +large, occupying, indeed, a great part of the abdominal cavity. The main +arteries of the fore- and hind-limbs do not break up into a _rete +mirabile_, or series of small parallel vessels, as in many other Lemuroids. + +In this group, while the sense of smell is very perfect, that of hearing is +less acute than in the other Sub-families; and that of touch conspicuously +blunt, both in the fingers and toes, which are chiefly climbing and not +tactile and prehensile organs, as they are in the corresponding limbs of +the Anthropoids. The female never produces more than one young at a birth. + +The convolutions of the brain are few, but they are more complicated than +in many of the South American Monkeys. In very young individuals the +cerebellum is more covered by the cerebrum than it is in the adult. + +{93}The species of this Sub-family are confined to the island of +Madagascar. Our knowledge of their general characters, anatomical structure +and habits, is very complete, through the researches, both in the field, of +M. Grandidier, and in the study, of Prof. Alphonse Milne-Edwards. These +results are published in their magnificent "Histoire de Madagascar," to +which the reader is referred for fuller information. + +The _Indrisinæ_, on account of their superior organisation, and especially +their relatively large brain, are considered to be the highest of all the +Lemuroids. They are essentially arboreal. If they come to the ground they +sit upright on their hind-legs, and progress by jumps, holding their arms +above their heads. They are easily tamed, and become gentle in confinement; +but they are not very intelligent. The Endrinas "never manifest in any very +marked manner," so MM. Milne-Edwards and Grandidier tell us, "the passions +that affect the Apes so vividly; their countenance, almost as immobile as +that of an herbivorous or carnivorous animal, exhibits neither anger nor +pleasure. In captivity they do not seek to be caressed; they appear neither +to become attached to their master, nor to take interest in anything about +them." Many of their actions, however, and the peculiar sounds they often +utter, recall those of Monkeys. + +Some of the species are diurnal and others nocturnal. + +The Sub-family has been divided into three genera, _Avahis_ with one +species; _Propithecus_, with three species, and _Indris_ with a single +species. All its members are remarkable for the extraordinary amount of +variation in the coloration of their fur. + + +{94}THE AVAHI LEMURS. GENUS AVAHIS. + + _Avahi_, Jourdan, C. R., Journal l'Inst., ii., no. 62, p. 231 (1834). + + _Avahis_, Milne-Edwards and Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., i., p. + 320 (with full synonymy). + +This genus is monotypic, containing but a single species, whose characters +include necessarily those of the genus. + + +I. THE WOOLLY AVAHI. AVAHIS LANIGER. + + _Lemur laniger_, Gm., Syst. Nat., i., p. 44, no. 10 (1788). + + _Microrhynchus laniger_, Jourdan, Thèse inaug. Soc. Phys., Grenoble, + 1834; Mivart, P. Z. S., 1866, p. 151, pi. xv. + + _Avahis laniger_, Milne-Edwards and Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., + p. 325 (with full synonymy), Atlas, pls. 9, 10. + + (_Plate X._) + +CHARACTERS.--Fur woolly; the head nearly round; the face short in +proportion to the head; muzzle short, covered with hair; the nose and +region of the chin hairy; nose-pad on lip large; nostrils opening into a +cavity on the upper lip below the skin. Eyes large, the pupil vertical; +ears small, concealed in fur. Tail a little longer than the body; body +short, stumpy. Third, fourth and fifth fingers flattened; third and fourth +toes united by a membrane as far as the first joint. + + +PLATE X. + +[Illustration: THE WOOLLY AVAHI.] + + +{95}Cranium more vaulted and the muzzle remarkably shorter than in the +genera _Indris_ and _Propithecus_; eye-sockets very large; the space +between the eyes hollow. Temporal ridges not uniting into a single median +ridge. Nasal bones projecting as far as the front end of the very small +pre-maxillary bone. Lower jaw remarkably deep and broad behind; line of +union of its two halves nearly half the length of the jaw, and in a +straight line with the incisor teeth. Toothless space in front of upper jaw +greater than in the other two genera. Dentition of the upper jaw: +_incisors_ small, the outer larger than the inner, set close to the canines +and not at the inner edge of the toothless space; _canines_ vertically +short; _pre-molars_, with no inner cusp, but having a prominent outer +cingulum (a character seen in no other species of Lemur); _molars_, +four-cusped. Lower jaw: _incisors_ larger than in the two other genera, and +less horizontal, the inner ones more slender than the outer. Anterior and +posterior _molars_, five-cusped. Hind margin of palate reaching to the +middle of the median molar. Central bone of wrist wanting (of all Primates +agreeing in this character only with Man, the Chimpanzees, the Gentle- and +Sportive-Lemurs and the Endrina); fourth digit of the hands and feet +longest. Tail long. The small intestine not spirally coiled upon itself, +but folded many times transversely. + +Hair long, woolly, dark Mouse-grey at base, reddish-brown in the middle, +black at the tips. Face broad, entirely covered with short greyish-brown +hairs; nose-pad alone nude. Ears concealed and covered by rufous hair; +pupil of eye very contractile, very narrow and linear during the day; +across the forehead and over the eyes a transverse lunulate whitish band, +margined anteriorly by a black band. Back greyish-brown, the nape darker; a +patch over the rump, and the base of the tail and buttocks white, washed +with rufous; back and inner side of thighs and round the arms whitish; a +narrow fringe on the lower margin of arms and legs ashy-grey, washed with +rufous; fore-arm, hands and feet rusty-brown; tail bright dark red, deepest +at its extremity. Under side and inner surface of limbs grey, washed with +rufous. Length of body, 12½ inches; tail, 15¾ inches. + +{96}Of this species there are two forms, an _eastern_ and a _northern_, the +latter being always smaller in size, with the fur lighter and less rusty. +In some varieties the upper surface is dark rusty-red all over, and the +inner sides of the limbs pure white. Examples from the north-west coast are +constantly smaller; the head rounder, and the facial hairs grey; no white +band on the forehead; upper surface bright yellowish-brown; tail +rusty-grey; under side of hind-limbs pure white, the under surface and +inner side of the arms whitish. The variation in coloration is due to the +middle part of the hairs, which in typical specimens is rusty-red, but is +yellow in the above-mentioned form. Hands and feet grey. + +YOUNG.--Ashy-grey, slightly washed with red. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Woolly Avahi seems to inhabit only the forests of the +parallel ranges of the mountains which face the whole eastern coast of +Madagascar; it extends round the bay of Passandava on the west coast, +opposite to the northern termination of this eastern range of mountains. + +HABITS.--This species--the smallest of the _Indrisinæ_--being essentially +nocturnal, is torpid during the day, and is the wildest and least docile of +the family. The first specimen of the "Avahi," the name by which this +animal is known among the Anatala tribe, was brought to Europe by Sonnerat, +the French traveller, in 1781, and nearly half a century elapsed before a +second one was obtained. Since then several specimens have been kept in +captivity in the different zoological gardens of Europe. + + +THE SIFAKAS. GENUS PROPITHECUS. + + _Propithecus_, Bennett, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 20; Milne-Edwards and + Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., i., p. 288 (with full synonymy). + +{97}The characters which distinguish this genus from _Avahis_ and _Indris_ +are the following: The fur with which they are covered is more silky than +woolly, and in general appearance is white, more or less washed with +yellow, varying to red or black. The head is very slightly longer than it +is broad, with a black and almost naked muzzle; the ears, half buried in +the fur, are flatter and wider than in _Indris_, the inner surface being +naked and black, and the outer haired. The nostrils are large and semilunar +in shape. The tail is long. The index-finger is not united by a membrane to +the others; their hands and feet are in a much less degree organs of +prehension than in most of the other Lemurs. + +The skull in proportionate length is intermediate between that of _Avahis_ +and _Indris_. Compared with _Avahis_ it is less vaulted, its muzzle is +longer, and the orbits are smaller. The space between the eyes is high, and +not depressed, on account of the presence of a large air-cavity in the +underlying bone. Their nasal bones do not reach as far forward in front as +the level of the incisor teeth. In the dentition of the upper jaw, the +incisors protrude somewhat in front, and are dilated laterally in a regular +series--thus distinguishing the genus _Propithecus_ from _Lemur_,--the +inner incisors being larger than the outer ones, with their tips +approximating. Between the canine and the anterior pre-molar there is a +short gap. The anterior and median molars have the cusps of the crown +alternate; the posterior has them opposite. In the lower jaw the incisors +are shorter and stronger than in _Avahis_, and the molars are four-cusped. + +The genus _Propithecus_ contains three species; (1) The Diademed Sifaka +(_P. diadema_), (2) Verreaux's Sifaka (_P. {98}verreauxi_), both having +numerous very marked varieties; and (3) the Crowned Sifaka (_P. +coronatus_). + +These species are found all round the coasts of Madagascar; as well in the +luxuriant forests on the east side as in the arid deserts and the +sparsely-wooded plains of the south-western and western coasts. Of the +three species of the genus, one (_P. diadema_) is confined to the eastern +and southern coasts, the other two (_P. verreauxi_ and _P. coronatus_) are +found only on the west coast. More or less distinctly coloured varieties or +races of these three species occur, and it is very remarkable that each of +them is rigorously restricted to localities distinct from that of the +typical species. + + +I. THE DIADEMED SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS DIADEMA. + + _Propithecus diadema_, Bennett, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 20; Milne-Edwards and + Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., p. 296 (with full synonymy), Atlas, + pl. 1-3. + +CHARACTERS.--Fur long, silky, the muzzle naked. Head shorter and rounder +than in the other species of the genus; thumb slender, like the toes, set +far back, free; great toe very strong, and in the same plane with the other +digits; a marked depression exists in the skull behind the orbits. Body, 21 +inches; tail, 19 inches in length. + +Forehead crossed by a broad white bar; cheeks in front of the ears, and the +under side of the chin, white or fulvous white; face black, with a few +short black hairs. Back of head, neck, shoulders, sides of body, outer +sides of arms, sometimes grey, but generally very dark brown, merging into +dark grey on the lower back. Tail at its root washed with orange-yellow, +paler in the middle, greyish-white at its extremity. Fore-arm, lower part +of arm, sacral region, and external face of hind-limbs, bright +{99}orange-yellow. Hands black-haired to the ends of the fingers, but with +long and yellow tufts of hair at the tips. Feet pale orange and haired to +the nails. Chest dark brown. Under surface white, or white tinged with +yellow, or dark brownish-grey. Internal face of the fore-limbs grey, from +the intermixture of black hairs; that of the hind-limbs pale yellow. + +YOUNG.--Similar in colour to the adults, but lighter; the frontal band +yellow, not white; limbs light yellow. + +VARIETIES.--Several varieties of this species--the "Simpona" of the +natives--have been described, of which the following deserve special +notice:-- + + +THE SILKY SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS SERICEUS. + +Face black, with flesh-coloured spots; the body entirely white, faintly +washed with yellow; the base of the tail washed with rust-red. It is of the +same size as the type-form, and appears to be only an albino variety. +Specimens showing every gradation in coloration between that of the type +and the absolute albino are now well known. This form, however, is more or +less restricted to the narrow belts of forest on the eastern side of the +mountains in the north-east of Madagascar, between the rivers Lokoi and +Bemarivo, a region conterminous with that inhabited by the typical species. + + +MILNE-EDWARDS' SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS EDWARDSI. + +Differs from the true _P. diadema_ in having the face slightly haired +between the eyes and on the chin; a patch on each flank rufous-white or +orange-yellow, separated by a reddish-black band; a spot at the root of the +tail bright rusty-red, and all the rest of body black, washed slightly with +rufous. The young are like the parents. This form is also of the {100}same +size as the type, but is a melanistic variety, for a series of specimens +show every intermediate shade between that here described and the BLACK +SIFAKA (_P. holomelas_), which is of an entirely black colour, and +inhabits, as has been shown by MM. Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, the same +region as _P. edwardsi_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The typical form of the species is confined to the extended +region on the east coast of Madagascar lying between the Bay of Antongil on +the north, and the River Masora in the south, in the forest-belts on the +eastern aspect of the mountains, where rain falls abundantly and the whole +region is covered with luxuriant vegetation. Its melanistic variety (_P. +edwardsi_) extends south from the Masora as far as the Faraouny river, but +it ranges to higher and colder altitudes on the mountains; while its +albinistic variety (_P. sericeus_) lives in the somewhat warmer region to +the north of Antongil Bay, each being, to south and north respectively, +conterminous with the central habitat of the typical form. + + +II. VERREAUX'S SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS VERREAUXI. + + _Propithecus verreauxi_, Grandid., Album de l'île de la Réunion, iv., pp. + 153-162, pls. 1, 2 (1867); Milne-Edwards and Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., + Mamm., i., p. 305 (with full synonymy), Atlas, pls. 4, 6, 8. + +CHARACTERS.--Fur short and woolly; face entirely naked; head longer than +broad; a well-marked swelling of the skull between the eyes; the upper +incisors sub-equal. Smaller and more robust than _P. diadema_, the head +longer, the hair on the limbs shorter, the tail longer. + +{101}Body yellowish-white; a spot on the top of the head dark brown, +sometimes washed with rufous, separated from the face by a white frontal +bar. Face black; eyes brownish-yellow; interior of ears black, and naked; a +grey patch on the middle of the back; outer aspect of the fore-arms, and +hind-legs, ashy-grey; rest of the body white. Hands and feet white. Tail +yellowish-white. Length of body, 18 inches; of tail, 22 inches. + +YOUNG.--Entirely white, with a dark brown spot on the head; the under +surface of the body washed with rufous. + +VARIETIES.--Two well-marked varieties of this species are known, both of +which were for many years considered to be distinct species. Continued +exploration has, however, now resulted in the accumulation in various +museums of a large amount of material from many localities, and this proves +that the two forms really belong to but one species. + + +VON DER DECKEN'S SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS DECKENI. + +Differs from the true _P. verreauxi_ in having the face and ears black, and +the body otherwise entirely grey, or white, washed more or less with yellow +(sometimes rufous on the limbs); or of an ashy-grey colour on the loins, +neck, and outer aspect of the limbs; the under side bright rufous; chest +and inner sides of the limbs rusty-white, with a fulvous spot at the base +of the tail. Specimens from the forests of the interior have a grey spot on +the back of the neck expanding into a collar, which is absent in those from +the coast. An albino variety comes, so far as is at present known, only +from the wooded belts on the extensive plains between the rivers Manambolo +and Manjaray, on the west coast. + + +{102}COQUEREL'S SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS COQUERELI. + +(_Plate XI._) + +Has the face naked and black, but the centre of the nose white; the ears +showing as black points amid the white hair; head and back of neck white, +slightly washed with yellow; outer side of arm and fore-arm dark +maroon-red, the lower border fringed with long white hair; a maroon patch +on the upper and outer surface of the thighs, lighter on the chest and +central part of the belly. Loins dark rusty-grey; hands white; tail +rusty-grey. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Verreaux's Sifaka, with its two varieties, is confined to +the small thin woods on the sandy and almost rain-less plains along the +western and southern coasts of Madagascar. The type-form is found, alone, +and unassociated, in the extensive plains of Mesozoic geological +formation--between the southern base of the eastern range of mountains and +the River Tsidsubon, which flows into the sea on the west coast. Von der +Decken's Sifaka inhabits the middle of the west coast, while Coquerel's +Sifaka has its home further to the north. It occupies the area between the +south side of Narendry Bay and the north side of Bembatoka Bay, the +Betsiboka River being its extreme southern limit. + +Though first observed by Flacourt, and described by him in 1661, Verreaux's +Sifaka remained practically unknown from that time till re-discovered by M. +Grandidier in 1867. + + +III. THE CROWNED SIFAKA. PROPITHECUS CORONATUS. + + _Propithecus coronatus_, Milne-Edwards, Rev. Scient., 1871, p. 224; id. + et Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., i., p. 316 (with full synonymy), + Atlas, pl. 7. + +PLATE XI. + +[Illustration: COQUEREL'S SIFAKA.] + + +{103}CHARACTERS.--Muzzle very broad and naked; nose-pad wide; inside of +ears naked. Face, top of head, sides of neck, and throat, deep +brownish-black; muzzle black; a band across the temples, and a streak down +the nose, white. Ears black inside, fringed externally with white; neck and +upper surface white, washed with rust-colour on the limbs and root of the +tail. Tail, hands, and feet, pure white. Under side rich orange-red, darker +across the chest; inside of limbs white, washed with rufous. Of the same +size as _P. verreauxi_. + +Cranium larger in all its parts than in other species. Nasal bones +elongated beyond the incisor teeth; nose very flat, this being due to the +large air-cavity (called false nose) in the jaw-bone below, connected with +the nose. The length and breadth of the muzzle gives a peculiar expression +to the face of _P. coronatus_. + +This species, like the preceding, is subject to considerable variation. + +The whole head is sometimes grey, washed with rufous; the upper surface and +root of the tail white, flushed with rust-colour. + +In examples living further in the interior than the habitat of the type +(Bay of Bembatoka), the back is more rufous, the neck has a large grey or +brown patch, and the chest is very dark brownish rust-colour. The abdomen +and the inner sides of the limbs are bright red. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species occurs on the north-west coast of Madagascar, +between the Bay of Mozamba to the north and the River Manjaray on the +south, ranging over the country to a considerable distance into the +interior. The lighter-coloured specimens come from the more northern range +of the species, while the more brightly-marked varieties have been obtained +{104}in the interior more to the south. It is curious, remarks M. +Grandidier, to find races and species of the same genus so exactly +restricted, that one has only to cross a river, not necessarily large, in +order to obtain on one bank certain species of _Propithecus_, whereas those +occurring on the opposite bank may be of a very distinct species or race. +To what influence in their surroundings can all these variations be +ascribed? One can understand that species inhabiting a wooded and humid +country, or living among granitic mountains (as _P. diadema_ does), would +differ in size and fur from other members of the same genus which live in +dry and arid plains (as in the case of _P. verreauxi_); but how can the +great variations that occur in members of the same species living a few +miles, and perhaps only a few metres, apart, be explained, when the +external conditions are almost the same? + +HABITS.--The habits of the different species of Sifaka are very similar. +They live in companies of six or eight, and are very gentle and inoffensive +animals, wearing always a most melancholy expression, and, as a rule, being +morose, inactive, and more silent than other Lemurs. They rarely live long +in captivity. In their native state they are most alert in the morning and +evening, as during the heat of the day they conceal themselves amid the +foliage of the trees. When asleep or in repose, the head is dropped on the +chest and buried between the arms, the tail rolled up on itself and +disposed between the hind-legs. The Sifakas live exclusively on vegetable +substances--leaves, fruits and flowers--their diet not being varied, as in +the other groups, by small birds, eggs, or insects. Their life is almost +entirely arboreal, for which the muscles of their hands and feet, as well +as the parachute-like fold of skin between their arms and body, and their +peculiarly hook-like fingers, are most fitted. The young one is carried +about by its mother on her back, its hands grasping her arm-pits tightly. +The Sifakas are held in great veneration or fear by the natives of +Madagascar, and are never intentionally killed by them. + +PLATE XII. + +[Illustration: THE ENDRINA.] + + + +{105}THE ENDRINAS. GENUS INDRIS. + + _Indris_, Cuv. et Geoffr., Mag. Encycl., 2 ed. Ann. i., p. 46 (1796); + Milne-Edwards and Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., Mamm., i., p. 330 (with + full synonymy). + +This genus is, like the first of the sub-family, monotypic, no second +species having rewarded the many explorers of Madagascar in the long period +that has elapsed since its solitary species was discovered. This species is +known as + + +I. THE ENDRINA. INDRIS BREVICAUDATUS. + + _Indris brevicaudatus_, Geoffr., Mag. Encycl., 2 ed. Ann., p. 46 (1796). + + _Indris variegatus_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. H. (4), x., p., 474 (1872). + + _Indris brevicaudatus_, Milne-Edwards and Grandid., Hist. Nat. Madag., + Mamm., i., p. 336 (with full synonymy), Atlas, pls. xi.-xii. + + (_Plate XII._) + +CHARACTERS.--The peculiar features of the species, as given below, are +necessarily those of the genus also. + +Fur long and woolly, extremely variable in its coloration. Head rounded, +longer than it is broad; muzzle moderately long, covered with very short +hairs; fingers and toes haired to the finger-tips; external ears rounded, +exserted, and more developed than in _Avahis_ or _Propithecus_, with long +and tufted {106}hair forming a fringe all round. Median nose-pad high and +narrow; pupil of eye circular; body elongated; arms about one quarter of +the length of the legs; hands very long, the four outer fingers united by a +membrane as far as the first joint, and the toes to the centre of their +middle segments; hands and feet haired to the tips. Tail rudimentary. + +Skull longer and less vaulted; brain-case proportionately more compressed +from side to side; the muzzle longer, and the orbit smaller, than in +_Avahis_; floor of orbit higher than the bony margin of the jaw; +inter-orbital space flat; nasal bones, though long, not extending in front +as far as the end of the pre-maxillary bone; mandible elongated, narrower, +and less deep than in _Avahis_. Bony palate short, posterior margin +thickened, and with a foramen behind the posterior molar; line of union of +the two halves of the lower jaw shorter than in _Avahis_; its angle very +large. No central bone in the wrist (or _carpus_); hind-limb (with or +without the foot), compared with the fore-limb (with or without the hand), +longer than in any other of the Primates, except _Galago_. _Upper teeth_: +Incisors, sub-equal, set close together and subject to variation in size; +canine, vertically taller than, and not separated by a gap from, the +pre-molar; pre-molars compressed, and having an inner cusp; anterior +molars, four-cusped, with the supplementary cusps weak, and with no oblique +ridge; anterior and median, with their outer and inner cusps opposite; +posterior molar, which is the smallest grinder of the jaw--four-cusped, +with transverse, but no oblique ridges. _Lower teeth_: Incisors, with +marked longitudinal ridges to the outside (peculiar to this genus); +pre-molars sub-equal; molars all four-cusped, and the posterior ones +expanded behind. + +Brain highly organised. A large laryngeal pouch (present {107}also in the +foetus), but differing from that of the Apes, is placed between the gullet +and windpipe, communicating with the latter by an orifice: main arteries of +the fore- and hind-limbs not broken up into a _rete mirabile_ of small +parallel vessels, as in many species of Lemurs. + +Face naked, sometimes blackish, generally dark grey; lips downy; head, +neck, back, shoulders, arms, and hands, deep black; fore-arms faintly +washed with rufous; a large patch, widening from the middle of the back +downwards to the lower back, rump, and root of the tail pure white, washed +with orange or red; a patch on each flank, pale, becoming rufous or +greyish-white, separated from the rump-spot by black bands continuing down +the outer side of the inner face of the thighs, and the front and inner +sides of the legs; thighs ashy-grey, their upper two-thirds greyish, +becoming black on the front, and ashy-grey on the hinder surface, of the +leg. Feet black; tail stumpy, fawn-colour, brownish-grey at the tip; under +side rusty brown; abdomen grey; heel rufous. + +Many varieties of this species have been met with. Of these, some have the +top of the head and between the eyes greyish-white, mixed here and there +with black; jaws and throat, grey; ears, neck, back and upper part of arms, +black; the fore-arms grey; the hands black; a patch on the lower back +ashy-grey; flanks bright rufous; legs grey; band on front of the thighs +black; heel bright rufous. + +Other examples have a mark over each eyebrow, the fore-limbs nearly to the +hands, the hinder part of the thighs, the legs from the knee to the ankle, +and the whole under side iron-grey; the ankles and hind part of the heels +white, yellow below. (_Indris variegatus_, Gray.) + +All stages between the forms here described and complete {108}albinos are +known; so that the various differences observed prove them to be only +individual variations of the same species. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Endrina is confined to the woods looking eastward, on +the two high ranges along the eastern coast, between the Bay of Antongil on +the north and the River Masora on the south. + +HABITS.--The "Endrina," "Bàbakòto," or "Amboanala" (Dog of the Forest), as +the natives variously name this species, has the same habits as the +Sifakas. It is the largest of the Lemurs, and is diurnal. It derives its +appellation of "Dog of the Forest" from the doleful, dog-like howls which +it utters. In this habit it differs, therefore, from most of the other +groups (except the True Lemurs), which are, as a rule, rather silent. Its +powerful voice is due to the distensible resonator which it possesses in +its laryngeal pouch, described above. Essentially diurnal, the Endrinas +live in small companies, and feed only on vegetable diet. The hook-like +fingers of their hands are better adapted for climbing than for prehension, +and much of their food is, indeed, seized by the mouth. They are entirely +arboreal, and move about the trees in an erect position, rarely coming to +the ground. The "Bàbakòto" is held in great veneration by most of the +native tribes. + +M. Pollen gives several other particulars of these Lemurs, and of the +curious notions of the Malagasy respecting them. Their native name is +"Bàbakòto," literally "Father-child" (or "boy"), not "Indri," as stated by +Sonnerat, who discovered the species. _Indri_, or _Indry_, is a Malagasy +word meaning "lo!" or "behold!" and was probably mistaken by him and other +Europeans for the vernacular name of the animal when the {109}natives +exclaimed, "Indry izy!" ("There he is!"). Dr. A. Vinson says that, in +passing through the great Eastern forest, he was assailed for two days by +the incessant clamour of these Lemurs, which seem to keep together in large +companies, but are invisible in the dense foliage. The natives have a +superstitious veneration for these animals, and consider them as sacred. +They believe that their ancestors change after death into _Bàbakòto_, and +that the trees where these animals live supply infallible remedies against +otherwise incurable diseases. The people say that it is very dangerous to +kill these Lemurs with spears, because if a spear is hurled against one of +them it seizes the spear in its flight without being itself hurt, and in +its turn stabs with certain aim those attacking it. They also relate that +when the female has borne a young one, she takes the little creature in her +arms and tosses it to her mate, who is seated on a neighbouring tree, and +that he throws it back to the female. If the little one does not fall to +the ground after being subjected to this exercise for a dozen times, the +parents bring it up with the greatest care; but, if the contrary event +happens, they abandon it, not even troubling to pick it up. In certain +parts of Madagascar, says M. Pollen, the people employ the _Bàbakòto_ in +chasing birds, and they say that it renders as good service as a Dog. These +animals, although principally fruit-eaters, do not disdain small birds, +which they catch with much skill, in order to eat their brains. + +This Lemuroid is probably the best known to travellers in Madagascar, at +least by ear, as no one can travel along the most frequented route in the +island, that from Tamatave to Antananarivo, without often hearing the cries +of these animals as he passes through the great forest. They are not often +seen, but their long drawn-out melancholy cries are frequently heard, a +{110}strange wailing sound, as if of people in distress, or children +crying. Dr. Vinson says that the Bètànimèna tribe let these animals at +liberty if they find them in captivity, and give them burial should they +find them dead. They relate that a certain tribe, at war with its +neighbours, took refuge in the forests; their enemies, in pursuing them, +led by the sound of human voices, as they supposed, found before them a +troop of _Bàbakòto_, at whose appearance they were struck with terror. They +fled, persuaded that the fugitives had been changed into beasts. These, on +the other hand, vowed eternal gratitude to the Lemurs who had saved them, +and have ever since religiously refrained from injuring them in any way. + + + + +EXTINCT LEMUROIDEA. + + +On a former page (_anteà_, p. 13), attention was drawn to the interrupted +distribution of the Lemurs, and to their present restricted range to the +tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, of Madagascar, and of part of +the mainland and of the islands of the Asiatic continent. In times +geologically not very remote, they were inhabitants of both worlds. + +The earliest appearance of the Primates in time is at the beginning of the +Tertiary period. Lemuroids, some of them of a more or less primitive type, +then lived in Europe in the Lower Eocene period. In the higher beds of the +same epoch (to which the fresh-water deposits of the London clay of +England, the Plastic clay of France, and the prolific Wasatch beds of +Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado of America belong) undoubted Lemurs are +represented by many genera, which in the Middle Eocene attained to a great +development. + +In the Upper Eocene of Europe many distinctively {111}Lemuroid genera +(_Adapis_, _Microchærus_, &c.) "formed," as Zittel remarks, "a very +characteristic element of the fauna; they are connected with old Tertiary +fore-runners, and combine features of the existing Lemurs and true Apes." +The presence of these heat-loving animals in such northern latitudes +undoubtedly indicates the existence there of a climate more genial at that +epoch than now. In the corresponding period in North America remains have +been less plentifully found; but for the most part the genera are +representatives of those of the European beds. + +In strata of Oligocene and older Miocene age no Lemuroid remains have come +to light in Europe, and they are represented by only one or two doubtful +forms in America. After that date they apparently vanished from the New +World and from the northern portions of the Old. + +Many of these extinct Lemuroids so combine the characters of the +_Insectivora_ and the _Ungulata_ (or hoofed animals), with those of their +own Sub-order, that it is often extremely difficult, even impossible, +sometimes, to determine to which Order they really belong, owing to a +blending of characters due to their common origin. The Upper Eocene forms +present many affinities with the South American Capuchin Monkeys +(_Cebidæ_). Dr. Forsyth Major is of opinion, however, that they are more +highly, and not (as is generally believed) less specialised than those now +living, which appear to have been the subject of retrogressive development. + +The species to be noticed below are some of the more important of those +which have been ascertained to belong to the present Sub-order. + +No remains assignable with certainty to the families _Chiromyidæ_ or +_Tarsiidæ_, have as yet been discovered. The first form {112}to be +mentioned belongs to a family which has now no living representatives. + + + + +FAMILY MEGALADAPIDÆ. + + +This family has recently been established by Dr. Forsyth Major, for a +fossil species represented by the greater portion of a large cranium and +part of its lower jaw, found in a marsh at Amboulisatra, on the south-west +coast of Madagascar. This species is the only representative of the single +genus of the family. + + +GENUS MEGALADAPIS. + + _Megaladapis_, Forsyth Major, Phil. Trans., vol. 185 B, p. 15 (1894). + +The cranium, about 10 inches long, indicates an aged animal three or four +times as long as the common Cat, which is an enormous size as compared with +any living Lemur. Brain-case straight, narrow, short, low, and situated at +a higher level than the facial region; an enormous lateral development of +the region between the eyes; orbits small in diameter, communicating freely +with the temporal fossa, protruding outwards and forwards, and surrounded +by a thickened ring; facial region elongate and bent upward; palate convex +downwards from front to back; ridges for attachment of the temporal muscles +uniting in a great central crest; frontal bones constricted behind the +orbits; maxillary bones behind the molar teeth greatly inflated by +air-cavities; the two halves of the lower jaw ossified together. In the +upper jaw the pre-molars have one outer and one inner cusp, and the molars +one internal and two external cusps, the former being deeply separated from +the hind outer cusp, and joined by a ridge to the front outer cusp. In the +lower {113}jaw, the posterior pre-molar has one outer cusp, a fore and hind +inner cusp (each joined by a crescent to the outer cusp), and a central +inner cusp; the three molars have two outer and three alternating inner +cusps, and to the outer side a basal cingulum; the posterior molar has a +strongly cusped heel. + +MEGALADAPIS MADAGASCARIENSIS, Forsyth Major, the only species of the genus, +presents many marsupial and insectivorous characters and features which +show some approach towards the South-American Howlers (_Alouatta_), a +specialisation "not in the least," according to Dr. Major, "implying a near +relationship, but probably only an adaptation to a corresponding function" +implied in the "vocal organs of unusual size," which, he believes, +_Megaladapis_ to have possessed. Lemurine characters, however, predominate. +In the shape of its molars it is related to _Lepidolemur_, and still more +closely to _Microcebus_ and _Chirogale_, while by the characters of its +inter-orbital region it approaches to the Sifakas (_Propithecus_) and the +extinct _Adapis_. + +The small diameter of its orbits suggests, according to Dr. Major, that in +habits this extinct giant Lemur was diurnal; and from the conformation of +its lower jaw "there exists," continues the same distinguished +investigator, "a strong assumption that, as in _Alouatta_, it was provided +with vocal organs of unusual size." + +The age of this Howling Lemur, estimated either geologically or by years, +cannot be of very great antiquity. Its remains were found associated with +those of the giant Moa-like bird, the _Æpyornis_, of Tortoises and +Hippopotami, all now extinct, and of Crocodiles still living in the +interior lakes of the island. Some of these animals were certainly +{114}contemporaneous with the now vanished Dodo and the large flightless +Rail (_Aphanapteryx_), both of which were seen alive by Europeans little +more than two centuries ago, and it is not improbable that Megaladapis may +have been living in the Madagascar forests at the same period. + + + + +FAMILY LEMURIDÆ (_anteà_, p. 22). + + +In this family, and in its sub-family _Lemurinæ_ (because of its affinities +with _Hapalemur_), has to be included a large extinct species from Nossi +Vey, in North-west Madagascar. Its fossil remains were recently described +(P. Z. S., 1893, p. 532), but not named by Dr. Forsyth Major. They will +prove, he believes, when more fully known, to be the type of a new genus. +At present, however, owing to their incomplete state, it is not possible to +describe the species fully. "The Lemuroid nature of the specimen is at once +demonstrated by the great elevation and downward bending of the +post-orbital processes ... showing that the osseous ring of the orbit was +complete." Unusual for a Lemuroid is the very strong post-orbital +constriction of the frontals, a character, however, seen in _Adapis_, an +Eocene European form, and in _Hapalemur_. With the latter it agrees in the +voluminous cranial and very short facial portion, and the "cuttingly sharp" +inferior margin of its post-orbital process. Seen from the side, this +fossil cranium is almost vertically truncated behind, as in the skull of +_Alouatta_. The region between the eyes is vaulted by underlying +air-chambers. + + + + +FAMILY ANAPTOMORPHIDÆ. + + +This family includes certain fossil forms of Lower Eocene age from the +phosphatic deposits of Quercy in France, the {115}Wasatch strata of +Wyoming, and the Puerco beds in New Mexico. Their dental formula is the +same as that of existing Lemurs, namely I2/(2-1), C1/(1-0), P(2-3)/(2-3), +M3/3. In some of the genera there is a tendency to develop, as Cope has +pointed out, large cutting teeth in the position of incisors, "thus +approaching the Aye-Aye." The posterior pre-molars are more simple than the +anterior true molar, a character which indicates some relationship to the +Mouse-Lemurs (_Chirogale_). The mastoidal or posterior portion of the +ear-capsules, and the neighbouring squamosal region of the cranium are +swollen, as among the Galagos. + + +GENUS MICROCHÆRUS. + + _Microchærus_, Wood, Lond. Geol. Journ., i., p. 5 (1846). + + _Heterohyus_, Gerv., Zool. et Pal. Fr., p. 202, pl. 35, fig. 14. + + _Necrolemur_, Filhol, C. R., lxxxvii., p. 1112 (1873); id. Ann. Sc. + Geol., viii., p. 55, pl. iv., figs. 213-217 (1877). + +This genus is distinguished from all other Lemurs by "the angle of the +mandible being produced into a large hook-like flange." (Flower and +Lydekker.) The orbits are large, indicating a nocturnal animal; the +inter-orbital space is wide, and distinguishes it from _Loris_. The dental +formula is I2/1, C1/1, P3/3, M3/3. The canine teeth are not prominent; the +anterior lower pre-molar is only slightly developed; a gap separates the +anterior and the median upper pre-molars. + +This genus is represented by five species. MICROCHÆRUS ANTIQUUS (Filhol) is +of very small size, and has many affinities with _Galago_, as exhibited in +the well-preserved cranium that has been recovered from the Phosphorites of +Central France. The two lower molars have only one root. M. ERINACEUS, +{116}Wood, from the Upper Eocene of Hampshire; M. EDWARDSI (Filhol), from +Central France, a species larger than _M. antiquus_, presents dental +characters similar to the Galagos and the Mouse-Lemurs; M. PARVULUS +(Filhol), and M. ZITTELI (Schlosser), are both from the Quercy Phosphorites +of France; while M. ARMATUS is from the Eocene of Alsace, and M. +(CRYPTOPITHECUS) SIDEROLITHICUS from the Bonerg of Frohnstellen. + + +GENUS MIXODECTES. + + _Mixodectes_, Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc., p. 447 (1883); id., Rep. U. + S. Geol. Surv., iii., p. 240, pl. xxiv. f, figs. 1 and 2. + +The members of this genus, founded on fragmentary mandibles from the Puerco +(Lower Eocene) strata of New Mexico, have a large front tooth "issuing from +the ramus at the symphysis like a rodent incisor, the second tooth being +similar but smaller and posterior and external to the first." The genus is +represented by two species, M. PUNGENS, Cope, and M. CRASSIUSCULUS, Cope. + + +GENUS CYNODONTOMYS. + + _Cynodontomys_, Cope, Palæont. Bull., p. 151 (1882); id., Rep. U. S. + Geol. Surv., iii., p. 243, pl. xxiv., fig. 2. + +This genus contains but one species, founded on several lower jaws +disinterred from the Wasatch beds in the Big-Horn Bad-lands, in Northern +Wyoming. The lower incisors, or perhaps, canines, are very large and close +to the line of union of the two halves of the jaw; the molars have three +cusps in front and a heel behind. The dental characters of the genus +"resemble considerably those of _Anaptomorphus_ and _Necrolemur_ +[_Microchærus_] but the large size of the inferior canine {117}or incisor +tooth distinguishes it from both." (Cope.) C. LATIDENS, Cope, is the only +species. + + +GENUS OMOMYS. + + _Omomys_, Leidy, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., vii., p. 408 (1869). + +This genus was established for the first Mammalian fossil--a lower +jaw--described from the Bridger-beds as O. CARTERI. The posterior lower +molar has cusps in opposing pairs; pre-molars, three in number, the two +anterior one-cusped, the posterior two-cusped. The chin was longer and less +rounded than in _Anaptomorphus_. + + +GENUS ANAPTOMORPHUS. + + _Anaptomorphus_, Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc., 1872, p. 554; id., Rep. U. + S. Geol. Surv., iii., p. 245, pl. xxiv. e, fig. 1; xxv., fig. 10. + +This genus was founded by Cope on an almost entire cranium discovered in +the Bridger (Eocene) beds of the upper Valley of Green river, and on other +remains from what is known as the Wasatch formation of the Big-Horn Basin +in Wyoming Territory, in North America. The external upper incisor is small +and set close to the small canine; the pre-molars have each a large +external and a smaller internal cusp; the true molars are wide and have one +internal and two external cusps. In the lower jaw the two anterior molars +are four-cusped, with a transverse ridge between the anterior pair, and an +oblique ridge between the hind inner, and the front outer, cusp; the +posterior is three-cusped and has a heel. The orbits are enclosed, as in +typical Lemurs. Not less typical characters are the position of the +lachrymal foramen, external to the orbit, and the unossified halves of the +lower jaw. "Its dental formula (I2/2, {118}C1/1, P2/2, M3/3) agrees only +with the _Indrisinæ_. But no known _Lemuridæ_ possess anterior lobes and +cusps on all the pre-molars, so that in this respect, as in the number of +its teeth, this genus resembles the higher Monkeys, the _Simiidæ_ and +_Hominidæ_, more than any existing member of the family.... It has ... a +number of resemblances to _Tarsius_, which is, perhaps, its nearest ally +among the Lemurs, although that genus has three pre-molars.... There is no +doubt but that the genus _Anaptomorphus_ is the most Simian Lemur yet +discovered...." (_Cope._) + +The species included in this genus are A. ÆMULUS (Cope), which did not +exceed the size of a Marmoset or a Red Squirrel, and had short erect +incisors; A. HOMUNCULUS (Cope), a species founded on a cranium without a +lower jaw, with the orbits not so large as in _Tarsius_, and the skull wide +behind the eyes. "The _A. homunculus_ was nocturnal in its habits," +according to Professor Cope, "and its food was like that of the smaller +Lemurs of Madagascar and the Malayan islands. Its size is a little less +than that of the _Tarsius tarsius_." + +Two other insufficiently characterised genera, both considered to be +primitive Lemuroids, are _Plesiadapis_, Gervais, containing the species P. +REMENSIS, P. GERVAISI, P. TOURNESARTI, and P. DAUBREI, from the Lower +Eocene strata of Rheims, which have five-cusped lower molars, and enlarged +upper and lower incisors; and _Protoadapis_, Lemoine, with one or two high +front cusps, and a low heel to its three pre-molars; the anterior molars +with two pairs of opposite cusps, the posterior molar with a fifth cusp on +the hind border. P. CRASSICUSPIDENS, Lemoine, and P. RECTICUSPIDENS, +Lemoine, are its two species. + + +{119}FAMILY ADAPIDÆ. + +The different species associated together under this family are abundantly +known from the Upper Eocene of France, England, and North America. They are +remarkable in having an extra pre-molar in both jaws, the dental formula +being I2/2, C1/1, P4/4, M3/3. + + +GENUS ADAPIS. + + _Adapis_, Cuvier, Ossem. Foss. (2) iii., p. 265 (1822); Flower, Ann. and + Mag. N. H., xvii., (1876), p. 323. + + _Palæolemur_, Delfort., Act. de la Soc. Linn. Bord., xxix., pp. 87-95, + pl. 5 (1873); id. C. R., lxxvii., p. 64 (1873). + + _Aphelotherium_, Gervais, Zool. et Pal. Franç. (1), ii., Exp. 34 + (1848-52). + + _Cænopithecus_, Rütim, Denksch. Schw. Ges. Nat., xix., p. 88 (1862). + + _Notharctus_, Leidy, Geol. Surv. Mont., p. 364 (1871). + + _? Thinolestes_, Marsh, Am. Jour. Sci., 1872 (2), p. 205. + + _? Telmalestes_, Marsh, _op. cit._, p. 206. + +"The general form of the cranium," to quote Sir W. Flower, "the large size +and anterior direction of the orbits, the small and narrow muzzle ... show +its affinity to the Lemurine animals, and especially to the African forms. +The whole skull, however, is more depressed than in the slow Lemurs and +Galagos; the orbits are smaller, the brain cavity relatively smaller and +more constricted behind the orbits, and the muscular ridges more +developed."... The lower jaw is deep and stout. The posterior upper +pre-molar is very similar to a true molar. "The upper molar teeth are +nearly equal in size, and have nearly square crowns, with four distinct +cusps, one at each angle, rather obliquely placed"; the hind inner cusp +{120}of the posterior molar inconspicuous. The lower molars have two pairs +of obliquely placed cusps, connected by transverse ridges, anterior and +posterior, with an oblique ridge running forwards and inwards from the +outer hind cusp. The hindmost lower pre-molar has an internal cusp; the +lower incisors have upright spatulate crowns like those of true Apes. + +Several species of this genus have been described. ADAPIS PARISIENSIS (with +the synonyms of _Aphelotherium duvernoyi_, Gervais, and _Palæolemur +betillei_, Delfortrie) is one of the best known, and its remains have been +found in Upper Eocene strata at Egerkingen, in Switzerland, at Sainte +Néboule de Béduer, and in the Paris Gypsum, in France, as well as in +England. It "more nearly resembles the Indo-African Lemurs, and not those +of the island of Madagascar, or of the extreme east, having no near +relationship with the Tarsius, the Aye-Aye, or the Indris, and not much +with the true Lemurs." (_Flower._) From the Eocene of Switzerland comes A. +LEMUROIDES. ADAPIS MAGNA (Filhol) is larger than the preceding species, has +a larger face, and a greater constriction between the cerebral and facial +regions of the skull. It has been found in the phosphatic deposits at +Raynal, in France. ADAPIS ANGUSTIDENS (Filhol), from the Quercy Phosphates +of France, is distinguished by the structure of its molars, and by the +great size of its two anterior pre-molars. A. TENEBROSUS (Leidy) has a +large lower canine. A. MINOR (Filhol) is an additional species. + + +GENUS TOMITHERIUM. + + _Tomitherium_, Cope, Vert. Bridg. Eoc. Wyom., p. 2, 1872. + + _Limnotherium_, Marsh, Am. Journ. Sci., 1871, ii., p. 43 (in part). + +This genus, which is allied to _Adapis_, is characterised by {121}having +its lower incisors with cutting edges; the first and second lower +pre-molars with one root; the third with one cusp and a posterior heel, and +the fourth an interior lateral cusp in addition. The lower true molars have +two anterior cusps (the inner being double) and two posterior. The thigh is +long and the knee free from the body as in the _Anthropoidea_, the hand +capable of turning freely upwards at the wrist; the hind-limbs longer than +the fore-, and "the details of the lower jaw, which is co-ossified in the +centre, and teeth similar to that of the lower Monkeys." The remains of the +only known species, T. ROSTRATUM (Cope), which was about the size of the +Capuchin Monkey (_Cebus capucinus_) of Brazil, were found in the Bridger +(Eocene) beds in an isolated spot on Blacks' fork, Wyoming. + + +GENUS MENOTHERIUM. + + _Menotherium_, Cope, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Territ., 1874, i., p. 22. + + _Laopithecus_, Marsh, Am. Journ. Sei., 1875, i., p. 240. + +This genus was established on an under jaw from the Lower Miocene +White-river beds of Nebraska. Its molars are successively larger from +anterior to posterior; the two pairs of cusps are obliquely opposite, the +hinder pair longer than the front pair, and presenting a strong cingulum. +Its discovery was the first indication of Lemurs in the Miocene of the +United States. M. ROBUSTUM, Marsh, was as large as a Coati; and M. +LEMURINUM (Cope) about the size of a domestic Cat. + + +GENUS PELYCODUS. + + _Pelycodus_, Cope, Cat. Verteb. Eoc. New Mex., p. 13 (1875). + + _Tomitherium_, Cope, Rep. U. S. Geol. Surv. W. of 100° mer., ii., p. 135 + (in part). + + _Lemuravus_, Marsh, Amer. Journ. Sci., 1875, i., p. 239. + +{122}This genus is characterised by the second pre-molar having always two +roots; the anterior has one root and the third three; the posterior has one +external and one internal cusp. Of the true molars, all have two external +cusps; the anterior and median have two internal cusps and the posterior +has only one; of the lower teeth the posterior pre-molar has an internal +cusp and a heel; the next one has no internal cusp; the molars often have +the fore inner cusps double; the posterior molar has a strong heel. This +genus contains three species, all described by Cope (P. JARROVII, P. TUTUS, +P. FRUGIVORUS), with the hind inner cusp of the upper molars distinct from +the heel; and P. ANGULATUS, in which that cusp is small and is on the heel. +Their remains have been found in the Lower Eocene (Wasatch) beds of New +Mexico. P. HELVETICUS has been described from the Upper Eocene of +Egerkingen. + + +GENUS MICROSYOPS. + + _Microsyops_, Leidy, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philad., 1872, p. 20. + + _Limnotherium_, Marsh, Amer. Journ. Sci., 1871, ii., p. 43 (in part). + +This genus is easily distinguished, as Cope points out in his sumptuously +illustrated "Vertebrata of the Tertiary Formations of the West," by the +absence of the first (anterior) inferior pre-molar, and probably of the +superior first pre-molar also. The canine tooth of the lower jaw is very +large. The posterior pre-molar has an internal cusp, and the molars two +front inner cusps. There are three species, distinguished chiefly by size, +M. SPIERIANUS (Cope), very small; M. ELEGANS (Marsh), the largest, with +seven teeth succeeding the canine in the lower jaw; and M. SCOTTIANUS +(Cope); all from the Eocene of Wyoming. + + +{123}GENUS HYOPSODUS. + + _Hyopsodus_, Leidy, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philad., 1870, p. 109. + +The present genus is recognised by the front inner cusp of the lower molars +being single, and their heel presenting a cusp at its inner hind angle +(except in _H. acolytus_). Of the upper pre-molars, the median and +posterior have an internal cusp; and the molars have two outer and two +inner cusps with two small intermediate tubercles. There are six species +known, from the Wasatch and Bridger beds of Wyoming and New Mexico, of +which H. ACOLYTUS is distinguished by having the heel of the anterior and +median lower molars without an inner hind cusp. Professor Cope remarks that +though the species of this genus are not numerous, individuals of some of +them are exceedingly common in the Eocene beds of Wyoming. H. PAULUS and H. +MINUSCULUS, Leidy, H. VICARIUS and H. POWELLIANUS, Cope, with H. JURENSIS, +Rutimeyer, from the Upper Eocene of Egerkingen, are the best known species. + +The genera INDRODON, Cope, from the Lower Eocene Puerco formation of New +Mexico, with three cusped upper and four cusped lower molars; OPISTHOTOMUS, +APHELISCUS, and SARCOLEMUR, Cope, from the Wasatch of Wyoming; HIPPOSYUS, +Leidy; BATHRODON, MESACODON, and STENACODON, Marsh, from the Middle Eocene +Bridger beds; are of doubtful affinities. + + + + +II. THE MONKEYS AND APES--SUB-ORDER ANTHROPOIDEA. + + +This Sub-order, though containing animals of much higher organisation than +the _Lemuroidea_, embraces species presenting many different grades of +intelligence, and ranging in size from the Pigmy Marmoset, not larger than +a small Kitten, to the {124}ponderous Gorilla and the genus _Homo_. In +external characters the Monkeys and Apes have in general a shorter and less +Dog-like nose than the Lemurs, thin lips and a more distinct face; while +their eyes, situated on the face, are invariably directed forwards, and +never outwards, or to the side. The opening of their nostrils is either +outward (as in those inhabiting the New World), or downwards (as in the +bulk of the Old World species). All of them are covered with hair; the tail +may be long, short, or wanting. The proportions of the fore-limbs to the +hind- vary much in the different groups. The great toe, as well as the +thumb, is (except in a few species) fully opposable, so that in the +majority of members of the Sub-order, the foot is as good a prehensile +organ as the hand. From this circumstance comes the designation, +_Quadrumana_, or "four-handed," so often applied to these animals. In a few +species the thumb is rudimentary or absent, but the fore-finger, the +absence of which characterised some of the Lemurs, is always present and +well developed, and the corresponding digit in the foot (except in the +Marmosets) has a flat nail instead of a claw. The mammæ of the +_Anthropoidea_ are always situated on the breast. If we examine the +structures underlying the skin, we find that in the skull the orbits are +entirely shut in by a bony wall, so that the finger cannot be passed into +the temporal depression behind, as could be done in the Lemurine skull, and +that the lachrymal foramen opens within the cavity for the eye. In the +present Sub-order there is no toothless space in the mid-line of the upper +jaw, the incisor teeth being set close together; but there is always a +vacuity, except in Man, between the incisors and the canine tooth. The +lower canine teeth do not resemble in form the incisors, nor do they +protrude horizontally, as in the Lemurs. {125}The two halves of the lower +jaw are always co-ossified together, when the animal is full grown. The +_humerus_, or arm-bone, never has an entepicondylar foramen on the inner +side of its lower portion, and the bones of the fore-arm (the _ulna_ and +_radius_) are never ossified together, nor are those of the lower leg (the +_tibia_ and _fibula_); so that there is perfect freedom for every movement +necessary for grasping and walking, or for rotating the hand or foot on the +wrist and ankle. + +With regard to the brain, the anthropoid cerebrum, or fore-brain, is +greatly convoluted, and differs from that of the Lemurs by its +proportionately larger size, the cerebellum, or hind-brain, being as a rule +entirely covered by it. + +The uterus and structures for the nutrition of the young prior to birth +differ greatly in this Sub-order from the conditions existing in the +_Lemuroidea_. The uterus is a simple and not a two-horned sac, and its +inner layer, in which the foetal and maternal structures intermingle during +the growth of the embryo, is shed after the birth of the young, which is +not the case in the Lemurs. + +"The resemblance of Monkeys to Man," says Mr. Darwin, "is greatly caused by +the relative position of the features of the face. The eyes are arched +over; they are separated by a long nose, the end of which in some is very +human. The mouth is not carried back, but occupies the same general +position as in Man, and the forehead, so often wrinkled, is usually +prominent and like that of a child. The likeness is increased by the fact +that anger, sorrow, pleasure, and satisfaction, are displayed by the Monkey +by nearly similar movements of the muscles and skin, chiefly above the +eyebrows and round the mouth. Some few expressions are indeed almost the +same, as in the weeping of certain kinds of Monkeys, and in the +{126}laughing noise made by others, during which the corners of the mouth +are drawn backward and the eyelids wrinkled. In Man the nose is much more +prominent than in most Monkeys; but we may trace the commencement of an +aquiline curvature in the nose of the Hoolock Gibbon, and this in the +Great-nosed Monkey (_Nasalis larvatus_) is carried to a ridiculous +extreme." + +In regard to the distribution of the _Anthropoidea_, excluding Man +(_Hominidæ_), two families (the _Hapalidæ_ and _Cebidæ_) are known only +from the New World; and two others (the _Cercopithecidæ_ and _Simiidæ_) are +exclusively confined to the Old World. No fossil remains of Eastern +Hemisphere forms have as yet been found in the Western, or _vice versâ_, a +fact which indicates, doubtless, a separation of great antiquity between +the two groups. The various species of these families are to be found +chiefly in the warmer regions on both sides of the equator. In the New +World some species range as far north as to 20° N. lat. in Mexico; and +South, to 30° below the equator. In the Eastern Hemisphere, the Old World +species predominate in the tropical and sub-tropical regions; but certain +forms have spread as far north as Thibet and Japan, and others have made +the high altitudes of the Himalaya Mountains their home; while to the +southward they extend in Africa nearly to the Cape of Good Hope. No +indigenous species have ever been found in New Guinea, Australia, New +Zealand, or in the Pacific, or West Indian Islands. + +The Apes of the Old World differ in many important characters from those of +the New. Among the former, as already mentioned, the openings of the +nostrils are directed downwards, as in Man; the nose is narrow, and the +nostrils themselves are set close together, being separated from each other +by a thin septum, or partition, of cartilage. On this account, {127}they +have received the name of Catarrhine Monkeys (_Catarrhini_).[7] The New +World Monkeys, on the other hand, have the nose flat and the opening of +their nostrils directed outwards, and the one nostril widely separated from +the other by a broad cartilaginous septum, and they are therefore +designated Platyrrhine Monkeys (_Platyrrhini_).[8] + +The dental formula of the Old World forms is I2/2, C1/1, P2/2, M3/3, making +a total of thirty-two teeth in all; but those of the Western Hemisphere +differ in having invariably three pre-molars, and sometimes two molars, +instead of three, so that they possess either thirty-two or thirty-six +teeth altogether. There is always a gap, or _diastema_, in the series of +the teeth in front of the upper and behind the lower canines; the latter +teeth being taller than the rest. Many of the Catarrhine Apes have large +cheek-pouches as well as bare patches, or callosities, often brightly +coloured, on the part they apply to the ground when sitting. None of the +Platyrrhine group have cheek-pouches or callosities, but in many of them +the tail is marvellously prehensile, which is not the case in any of the +Old World species. Again, in the Apes of the Eastern Hemisphere, the +ear-capsules of the skull have an external bony channel (or _meatus_) for +conveying the sound vibrations into the ear, which is absent in the +American species. + +As a rule the Platyrrhine Monkeys have the fore-limbs shorter than the +hind-, and are more quadrupedal than those of the Old World. Their thumb is +also more like a finger than the same digit in their Eastern brethren. + +Of the New World Monkeys, the _Hapalidæ_, or Marmosets, have thirty-two +teeth, and the _Cebidæ_, with several {128}sub-families, have thirty-six +teeth. The former include the Marmosets (_Hapale_) and the Tamarins +(_Midas_). The latter comprise the Capuchins (_Cebus_), which may be taken +as the representative genus of American Monkeys, the Woolly Monkeys +(_Lagothrix_), the Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_ and the allied _Eriodes_), the +Howlers (_Mycetes_), the Sakis (_Pithecia_ and _Brachyurus_), the +Night-Monkeys or Douroucolis (_Nyctipithecus_), and the Squirrel Monkeys or +Saimiris (_Chrysothrix_), with the allied _Callithrix_. + +"The extensive equatorial forests of the Amazon and Orinoco, and their +tributaries, constitute _par excellence_ the home of the American Monkeys, +but the majority of the genera have a very extended range, appearing in one +or more species throughout the greater portion of the tract covered by the +entire family. This is more particularly the case with the Sapajous +(_Cebus_), Spider-Monkeys, Howlers, and the species of _Callithrix_. The +range of the species, on the other hand, is not unfrequently very sharply +defined, as, for example, when a natural barrier, offering insurmountable +obstacles to further migration, suddenly interposes itself. Examples of +such limitation, as brought about by the dominant water-courses of the +equatorial forests," are numerous. Mr. Wallace cites the case of certain +species of Saki Monkey (_Pithecia_), found on either side of the Amazon +river, whose range, either southward or northward, appears to be limited by +that river. "The number of species of these American Apes found in, and +north of, the Isthmus of Panama is ten, of which only one (_Ateles +vellerosus_) extends into Mexico; _Mycetes villosus_, the Guatemalan +Howler, or 'Mono,' has thus far been found only in Guatemala and Honduras. +It is a little surprising that the range of only two of the species--the +Black-faced Spider-Monkey (_Ateles ater_) {129}and one of the Night-Apes +(_Nyctipithecus vociferans_)--extends beyond Colombia, in South America." + +"None of the South American Monkeys appear to pass west of the Andean chain +of mountains south of Ecuador, and even north of the Peruvian boundary the +number of such transgressional forms is very limited. Indeed, even among +the wooded slopes, a habitation along the basal line of the mountain axis +seems to be much preferred. The greatest altitude at which Monkeys were +observed by Tschudi in Peru was 3,000 feet (_Lagothrix humboldti_); _Ateles +ater_ and _Cebus robustus_ were found at 2,500 feet. On the other hand, +Salvin and Godman state that in the district of Vera Paz, in Guatemala, the +'Mono' or Howler is most abundant at an elevation of 6,000 feet; and on the +Volcano of Atitlan, in the same country, Mr. Salvin found troops of the +Mexican Spider-Monkey (_Ateles vellerosus_) in the forest region of 7,000 +feet elevation. + +"The range of the Marmosets and Oustitis (_Hapalidæ_) is nearly +co-extensive with that of the Monkeys proper." (_Heilbrin._) The Pigmy and +the Silky Marmoset range as far north as Mexico. + + + + +THE MARMOSETS AND TAMARINS. FAMILY HAPALIDÆ. + + +Of the New World, or Platyrrhine, Apes, the Marmosets come to be described +first, as they have many characters which mark them out as the lowest of +the _Anthropoidea_, and rank them nearer to the _Lemuroidea_ than any of +the others. They are specially characterised by having only thirty-two +teeth, their dental formula being I2/2, C1/1, P3/3, M2/2. In the actual +number of their teeth they agree with their Eastern relations, but with +this {130}difference, that in the latter the pre-molars are two, and the +molars three, above and below on each side. Their flattened nose, with its +wide partition between the nostrils, and their non-prehensile bushy tails, +are also distinguishing characters. The face is nude, the ears large and +sometimes fringed. Their hind-limbs are proportionately larger and longer +than their fore-limbs, while the nails of their fingers and toes are not +flattened as in the Old World Apes, but all form sharp curved claws, except +on the much shortened great toe. The thumb is elongated and lies parallel, +but quite unopposable to, nor indeed is it separable at will from, the rest +of the digits. The fore-foot, consequently, "is a mere paw, and the term +'hand' is not applicable to it."... The plantar surface of the hind-foot +"is very long, and the digits are very short. It follows from these facts +that the term 'quadrumanous' is not applicable in any sense to the +Marmosets." (_Huxley._) These animals have no callosities over the ischial +(or buttock) bones, and no cheek-pouches. In their smooth and rounded skull +superciliary ridges are conspicuously absent; and the ear-capsules have, as +has been already observed, no external bony canal for conducting sound +vibrations to the inner ear. The hyoid bone resembles that of the Lemurs. + +This family has been divided into two genera, distinguished from each other +only by a variation in the relative length of their incisor and canine +teeth, which is so slight as to render it doubtful whether these +differences really warrant the generic separation of the two groups. As, +however, the distinction has been maintained by nearly all writers upon +these animals, the arrangement has been followed here, and the various +species of the family will be described as true Marmosets (_Hapale_) and +{131}Tamarins (_Midas_). They are most numerous in the equatorial forests +of South America. + + +THE MARMOSETS. GENUS HAPALE. + + _Hapale_, Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm., p. 71 (1811). + +The members of this genus, which are often kept in captivity as pets, are +very small animals, covered with thick and silky fur, and having bushy +tails, equal to or even exceeding the length of their body. The head is +round, the eyes large and watchful, the face short and nude, and often +abundantly whiskered. The mouth is large; the ears also large and often +fringed, and the neck sometimes clothed, with long hair. They are +distinguished from the Tamarins (_Midas_) by having their upper incisor +teeth long, narrow, and protruding outwards and forwards; the incisors of +the lower jaw are also very long, and its canines small and shorter than +the incisors, both being protrusive, as among the Lemurs. The cranial +region of the smooth skull is conspicuously large in comparison with its +facial portion, but the cerebrum shows a low type of organisation, and +indicates a small degree of intelligence in its possessor; it is smooth and +almost devoid of convolutions; the cerebrum, too, unlike that of the +_Lemuroidea_, completely covers the cerebellum. The orbits are large, and +almost completely walled in from the temporal depression behind. The +stomach in form resembles that found in the higher groups, but its orifices +for the entrance and exit of food are nearer to each other than in any of +the other American Monkeys. + +The female produces two or three young at a birth, instead of one, as is +the general rule among the _Anthropoidea_. The species vary much in +coloration, and some of them resemble the Lemurs in being ring-tailed. + +{132}The Marmosets are all gentle and playful in disposition, and are, on +this account, very largely brought to Europe as pets; but they are very +delicate, and rarely survive long in confinement after the advent of the +Northern winter. They are arboreal, living in troops, and feeding on +insects and fruit, and not disdaining flesh, especially of fishes, when +they can obtain it. They emit a characteristic chirping noise. + + +I. THE COMMON MARMOSET. HAPALE JACCHUS. + + _Simia jacchus_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 40 (1766). + + _Jacchus pencillatus_, Geoffr. Ann. Mus., xix., p. 119 (1812); Spix, t. + c. p. 34, pl. 26 (1823). + + _Jacchus leucocephalus_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 119. + + _Jacchus vulgaris_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 119; Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., + p. 63 (1870, in part). + + _Hapale jacchus_, Kuhl, Beitr., Zool., p. 46 (1820); Schleg., Mus. Pays + Bas, vii., p. 271 (1876). + + _Hapale albicollis_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 33, pl. 25 (1823); + Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 59 (1851). + +CHARACTERS.--Head small; eyes gentle; nose flat; face black, with a white +spot in front; ears naked, with a tuft of long hairs on the front edge of +its opening, either black, white, or grey; hair of the sides of the head +elongated; back cross-banded with black and grey, the hair at the base +dusky, reddish-brown in the middle, grey at the top. Tail banded with black +or grey. + +Several species have been described under the names of the White-necked +Marmoset (_H. albicollis_, Spix), the Black-eared Marmoset (_H. +penicillata_, Kuhl), and the White-headed Marmoset (_H. leucocephala_, +Kuhl), but Dr. Gray considered these to be only varieties of the common +species, which has {133}sometimes the head and neck greyish-white, or the +head, neck and ear-tufts black, or the head alone white. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Island of Marajo, at the mouth of the Amazon. + +HABITS.--The Common Marmoset is an inhabitant of the forests, feeding +chiefly on fruits and insects. It is very susceptible to cold, and lives +but a short time when removed from the tropics, unless extreme care be +taken. Mr. Bates, the author of "The Naturalist on the River Amazons," +states that when in Para, he counted in a short time thirteen different +species of Monkey in semi-domestication in the city, either at the doors or +windows of houses, or in the native canoes. Two of them he did not meet +with afterwards in any other part of the country. One of these was the +well-known _Hapale jacchus_, a little creature resembling a Kitten, banded +with black and grey all over the body and tail, and having a fringe of long +white hairs surrounding the ears. It was seated on the shoulder of a young +mulatto girl as she was walking about the street, and he was told that it +had been captured in the island of Marajo. + + +II. THE WHITE-SHOULDERED MARMOSET. HAPALE HUMERALIFER. + + _Hapale humeralifer_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 120 (1812); Bates, + Nat. Amaz., ii., p. 55 (1863). + +CHARACTERS.--Face partly naked, flesh-coloured; ears fringed with long +white hairs. Fore-part of body white; hands grey; hind part black, with the +rump and under side reddish-tawny; tail banded with grey and black; long +white hair on the shoulders. Length about 8 inches, exclusive of the tail. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Mr. Bates says that this species seems to occur {134}only in +the dry woods bordering the Campos in the interior of Brazil. + +HABITS.--"One would mistake it," writes Mr. Bates in reference to this rare +little Marmoset--the prettiest species of its family--"at first sight for a +Kitten, from its small size, varied colours, and the softness of its fur. +It was a most timid creature, screaming and biting when anyone attempted to +handle it. It became familiar, however, with the people of the house, a few +days after it came into their possession. When hungry or uneasy, it uttered +a weak querulous cry, a shrill note which was sometimes prolonged so as to +resemble the stridulation of a grasshopper." + + +III. THE WHITE-EARED MARMOSET. HAPALE AURITA. + + _Jacchus auritus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 19 (1812). + + _Hapale aurita_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 48 (1820); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, + vii., p. 276 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Larger than _Hapale jacchus_; ears naked, external, exposed, +with a band of long hairs across the inner surface of the conch, forming a +short grey tuft; tail ringed, blackish, the hair minutely punctulated with +yellow or red; sides of the head, limbs, and hinder part of body +blackish-brown; face more or less white; back blackish, without indication +of cross-bands. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +IV. THE WHITE-FOOTED MARMOSET. HAPALE LEUCOPUS. + + _Hapale leucopus_, Günth., P. Z. S., 1876, p. 743, pl. lxxii. + +CHARACTERS.--Hair of back and sides moderately long, silky, brownish-grey; +nape and occiput darker; face and head covered with short sparse white +hair; ears large, naked, and without tufts; throat greyish-brown; under +side of body and {135}inside of legs rusty-red; fore-arm, hands, and feet +white--the hairs short, blackish or black, with white tips. Head and body, +11½ inches long; tail, 14½ inches. Dorsal and lumbar vertebræ together, 19. + +FEMALE.--Similar to the male, but with the hairs of the upper parts +silver-tipped. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Medellin, in the province of Antioquia, United States of +Colombia. + +HABITS.--Unknown. + + +V. THE GOLDEN MARMOSET. HAPALE CHRYSOLEUCA. + + _Hapale chrysoleucos_, Wagner in Wiegm. Arch., 1842, i., p. 357; id. in + Schreb. Säugeth., Suppl., v., p. 125 (1855); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1869, p. + 594. + + _Mico sericeus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1868, p. 256, pl. xxiv. + + _Miocella chrysoleucos_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 131 (1870). + + _Miocella sericeus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus. App., p. 131 (1870). + + _Hapale chrysoleuca_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 227 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Ears large, naked, exposed, margined with long white hairs. +General colour white; limbs, under surface, and tail, uniform +greyish-yellow, or reddish-brown in some varieties. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Forests of Brazil; vicinity of Borba, on the Rio Madeira. + + +VI. THE PIGMY MARMOSET. HAPALE PYGMÆA. + + _Jacchus pygmæus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., pl. xxiv., fig. 2 + (1823). + + _Hapale pygmæa_, Wagner in Schreber, Säugeth., v., p. 126 (1855). + Castelnau, Voy. Amér. Sud, pl. 5, figs. 1, 2; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., + p. 277 (1876). + + {136}_Cibuella pygmæa_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 64 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Face with long brown whiskers, naturally brushed back over the +ears; ears small, with a few scattered hairs over them, but no ear-tufts, +sunk in the long fur of the head. General colour brownish-tawny; tail +ringed with black. The young resemble the adults from their earliest days. + +This is the most diminutive Monkey known, and measures only six inches in +length. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Forests of Brazil, extending north into Mexico. Mr. Bates +remarks in reference to this species: "I was surprised on my return to +England to learn that the Pigmy Marmoset was found also in Mexico, no other +Amazonian Monkey being known to wander far from the great river plain. Thus +the smallest, and apparently the feeblest, species of the whole order is +one which has by some means become the most widely dispersed." + +HABITS.--Little or nothing is known of the habits of this individual +species, but there is very little doubt that they agree closely with those +of the Common Marmoset. + + +VII. THE BLACK-TAILED MARMOSET. HAPALE MELANURA. + + _Simia argentata_, Linn., Syst. Nat., p. 40 (1766), albino var. + + _Jacchus melanura_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 120 (1812); Gray, P. Z. + S., 1865, p. 734. + + _Jacchus argentatus_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 120. + + _Hapale melanura_ (nec Kuhl); Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth., i., p. 127, + fig. 36 (1840), and Suppl. v., p. 15, fig. 13 (1855); Scl., P. Z. S., + 1875, p. 419, pl. l.; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 267 (1876). + + _Midas argentatus_, Bates, Nat. Amaz., i., p. 162 (1863). + + {137}_Mico melanurus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 64 (1870). + + _Hapale argentata_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 268 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Face naked, flesh-coloured; ears naked, flesh-coloured, +exposed; no ear-pencils, as in _H. chrysoleuca_; tail uniform black; head +and fore-limbs pale brown; front of the body paler; front edges of the +thighs, and a band across the loins, white. Length, 7 inches, without the +tail. Some varieties have the body entirely covered with long, white, silky +hairs. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Bolivia and Brazil. Mr. Bates says that the Black-tailed +Marmoset is one of the rarest of the American Monkeys. He did not hear of +its being found anywhere in Amazonia except near Cametá, on the River +Tocantins. + +HABITS.--Little is known of the habits of this species, few naturalists +having had the good fortune to observe it in its native state. Mr. Bates, +however, once saw three individuals together, running along a branch, and +looking like white Kittens. "I afterwards saw a pet animal," he says in his +book, "of this species, and heard that there were many so kept, and that +they were esteemed as choice treasures.... It was a most timid and +sensitive thing. The woman who owned it carried it constantly in her bosom, +and no money would induce her to part with her pet.... The nervous little +creature would not permit strangers to touch it. If anyone attempted to do +so, it shrank back, the whole body trembling with fear, and its teeth +chattered, whilst it uttered its tremulous, frightened tones. The +expression of its features was like that of its more robust brother, _Midas +ursulus_; the eyes, which were black, were full of curiosity and mistrust, +and it always kept them fixed on the person who attempted to advance +towards it." + + +{138}THE TAMARINS. GENUS MIDAS. + + _Midas_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 120 (1812). + +This genus differs from the preceding only in the characters of some of the +teeth. The canine teeth in the lower jaw are longer than their neighbouring +incisors; but, as has been pointed out by Prof. St. George Mivart, it is a +question whether this generic distinction can be maintained, as an +intermediate condition exists in some forms. + +For the convenience of description the species of this genus have been +divided into two groups--(_a_) those with long hair on the head and neck, +and (_b_) those with short hairs on the back of the head. The number of +species in the latter group is greater than in the former; and they are +further divided into those with, and those without, white lips. + + +I. THE SILKY TAMARIN. MIDAS ROSALIA. + + _Simia rosalia_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 41, pl. i. (1766). + + _Midas rosalia_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 121 (1812). + + _Leontopithecus rosalia_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 65 (1870). + + _Hapale rosalia_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 250 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--This is the first species of the long-whiskered and maned +group; fur soft and silky; tail equal in length to the body, bushy at the +tip; hair round the face and on the back of the neck very long, forming a +conspicuous ruff. Face, hands, and feet purple; general colour of the hair +golden yellow, more or less red, and glossy. + +These animals are said to possess an air-sac in the throat, at the back of +the _trachea_ (or windpipe), as in _Ateles_. Length, 11 inches; tail, 12 +inches. + +{139}DISTRIBUTION.--The Silky Tamarin is found in the forests of +South-eastern Brazil, in the coastal forests of New Granada, and as far +north as the Isthmus of Panama. + +HABITS.--The "Marakina," as this exceedingly beautiful species is often +called, lives in small troops, ascending to the slender branches at the +tops of the highest trees in the forest. The species is very playful and +intelligent. + +Closely related to the Silky Tamarin, if indeed it is really distinct from +it, is the Maned Tamarin (_M. leoninus_, of Humboldt), which inhabits the +same region, and is only seven inches in length, exclusive of the tail. "It +is named _leoninus_," remarks Mr. Bates, "on account of the long brown mane +which depends from the neck, and which gives it very much the appearance of +a diminutive Lion." In referring to their intelligence, the same writer +continues, "Isidore Geoffroy St. Hilaire relates of a species of this +genus, that it distinguished between different objects depicted on an +engraving. M. Audouin showed it the portraits of a cat and a wasp; at these +it became much terrified, whereas at the sight of a figure of a grasshopper +or beetle it precipitated itself on the picture as if to seize the objects +there represented." + +Another species, the Golden-headed Tamarin (_M. chrysomelas_, of Kuhl), +which is in general colour black, with the head, fore-arms, hands, and a +line beneath the tail, golden-yellow, is, according to Dr. Gray, "very like +a melanism of _Leontopithecus_ (= _Midas_) _rosalia_; but the hands and +feet, which are sometimes blackish in that species, are yellow--that is to +say, not changed." + + +II. GEOFFROY'S TAMARIN. MIDAS GEOFFROYI. + + _Midas oedipus_, var. Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 30, pl. 23 (1823). + + {140}_Hapale geoffroyi_, Pucher., Rev. Zool., 1845, p. 336; Schl., Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 258 (1876). + + _Midas geoffroyi_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 63 (1851); + Sclater, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 478, pl. xxxviii. + + _Midas ursulus_ (nec Geoffr.), Rep. Council Zool. Soc., 1858, p. 16. + + _Oedipus geoffroyi_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 65 (1870). + + (_Plate XIII._) + +CHARACTERS.--Face black; a patch on the top of the head white; back of neck +and shoulders, lower part of back, and upper side of base of tail +rusty-brown; ears, back, outer side of arms and thighs, and outer side of +upper part of leg, brownish-grey; throat, under surface of body, outer and +inner surface of fore-arms and legs, white; remainder of tail black. + +Hair on the crown of the head short, forming a narrow oblong patch; that on +the nape of the neck elongated. + +DISTRIBUTION.--At present only known from Panama. + +HABITS.--Unknown. + + +III. THE PINCHÉ MONKEY. MIDAS OEDIPUS. + + _Simia oedipus_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 41 (1766); Audeb. Singes, Fam. + vi., Sect, ii., pl. iv fig. 2. (1727). + + _Midas oedipus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 122 (1812). + + _Oedipus titi_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 65 (1870). + + _Hapale oedipus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 258 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Face and sides of head nearly naked; top of head with large, +erect, crest; hair of neck elongated; tail not ringed. + +General colour greyish-brown; outside of limbs and base of tail, washed +with rusty-red; crest, throat, and lower surface of body, fore-limbs and +front edge of hind-limbs white; extremity of the tail black. + +PLATE XIII. + +[Illustration: GEOFFROY'S TAMARIN.] + + +{141}Differs from the preceding species, _M. geoffroyi_, in having a crest. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Pinché Monkey is found in the forests of New Granada, +near the coast. + +With the succeeding species we commence the description of the Tamarins +which have no conspicuous mane on the back of the neck, and that section +whose members have a patch of white hairs around the mouth, each looking at +a short distance, as Mr. Bates remarks, "as though it held a ball of +snow-white cotton in its teeth." + + +IV. THE WHITE-LIPPED TAMARIN. MIDAS LABIATUS. + + _Midas labiatus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 121 (1812); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 66 (1870). + + _Jacchus labiatus_, Desmarest, Mammalog., p. 95 (1820); Humb., Rec. + d'Obs. Zool., Prod. sp. 44 (1811). + + _Hapale labiata_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth., i., p. 246 (1840); Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 260 (1876, part). + +CHARACTERS.--General colour black; under side reddish, the black +terminating on the front of the chest in a straight line, the hinder part +of the back washed with grey; the hinder part of the chest, belly, inside +of the limbs, and the under side of the root of the tail, rust-colour; tip +of nose and edges of upper and lower lips white. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The forests on the north side of the Amazon. + + +{142}V. THE RED-BELLIED TAMARIN. MIDAS RUFIVENTER. + + _Midas rufiventer_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. H., xii., p. 398 (1843); id. + P. Z. S., 1865, p. 735; id. Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 66 (1870). + + _Midas elegantulus_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., 1861, p. 463. + + _Hapale labiata_ (nec Geoffr.), Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 260 + (part). + +CHARACTERS.--Head, throat, fore-limbs, tail, and hands deep glossy black; +hairs of back, sides, and posterior limbs black, broadly tipped with white, +not regularly ringed; belly, breast and inner surface of limbs bright +brick-red, separated by a distinct line from the black of the back and +outer surface of the limbs. On the back of the head a small patch of the +same colour as the back; on the top of the head a golden-yellow triangular +patch. Lips and tip of the nose, white. + +This species is distinguished from the White-lipped Tamarin (_M. labiatus_) +by the spot on the crown and nape; and by the rufous of the under side +extending forward nearer to the throat. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Banks of the Upper Amazon. Mr. Bates shot a specimen at +Tunantins in 69° W. long., and 4° S. lat. + +HABITS.--Nothing is known of the habits of this species. + +Closely allied to the Red-bellied Tamarin is the so-called MOUSTACHED +TAMARIN (_Midas mystax_, Spix), in which the head, shoulders, and tail are +black; the body above brown, sometimes ringed with white, and the belly +bright rust-coloured. It can be distinguished, as Dr. Slack points out, +from _M. rufiventer_, by the want of the ashy tips to the hairs of the back +{143}and posterior limbs, and the triangular golden spot on the vertex. The +hairs of this spot are golden throughout their entire length, in this +respect resembling another closely related Upper Amazonian species, the +so-called BONNETED TAMARIN (_M. pileatus_, Is. Geoffr.), from which it can +readily be distinguished by the black colour of the under surface. The back +of the Bonneted Tamarin is also varied, black and grey, the limbs and tail +are blackish, and the lips white. + + +VI. DEVILLE'S TAMARIN. MIDAS WEDDELLI. + + _Midas weddellii_, Deville, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1849, p. 55. + + _Midas devillii_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 64 (1851); + Castelnau, Expéd. Amér. Sud, Mamm., pl. vi., fig. 2 (1855); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 67 (1870). + + _Midas leucogenys_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 735; id. Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 67 (1870). + + _Hapale devillei_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 262 (1876). + + _Hapale weddelii_, Schl., t. c. p. 262. + +CHARACTERS.--Fur of back ringed with grey; that of the head, neck, and +front of the fore- and hind-limbs, tail, hands, and feet black; loins, +thighs, legs, and base of tail bright maroon. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Obtained by MM. Castelnau and Deville, at Sarayacu, in the +Peruvian Amazons. + + +VII. THE BLACK-FRONTED TAMARIN. MIDAS NIGRIFRONS. + + _Midas nigrifrons_, Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 64 (1851). + + _Midas flavifrons_, var. c. _Midas nigrifrons_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 67 (1870). + + _Hapale nigrifrons_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 263 (1876). + +{144}CHARACTERS.--Differs from _M. weddelli_ in having the fur washed with +rufous, and the hairs finely ringed. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Unknown. + + +VIII. THE BROWN-HEADED TAMARIN. MIDAS FUSCICOLLIS. + + _Midas fuscicollis_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 27, pl. 20 (1823). + + _Midas flavifrons_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 64 (1851); + Castelnau, Expéd. Amér. Sud, Mamm., pl. vi., fig. 1 (1855); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys, Brit. Mus., p. 67 (1870). + + _Midas devillii_ (nec Is. Geoffr.), Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., + 1861, p. 464. + + _Hapale fuscicollis_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 264 (1876). + + _Hapale chrysomelas_ (nec Kuhl), Schl., t. c. p. 254. + +CHARACTERS.--Pelage mostly black; head and face brown or reddish-brown, +with some grey hairs; lips white, but the nose black; top of the head +yellow, or yellowish-red; back yellow and black; hands and feet black; +outside of the limbs and base of the tail reddish; under side of the body +and inside of the limbs brownish-red. + +The female differs in having the outside of the limbs and the underpart of +the body blackish. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + +HABITS.--Nothing is known of the individual habits of this species. + + +IX. THE YELLOW-TAILED TAMARIN. MIDAS CHRYSOPYGUS. + + _Hapale chrysopyga_, Wagner, in Schreb. Säugeth., i., Simiæ, p. 249 + (1840); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 254 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Similar to _M. fuscicollis_. Black, with the thighs, legs, and +base of tail rusty-red. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil, near Ypanéma, Province of St. Paulo. + + +{145}X. THE BLACK AND RED TAMARIN. MIDAS NIGRICOLLIS. + + _Midas nigricollis_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 28, pl. 21 (1823). + + _Midas rufoniger_, I. Geoffr. et Deville, C. R., xxvii., p. 499 (1848); + Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 64 (1851); Castelnau, Expéd. Amér. + Sud, pl. v., fig. 3 (1855); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 67 (1870). + + _Hapale nigricollis_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 264 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Differs from _M. fuscicollis_ in having the back, loins, +thighs, and legs bright reddish-chestnut. (_Gray._) Mouth bordered with +longish white hairs. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Upper Amazon Region. (_Bates._) The Black and Red +Tamarin is considered by Mr. Bates to be a form or race of the same stock +as _M. ursulus_, modified to suit the altered local conditions of its home, +for in the Upper Amazon Region, as Mr. Wallace has pointed out, the +seasons, as well as the nature of the country, differ very considerably. + +HABITS.--Mr. Bates states that in its habits the present species is similar +to _Midas ursulus_. "One day," he says, "whilst walking along a forest +pathway, I saw one of these lively little fellows miss his grasp as he was +passing from one tree to another along with his troop. He fell head +foremost from a height of at least fifty feet; but managed cleverly to +alight on his legs on the pathway; quickly turning round, he gave me a good +stare for a few minutes, and then bounded off gaily to climb another tree." + + +XI. ILLIGER'S TAMARIN. MIDAS ILLIGERI. + + _Hapale illigeri_, Pucher., Rev. Zool., 1845, p. 336. + + {146}_Midas illigeri_, Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 65 (1851); Schl., + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 65 (1876). + + _Midas flavifrons_, var. _d._ Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 67 + (1870). + + _Midas devillii_ (nec Geoffr.), Sclater, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 220, pl. + xiii. + +CHARACTERS.--Head black; back black, washed with grey; back of head, nape +of neck, shoulders and humeral region black, washed with reddish-brown; +under side and the outer and inner surface of both limbs red; tail at base +and tip red, intermediate portion black. + +The sexes hardly differ; the male being merely rather larger and darker, +especially on the head and nape, where the hair is longer. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Mr. E. Bartlett says that this was the only _Midas_ met with +by him in Eastern Peru. It was plentiful everywhere in the Peruvian +Amazons; and he obtained specimens both on the Huallaga and Ucayali rivers. + +HABITS.--This species is extremely delicate, and will not bear the least +cold. "I have had them alive," writes Mr. Edward Bartlett, "for two or +three weeks; but they appear to suffer from cold and die. They are kept, +however, by the Indian women, who make pets of them and put them into the +long hair on their heads. With this protection they are able to live for a +long time. Having become tame, they frequently hop out and feed, or, having +captured a spider or two, scamper back again, and hide under the luxuriant +crop of their owners, who are generally unwilling to part with them." + + em00With the succeeding species commences the group of Tamarins with no + mane and without white lips. + + +{147}XII. THE PIED TAMARIN. MIDAS BICOLOR. + + _Midas bicolor_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras, p. 31, pl. 24, fig. 1 + (1823). + + _Hapale bicolor_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth., v., p. 135, pl. 12 (1855); + Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 257 (1876). + + _Seniocebus bicolor_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus., p. 68 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Head naked in front of the ears in the adult; hind-part of the +head covered with long white hairs; ears exposed, naked; tail not ringed, +the upper side black; nose and lips black; neck, chest and arms white; +face, body, and hind-limbs brown; under side of tail, inner side of limbs, +and the abdomen ferruginous. + +In the young animal, the face is rather hairy and the forehead naked. +(_Gray._) + +DISTRIBUTION.--The eastern bank of the Rio Negro, a northern tributary of +the Amazon. Mr. Bates obtained a specimen at Barra, where it was rather +common in the forest; and, he adds: "This place, a waterfall near Barra, +which its citizens consider as the chief natural curiosity of their +neighbourhood, is classic ground to the naturalist, from having been a +favourite spot with the celebrated travellers Spix and Martius, during +their stay at Barra in 1820. Von Martius was so much impressed by its +magical beauty, that he commemorated the visit by making a sketch of the +scenery, to serve as background in one of the plates of his great work on +the Palms." + +HABITS.--Keeping together in small troops, running along the main boughs of +the loftier trees, climbing perpendicular trunks, but never taking flying +leaps. + + +{148}XIII. LACÉPEDE'S TAMARIN. MIDAS MIDAS. + + _Simia midas_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 42 (1766). + + _Simia lacepedii_, Fischer, Bull. Soc. Mosc., 1806, p. 23. + + _Midas rufimanus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 121 (1812). + + _Midas ursulus_, var. Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 68 (1870). + + _Hapale midas_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 266 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--General colour black; hands and feet golden-yellow or bright +rusty-red; ears short, haired. The young males resemble the adults. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Surinam. + + +XIV. THE NEGRO TAMARIN. MIDAS URSULUS. + + _Midas ursulus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 121 (1812); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 68 (1870). + + _Midas tamarin_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., 1861, p. 464. + + _Hapale ursula_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 265 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Body long, slender, covered with soft thick fur; ears large, +naked; the face haired. General colour black; nose and lips black; hinder +part of the body rather mottled or banded with reddish-brown or +greyish-white; the hands sometimes black and sometimes yellow. Length, 9 +inches; tail, 15 inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Found on the Lower Amazon, near Para. Mr. Bates says it is +not met with in the Upper Amazon Region, but in its stead a closely allied +species (_Midas nigricollis_), presents itself.[9] + +{149}HABITS.--"The _Midas ursulus_ is never seen," writes Mr. Bates, "in +large flocks; three or four is the greatest number observed together. It +seems to be less afraid of the neighbourhood of Man than any other Monkey. +I sometimes saw it in the woods which border the suburban streets, and once +I espied two individuals in a thicket behind the English Consul's house at +Nazareth. Its mode of progression along the main boughs of the lofty trees +is like that of the Squirrels; it does not ascend to the slender branches, +or take wonderful flying leaps like those Monkeys whose prehensile tails +and flexible hands fit them for such headlong travelling. It confines +itself to the larger boughs and trunks of trees, its long nails being of +great assistance to the creature, enabling it to cling securely to the +bark; and it is often seen passing rapidly round the perpendicular +cylindrical trunks. It is a quick, restless, timid little creature, and has +a great share of curiosity, for when a person passes by under the trees +along which a flock is running, they always stop for a few moments to have +a stare at the intruder." In Para, the Negro Tamarin "is often seen in a +tame state in the houses of the inhabitants.... When first taken, or when +kept tied up, it is very timid and irritable. It will not allow itself to +be approached, but keeps retreating backwards when anyone attempts to coax +it. It is always in a querulous humour, uttering a twittering, complaining +noise; its dark, watchful eyes, expressive of distrust, are observant of +every movement which takes place near it. When treated kindly, however, as +it generally is in the houses of the natives, it becomes very tame and +familiar.... It is generally fed on sweet fruits, such as the banana; but +it is also fond of insects, especially soft-bodied spiders and +grasshoppers, which it will snap up with eagerness when within {150}reach. +The expression of countenance in these small Monkeys is intelligent and +pleasing. This is partly owing to the open facial angle, which is given as +one of 60°, but the quick movements of the head, and the way they have of +inclining it on one side, when their curiosity is excited, contribute very +much to give them a knowing expression.... In mobility of expression of +countenance, intelligence and general manners, these small Monkeys resemble +the higher Apes far more than they do any rodent animal with which I am +acquainted, notwithstanding their apparently low organisation in many +points." + +This description of the habits of the Negro Tamarin may be taken as +representative of those of the various species of the genus, of whom only +glimpses can be caught in their homes, which are the safe altitudes of the +giants of the virgin forests of Brazil. + + + + +THE CAPUCHINS, HOWLERS, AND SPIDER-MONKEYS, &c. FAMILY CEBIDÆ. + + +This family embraces the typical Platyrrhine Monkeys, and to it belongs the +great majority of the American species. As already pointed out (p. 127) +their nose is flat, and the partition between the nostrils, which open +sideways, is very broad, and separates them widely. They are essentially +quadrupedal, and walk with the soles of both pairs of limbs flat to the +ground. The Spider-Monkeys occasionally, however, assume an erect posture. +"They all possess tails, and in some genera (_e.g._, _Ateles_) this organ +becomes very flexible and muscular, and the under surface of its curled +extremity is devoid of hair and highly sensitive. The tail thus modified is +a powerful prehensile organ and serves for a fifth hand." (_Huxley._) In +these {151}Monkeys there are no cheek-pouches, nor ischial callosities. +Except in the Spider-Monkeys the hind-limbs are longer than the fore-; +"while the thumb, even where it is best developed, is capable of but a +partial opposition to the other fingers, bending almost in the same plane +with the latter, so as to be more like a fifth finger." (_Mivart._) +Nevertheless, all its muscles, except the long flexor, are present. The +great-toe is large and can be moved from and to the side of the other +digits, but is not opposable to them. + +The skull is smooth and has no muscular crests; the external bony tube to +the ear is not ossified. The two extremes in its form are presented by the +Howling Monkeys (_Alouatta_) and the Squirrel-Monkeys (_Chrysothrix_), as +pointed out by Professor Huxley in his "Anatomy of Vertebrated Animals": +"In the former the face is very large and prominent, with a low facial +angle. The roof of the brain-case is depressed; the plane of the _occipital +foramen_ [for the passage of the spinal cord] is almost perpendicular" to +the axis of the base of the skull. "In _Chrysothrix_, on the contrary, the +face is relatively small, with a high facial angle; the brain-case is +moderately arched;" and the plane of the _occipital foramen_ is horizontal. + +The dentition of the _Cebidæ_ is very characteristic of the family. The +dental formula is I2/2, C1/1, P3/3, M3/3 and the teeth thirty-six in all--a +larger number than is found in any of the Old World forms, or in the +species of the last family (the _Hapalidæ_); for they possess an extra +pre-molar tooth above and below on each side. Their molar teeth are +four-cusped; and in the upper molars of the Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_) and +of the Howlers (_Alouatta_) there is an oblique cusp, such as is found in +the molars of the _Lemuroidea_, joining the hind inner to the front outer +cusp. Among the _Cebidæ_ the brain varies {152}very much; the posterior +lobes of the main brain (or cerebral hemispheres, which are almost always +convoluted) are also almost always so large as to entirely cover over the +cerebellum (or hind brain), a relation which does not exist between these +two regions of the brain in the _Lemuroidea_. The cerebellum, however, in +the Howlers is slightly uncovered. The absolute size of the brain never, in +any Ape, approaches that of Man. None of the _Cebidæ_ attain the size of +even the medium-sized Old World Apes. + +The _Cebidæ_ are all arboreal, and strictly confined to the forest regions +of Tropical America, from the southern part of Mexico to about the parallel +of 30° S. lat. They are divided into four sub-families, namely: The +Douroucolis, or Night-Monkeys (_Nyctipithecinæ_); the Saki Monkeys +(_Pitheciinæ_); the Howlers (_Mycetinæ_); and the Capuchin Monkeys +(_Cebinæ_). + + + + +THE NIGHT-MONKEYS. SUB-FAMILY NYCTIPITHECINÆ. + + +The Night-Monkeys are small and elegant animals covered with long hair, and +having long bushy tails, which are not prehensile, although they can be +curled round a branch of a tree. The caudal vertebræ in these creatures are +consequently not flattened from above downward, as is the case in the +prehensile-tailed groups, but rounded. Their lower incisor teeth are set +vertically and their thumb is fairly well developed. + +This sub-family contains three genera, the Squirrel-Monkeys +(_Chrysothrix_); the Whaiapu-Sais, or Titis (_Callithrix_); and the typical +Night-Monkeys, or Douroucolis (_Nyctipithecus_). + + +THE SQUIRREL-MONKEYS. GENUS CHRYSOTHRIX. + + _Chrysothrix_, Kaup., Thierreich., i., p. 51 (1835). + +{153}The Saimiris, or Squirrel-Monkeys, are very beautiful and active +little animals, characterised by their soft, close, and erect fur, and +especially in having the head produced posteriorly. The face is relatively +small and has a high facial angle. The eyes are large, directed forwards, +and set very close together. The ears are large; and the nose has a very +broad partition between its nostrils. The tail is long, round, and covered +with short hair; but tufted at the extremity and non-prehensile. + +As regards the skeleton, the skull is elongated, and the arched cranial +portion prolonged backwards, the length of the base of the skull being +shorter than the cerebral cavity. The facial portion of the skull is +relatively smaller and the cranial larger even than in Man; this character +being, however, common to all the smaller representatives of particular +groups, and "obviously necessary to provide the requisite amount of +brain-space." (_Mivart._) The angle of the lower jaw is narrow behind. The +bony partition between the nostrils is very thin and membranaceous; and +that between the large orbits is also thin and imperfect. The lower incisor +teeth are vertical, and in regular series with the canines, and the latter +are well developed. No Primate has the teeth placed in one uninterrupted +series except Man; but there is always a small interval between each upper +canine and the adjacent incisor, and between each lower canine and the +adjacent pre-molar. + +The skeleton of the hand is one-fifth of the length of the spinal column. +The wrist-bones are nine in number, the central--_os centrale_--being +present as in the majority of Monkeys. In _Chrysothrix_ and in +_Nyctipithecus_ also, the thumb is proportionately shorter than in any +other genus, except among the Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_), and the Old World +{154}Guerezas (_Colobus_). In the length of their foot the members of this +genus approximate to the proportion existing in Man; and its length, +compared with that of the hand, is greater in _Chrysothrix_ than in any +other group of Monkeys. + +The cerebral hemispheres project beyond the hind brain (_cerebellum_) to a +greater relative extent than in any other mammal, namely, to one-fifth of +their total length. (_Huxley._) The external surface of the cerebral +hemispheres is almost as little convoluted as in the Marmosets and +Tamarins, in which it is almost quite smooth, yet on the inner faces of the +hemispheres the more important grooves (_sulci_) are present. The opening +for the passage of the spinal cord lies nearly in the middle of the base of +the skull, whereas in other genera it is situated closer to the hinder +region. + +The Squirrel-Monkeys are entirely arboreal, and found in most of the +tropical regions from Costa Rica to Brazil and Bolivia, being among the +commonest of the Anthropoids of the American forests. They are diurnal, and +feed chiefly on insects; but they will also often attack and devour small +birds. + + +I. THE SHORT-TAILED SQUIRREL-MONKEY. CHRYSOTHRIX USTA. + + _Saimiris usta_, Is. Geoffr., Arch. Mus., iv., p. 15, pl. 1 (1844). + + _Saimiris ustus_, Bartlett, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 219; Sclater, P. Z. S., + 1872, p. 688, fig. of head. + + _Chrysothrix ustus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 53 (1870). + + _Saimiri sciureus_ (nec L.), Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 242 (1876, + pt.) + +CHARACTERS.--Face white; head grizzled grey, minutely punctulated with +black, the hairs grey with black tips; outer side of fore-arm grizzled +grey, but in some species golden; back {155}grizzled grey, washed with +golden, the tips of the hairs black; tail short, thick and grey, but with +the tip black. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The forests of Bolivia and Brazil. This is a common species, +inhabiting the whole of the Peruvian Amazons, and may be met with on every +stream. (_E. Bartlett._) + +HABITS.--Arboreal and gregarious, moving about in large numbers through the +forest, feeding on insects--chiefly orthoptera and spiders--small birds, +and fruits. + + +II. THE BLACK-HEADED SQUIRREL-MONKEY. CHRYSOTHRIX ENTOMOPHAGA. + + _Callithrix entomophagus_, d'Orb., Voy. Amér. Mér., iv., Mamm. pl. 4 + (1836). + + _Callithrix boliviensis_, d'Orb., Nouv. Ann. Mus., iii., p. 89 (1834). + + _Saimiris entomophagus_, d'Orb., Voy. Amér. Mér., iv., Mamm., text, p. 10 + (1847); Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 38 (1851). + + _Saimiri entomophagus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 246 (1876). + + _Chrysothrix sciurea_ (nec L.), Frantz. in Wiegm. Arch. f. Nat., xxxix., + p. 260 (1869). + + _Chrysothrix entomophagus_, Wagn., Ann. Nat. Hist., xii., p. 42 (1843); + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 53 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Face grey, washed with yellow; ears haired; head black; hairs +of back black, with long yellow tips, or yellow with black tips, producing +a shade of brown washed with golden; outer side of upper part of arms and +legs yellow, peppered with black; throat, under surface of body and inside +of limbs yellowish-grey; tail long, black. + +{156}In some species the upper part of the head has a shade of yellow, +caused by the colour of the lower half of the hairs showing through the +black tips. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Bolivia; Veragua, Central America; and the warmer regions of +Costa Rica, where it inhabits the humid forests. + + +III. THE COMMON SQUIRREL-MONKEY. CHRYSOTHRIX SCIUREA. + + _Simia sciurea_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 43 (1766); Humb., Obs. Zool., + p. 334 (var. _cassiquiarensis_). + + _Callithrix sciureus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 113 (1812). + + _Saimiri sciureus_, Cuv., Reg. An., p. 103, pl. 1 (1829); Schl., Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 242 (1876). + + _Chrysothrix lunulata_, Geoffr., Arch. Mus., iv., p. 18 (1844). + + _Chrysothrix sciurea_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugth. Suppl., v., p. 120, pl. + 9, (1855); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 53 (1870); Sclater, P. Z. + S., 1880, p. 395. + + _Chrysothrix nigrivittata_, Wagn., Abh. bay. Ak. München, v., p. 461. + +CHARACTERS.--Smaller than the two preceding species; face greyish-white; +chin round and prominent; head blackish-grey; back grey, or grey washed +with gold, the basal part of the hairs golden and the tips black; outer +side of the fore-arm yellow; tail long, slender, grizzled grey, with the +tip black. Length of the body, 10 inches; of the tail, 14 inches. + +Certain females, examined by Dr. Sclater, had a distinct black line along +the side of the crown above each ear and extending in front, down the side +of the face, nearly to a level {157}with the angle of the mouth; but Mr. +Buckley says the Indians consider the black lines to be merely a sign of +age. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species has an extensive range, being found on both +banks of the Amazon, Rio Negro, and on the Copataza river; also in Guiana, +Surinam, and Colombia, near Bogotá. + +HABITS.--Like its congeners, the Common Squirrel-Monkey is arboreal, going +about in large flocks. Their food consists of insects and fruits. Mr. Bates +observes that the "pretty little _Chrysothrix sciureus_ contents itself +with devouring what fruit it can on the spot," thus differing from certain +species of _Cebus_, which destroy more than they eat, and when about to +return to the forest, carry away all they can in their hands or under their +arms. + +Mr. Darwin has remarked in his "Expression of the Emotions in Man and +Animals," that "with Monkeys the expression of any painful emotion is not +easily distinguished from that of anger." "Humboldt," he adds, "also +asserts that the eyes of the _Callithrix sciureus_ 'instantly fill with +tears when it is seized with fear'; but when this pretty little Monkey in +the Zoological Gardens was teased, so as to cry out loudly, this did not +occur. I do not, however, wish to throw the least doubt on the accuracy of +Humboldt's statement." + +This species is a great favourite wherever it has been kept in captivity. +It is very bright coloured, has a baby-like face, large and bright eyes, +and most gentle manners. These Monkeys are very sensitive to cold, and when +a sudden fall in the temperature takes place, they huddle close together, +clasping each other with their arms, and embracing their neighbours and +themselves with their long tails. + + +{158}IV. THE RED-BACKED TITI. CHRYSOTHRIX OERSTEDI. + + _Saimaris sciurea ?_ (nec Linn.), Sclater, P. Z. S., 1856, p. 139. + + _Chrysothrix sciurea_ (nec Linn.), Scl., N. H. Rev., 1861, p. 510; + Frantz. Arch. f. Naturg., xxxv. (1), p. 260. + + _Chrysothrix oerstedi_, Reinh. Vidensk. Medd. Nat. For. Kjöbenh., p. 157, + pl. iii. (1872); Alston, in Godm. et Salv., Biol. Centr. Am. Mamm., p. + 16, pl. ii. (1879). + + _Saimiris entomophaga_, Sclater, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 3 (nec d'Orb.). + + _Saimiri örstedii_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 245 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Differs from _C. sciurea_ in having the top of the head black, +the back and sides shining red, and the limbs olive. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, especially their hotter +districts,--being particularly abundant in the Valley of Terraba and on the +plain of Piris. + + +THE TITI MONKEYS. GENUS CALLITHRIX. + + _Callithrix_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 112 (1812). + +This genus is intermediate between the Squirrel-Monkeys and the typical +Night-Monkeys. In the Titis, sometimes known by the name also of +Whaiapu-Sai Monkeys, the fur is soft, the head small, depressed, and not +produced backward as in _Chrysothrix_; the tail is long and bushy; the eyes +are small, and the orbits intermediate in size between those of the last +and the next genus; the nasal partition is broad, and the ears large. The +canine teeth are small, and the angle of the lower jaw expanded, somewhat +as in the Howlers (_Mycetes_), though to a less extent. + +{159}The Titi Monkeys are diurnal animals, arboreal and gregarious, very +lively in disposition, noisy and agile, living on fruit, insects, birds' +eggs, and even small birds. They range all over South America, from Panama +to the southern limits of the forest regions. + + +I. THE WHITE-COLLARED TITI. CALLITHRIX TORQUATA. + + _Cebus torquatus_, Hoffm., Mag. Ges. Nat. Freund. Berlin, x., p. 86 + (1807). + + _Simia lugens_, Humb., Obs. Zool., i., p. 319 (1811). + + _Callithrix lugens_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 113 (1812). + + _Saguinus vidua_, Lesson, Species Mamm. Bimanes et Quadrum., p. 165 + (1840). + + _Callithrix torquatus_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 114; Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 55 (1870). + + _Callithrix torquata_, Schleg., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 235 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Head round; face short; ears short, nearly naked; nose flat. +Fur soft and woolly, intermixed with many long, stiff, dark reddish-brown +hairs,--the hairs red at the base, and black at the tips; forehead black; +crown of head dark brown; a narrow band round the face, white; a narrow +collar round the neck, reddish-white; hands white; hair of feet red at the +base, but black at the tips. Length of the body, about 12 inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the upper reaches of the Rio Negro, Brazil. + +HABITS.--This species, often known under the name of the Widow Monkey, is +said to be very gentle in disposition. {160}When approaching to capture +insects or small birds, which form its prey, it becomes keen and excited, +but at other times it appears to be dull and listless. They roam about in +flocks of about half a dozen individuals, on the large branches of the +great forest trees. They are noisy animals, and in the early morning they +make the forest resound with their yelping cries. + + +II. THE RED TITI. CALLITHRIX CUPREA. + + _Callithrix cuprea_, Spix, Sim. et Vesper. Bras., p. 23, pl. 17, (1823); + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 54 (1870); Schleg., Mus. Pays Bas, + vii., p. 236 (1876); Thomas, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 394. + + _Callithrix discolor_, Is. Geoffr., C.R., xxvii., p. 498 (1848); id. Cat. + Méth. Primates, p. 41 (1851); id. Arch. Mus., v., p. 551, pl. 28; Wagner + in Schreb., Säugeth. Suppl., v., p. 114 (1855). + + (_Plate XIV._) + +CHARACTERS.--Fur soft and woolly, mixed with numerous long stiff hairs; +face black; back grizzly blackish-grey in colour; tail the same but darker; +the basal part and tips of the hairs grey, with an intermediate band below +the tips, black; tip of the tail sometimes white; the cheeks, throat, +hands, feet, legs, and the under side of the body, dark reddish bay; the +ears coppery-red. + +PLATE XIV. + +[Illustration: THE RED TITI.] + + +{161}DISTRIBUTION.--This species is found throughout the whole of the +Peruvian Amazons, though not in very large numbers--indeed, it is said to +be rare. It has been recorded from Cashiboya on the Ucayali, and Santa Cruz +on the Huallaga. Mr. O. Thomas mentions his having examined twelve +specimens from the Copataza river, and one from Andoas in Ecuador. Of these +he says: "The Andoas specimen, which is a male, differs from the rest in +having the fur on the back of a dirty orange-grey colour, without +annulations, instead of being of a bright annulated black and white. One of +the others, a female, shows a tendency to this condition of the hair, which +is, therefore, probably a seasonal change, as the Andoan specimen was shot +in September, while the others were obtained between December and +February." + + +III. THE WHITE-CHESTED TITI. CALLITHRIX AMICTA. + + _Simia amicta_, Humboldt, Obs. Zool., i., p. 357 (1811). + + _Callithrix amicta_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 19, pl. xiii. + (1833). + + _Callithrix amictus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 114 (1812); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 54 (1870). + + _Callithrix torquata_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 235 (part, 1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Agrees with the last species in the character of the fur; but +the general colour is black, washed with rufous; the forehead is black; the +chest has a pure white spot; the hands are white, but the feet black; the +tail has the hairs entirely black throughout. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Guiana. + + +IV. THE REED TITI. CALLITHRIX CINERASCENS. + + _Callithrix cinerascens_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 20, pl. 14 + (1823). + + _Callithrix donacophilus_, d'Orb., Voy. Amér. Sud, iv., p. 10, pl. 5 + (1826); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 55 (1870). + + _Callithrix donacophila_, Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 41 (1851); + Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 240 (1876). + +{162}CHARACTERS.--Fur long and similar in character to that of _C. +torquata_; chest and under side of body pale grey or dark reddish-grey; +hands and feet grey; back of the same colour; tail mottled grey,--the hairs +being grey, with black tips. + +In some species the fur varies from dark grey washed with rufous, to almost +white, the red wash, where it occurs, sometimes deepening, or almost +vanishing. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Mr. Bates observed this species at Serra dos Parentins, in +the Lower Amazon Region above the confluence of the Tapajos with the +Amazon. It also extends to Bolivia and Peru. + + +V. THE ORABASSU TITI. CALLITHRIX MOLOCH. + + _Cebus moloch_, Hoffman, Mag. Gesell. Berlin, x., p. 97 (1807). + + _Callithrix moloch_, Geoffr., Arch. Museum, iv., p. 33, pl. 3(1844), id., + Ann. Mus., xix., p. 114 (1812); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 55 + (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Differs from the Reed Titi in having the cheeks, chest, and +belly red. Hands and feet of the same colour as the back, grey. + +The cerebral convolutions of this animal are, according to M. C. Dareste, +exactly those of a "Maki," or _Lemur_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Throughout Brazil. + + +VI. THE ORNATE TITI. CALLITHRIX ORNATA. + + _Callithrix discolor_, Verreaux, M.S. (nec Geoffr.). + + _Callithrix ornata_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., xvii., p. 57 (1866). + + _Callithrix ornatus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 55 (1870). + +{163}CHARACTERS.--General colour black and grey, grizzled; forehead and +ears white, instead of black as in _C. caligata_, or coppery-red as in _C. +cuprea_; temples, cheeks, throat, under side of body, and inner side of +legs, bright chestnut; hands and feet grey; tail black, with a grey +tinge,--the hairs being grey, with a dark ring near the tip of each; hands +and feet the colour of the back. + +DISTRIBUTION.--U. S. Colombia; vicinity of Bogotá. + +HABITS.--This species is arboreal, like the other members of its genus, and +it is said to be nocturnal. It spends the day rolled up very much as many +of the Lemurs do. + + +VII. THE MASKED TITI. CALLITHRIX PERSONATA. + + _Callithrix personatus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 113 (1812); Spix, + Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 18, pl. 12 (1823); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 56 (1870). + + _Callithrix brunnea_, Wagner, Arch. f. Naturg., 1842, i., p. 357 (ex + Natterer, MSS.). + + _Pithecia melanops_, Vigors, Cat. Coll. Zool. Soc., p. 6. + + _Callithrix personata_, Schl., Mus. Pays. Bas, vii., p. 231 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Size larger than that of the other Titis. Style of fur the +same as in the previous species, but longer, and the long stiff hairs more +bristly; general colour black, mottled with grey rings on the hairs; back +grizzled grey; entire head, hands, feet, and lower part of limbs, black; +chest, under side of the body, and tail dark ashy-grey, the latter washed +at the base, sometimes extensively, with rufous, and grey towards the tip +below. + +FEMALE.--Body strongly washed with whitish-yellow, and the tail with +rufous; forehead between the ears, black. + +{164}DISTRIBUTION.--Upper Amazon. Of all the species of the genus, this +ranges furthest to the south--to 14° S. lat. + + +VIII. THE BLACK-FRONTED TITI. CALLITHRIX NIGRIFRONS. + + _Callithrix nigrifrons_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 21, pl. 15 + (1823); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 56 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays + Bas, vii., p. 232 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Nearly allied to the Masked Titi (_C. personata_), but +distinguished by the nearly white back of the head and nape of the neck, +and by the hairs at the base of the tail being entirely red. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Upper Amazonia. + + +IX. THE RED-BELLIED TITI. CALLITHRIX CASTANEIVENTRIS. + + _Callithrix castaneoventris_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. H., xvii., p. 58 + (1866); id., Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 56 (1870). + + _Callithrix caligata_, Wagner, Arch. f. Naturg., 1842, i., p. 454 (ex + Natterer, MSS.); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 237 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur of the same nature as in _C. cuprea_, black, ringed with +grey; face grizzled, whiskers, throat, chest, under side of the body, and +inner surface of the limbs reddish-chestnut; outside of the limbs grizzled, +washed with rufous; forehead, hands, feet and tail black; tip of the tail +paler. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Paraguay and Brazil; Borba, Rio Madeira. + +The two following species may be distinguished from those already described +by having their soft woolly fur entirely free from the long bristly hairs, +which were dispersed through the fur of the others. + + +{165}X. THE BLACK-HANDED TITI. CALLITHRIX MELANOCHIR. + + _Callithrix melanochir_, Neuwied, Beitr., ii., p. 114, et Abbild., iv.; + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 57 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., + p. 233 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--General colour red, but the crown of the head, the throat, and +inner side of the limbs, mixed black and grey; the hands and feet black. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species has been recorded from Bahia, on the east coast +of Brazil. + + +XI. THE GREY TITI. CALLITHRIX GIGOT. + + _Callithrix gigot_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 22, pl. 16 (1823); + Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 234 (1876); Weldon, P. Z. S., 1884, p. 6. + + _Callithrix gigo_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 57 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Hair about two inches long, soft and slightly woolly over the +trunk; hair on the forehead shorter and more thickly set; that over the +limbs short and loose. General colour of the back reddish-grey behind, more +ashy over the forehead and limbs; the hair black at the base, +cream-coloured further up, the tips ringed with chestnut and black. Muzzle +and chin black, with a few short, strong, white hairs; a black line along +the nose and round the eyes; the eyelids white; the eye-lashes and long +eye-brows black; forehead thickly covered with loose grey hairs, slightly +tipped with black; a faint ridge across the brow between the ears; the ears +black, covered with soft black hairs, except for a small grey tuft at their +hind outer angle. In front of the ears a light grey band over the cheeks, +continued above on to the forehead, below to the chest; throat naked, light +pink; under surface {166}of the limbs pale grey; the hands and feet black; +tail red, the hair bushy at its base. Length of the body, 14 inches; of the +tail, 13½ inches. (_Weldon._) + +Cæcum with dilated end; liver more divided than in _C. moloch_; the two +halves (_rami_) of the lower jaw enormously deep, resembling those of the +Howlers (_Mycetes_). + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil; Bahia, and the country between the Parahyba and the +mountains to the north of the Bay of Rio de Janeiro. + +HABITS.--This species is very rare, and nothing is known of its habits. + +Professor Weldon writes, in his paper in the "Proceedings of the Zoological +Society," referred to above: "Sir W. Flower has suggested to me that the +enormous depth of the _ramus_ of the mandibles in this _Callithrix_ pointed +to the existence of some arrangement resembling that of _Mycetes_. It was +difficult to determine this point in a young female; but the swollen +condition of the thyroid, together with the existence of a patch of +ossification on each side, seem to show the possible existence of a howling +apparatus in the male." + + +THE DOUROUCOLIS. GENUS NYCTIPITHECUS. + + _Nyctipithecus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 24 (1823). + +The members of this genus, usually called "Douroucolis," are small animals, +somewhat Lemurine in appearance, possessing a short, thick body, a rounded +head produced behind, and a short, round face, encircled by a ruff of +whitish fur. The muzzle is not prominent; the mouth and chin are small; the +{167}ears are very short, scarcely appearing above the hair of the head; +the eyes are enormous and yellowish in colour, imparting to them the +staring expression of nocturnal animals of prey. Their tail is bushy, +moderately long and non-prehensile; and the nostrils are separated by a +narrower partition than in the other genera of the sub-family. Their +physiognomy reminds one of an Owl or Tiger-cat (_Bates_). They are covered +with close, soft, woolly fur. + +In the skull the orbits are enormously large and closely approximated, but +yet separated by a complete bony wall; the nostrils, on the other hand, +though separated in the living animal by a wide, fleshy partition, have +only a thin plate of bone between them. The upper incisors are broad; the +canines long; and the lower incisors project forwards, somewhat as in the +Lemurs. The arm-bone has a perforation (the ent-epicondylar foramen) on its +inner side above the articulation of the elbow joint, to give passage and +protection to an important artery and nerve. The thumb is very short; the +claws are small and weak. The dorsal and lumbar vertebræ together number +twenty-two, the greatest number possessed by any American monkey. As in +_Chrysothrix_, the external surface of the cerebral hemispheres is smooth +and almost devoid of convolutions, but their inner faces exhibit several of +the more important grooves seen in the higher Apes. + +All the species are arboreal and nocturnal, hiding away in the daytime and +roaming during the night, giving vent to loud howls, or Cat-like cries, as +they move in quest of the insects, small birds, and fruits, which form +their food. They range from Nicaragua to the Amazon and Eastern Peru, and +are called "Devil monkeys" by the Indians. They are very delicate, and soon +die in captivity. + + +{168}I. THE THREE-BANDED DOUROUCOLI. NYCTIPITHECUS TRIVIRGATUS. + + _Aotus trivirgatus_, Humboldt, Obs. Zool., p. 306, fig. 28 (1811). + + _Nyctipithecus trivirgatus_, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist., x., p. 256 (1842); + id., Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 58 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., + p. 213 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur short, grey and brown, with a silvery lustre; on the crown +of the head three long black linear streaks, distinct from each other; +frontal spot whitish; back greyish-brown with a dark dorsal band and a long +chestnut patch; chest and lower surface of body rusty-red; throat, and +inside of limbs, greyish-ashy; tail long, cylindrical, and with short, +blackish-brown hair, more yellow on the under surface of the base. Length +of the body, 12 inches; of the tail, 14 inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The type specimen was obtained by Humboldt on the banks of +the Cassiquiare, near the head waters of the Rio Negro. Mr. Bates found it +at Ega and at other places on the Upper Amazon region. It has been recorded +also from Guiana; and from Chanchamayo in Peru, at 3,000 feet above the +sea. + +HABITS.--The habits of the Three-banded Douroucoli are entirely nocturnal. +They hide in small troops in a hole in the trunk of a tree from morning +till twilight, hunting for food during the night. They have a singularly +loud and far-reaching voice for such small animals. + + +II. THE LEMURINE DOUROUCOLI. NYCTIPITHECUS LEMURINUS. + + _Nyctipithecus lemurinus_, Is. Geoffr., Arch. Mus., iv., p. 24, pl. 21 + (1844); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 58 (1870). + + {169}_Nyctipithecus felinus_, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus., p. 14 (1843); + Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., 214 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur of body and head long; tail depressed, broad, with the +hair bushy and spreading on the sides as in a Squirrel. Head presenting a +dark frontal area with a round white spot over each eye. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Lemurine Douroucolis are found in Colombia and in Upper +Amazonia; at Macas, on the eastern side of the Andes; and on the upper +branches of the main streams of the Amazon, as far as a congenial habitat +is met with. + + +III. THE RED-FOOTED DOUROUCOLI.[10] NYCTIPITHECUS RUFIPES. + + _Nyctipithecus rufipes_, Sclater, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 3, pl. 1. + + _Nyctipithecus vociferans_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 25, pl. 19 + (1823; part); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 214 (1876; part). + + (_Plate XV._) + +CHARACTERS.--Above grey, slightly washed on the back with rufous; under +side reddish fulvous; three vertical black stripes on the head, similar to +_N. trivirgatus_, but much less distinct, narrower, and showing a prominent +triangular white patch over each eye; ears large and prominent, almost nude +(perhaps the result of captivity). Hands and feet rufous; tail +short-haired, cylindrical; the basal half rufous, the remainder +reddish-black. Length of the body, 11 inches; and of the tail, 16 inches. +The absence of the long chestnut patch on the back distinguishes _N. +rufipes_ from _N. trivirgatus_, and its paler colour and the indistinctness +of its head-stripes, separate it from _N. felinus_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Nicaragua; San Juan del Norte. + + +{170}IV. AZARA'S DOUROUCOLI. NYCTIPITHECUS AZARÆ. + + _Simia azaræ_, Humb., Obs. Zool., p. 359 (1811). + + _Pithecia miriquouina_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 117 (1812); Kuhl, + Beitr., p. 43 (1820). + + _Nyctipithecus azaræ_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 212 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--A large rhomboidal black patch between the two large +superciliary spots, the two acute angles of which are prolonged, the one +under the base of the nose, the other in the median line to the top of the +head; the inner side of the limbs, the under side of the body, throat, and +chin of a reddish-ochre colour. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The right bank of the River Paraguay, in the north-east of +the Argentine Republic, but not in Paraguay proper. + + +V. THE FELINE DOUROUCOLI. NYCTIPITHECUS FELINUS. + + _Nyctipithecus felinus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 24, pl. 18 + (1823); Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 39 (1851); Gray, Ann. N. H., + x., p. 256 (1842). + + _Nyctipithecus oseryi_, Is. Geoffr. et Deville, C. R., xxvii., 1848, p. + 498 (juv.); Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 39 (1851). + + _Nyctipithecus commersonii_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 58 (1870). + + _Nyctipithecus vociferans_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 214 (1876; + part). + +CHARACTERS.--Closely related to the last species, but differs in having the +three facial streaks irregular and combining together on the crown, the +middle one broad and lozenge-shaped; the frontal spots short, and white. +Fur longer and more woolly; neck, chest, under surface of body, inner sides +of the limbs, and the base of the tail yellowish; tail round. + +PLATE XV. + +[Illustration: THE RED FOOTED NIGHT-MONKEY.] + + +{171}DISTRIBUTION.--This species is rather rare, but it has been obtained +at Ega and at Tabatinga on the Upper Amazons; on the Ucayali, and near +Yurimaguas on the Huallaga River--in the warm and humid virgin forests--in +fact, generally along the Peruvian Amazons. + +In speaking of his collections made at Ega on the Upper Amazons, which he +describes as a fine field for a Natural History collector, Mr. Bates gives +an interesting account of the Night-Apes, called "Ei-á" by the Indians, +observed by him during his various journeys. "Of these I found two species +(_Nyctipithecus trivirgatus_ and _N. felinus_) closely related to each +other, but nevertheless quite distinct, as both inhabit the same forests, +namely, those of the higher and drier lands, without mingling with each +other or inter-crossing. They sleep all day long in hollow trees, and come +forth to prey on insects and eat fruits only in the night. One cannot help +being struck by this curious modification of the American type of Monkeys, +for the Owl-faced Night-Apes have evidently sprung from the same stock as +the rest of the _Cebidæ_, as they do not differ much in all essential +points from the Whaiapu-Sais (_Callithrix_) and the Sai-miris +(_Chrysothrix_). They have nails of the ordinary form on all their fingers, +and semi-opposable thumbs; but the molar teeth (contrary to what is usual +in the _Cebidæ_) are studded with sharp points, showing that their +nocturnal food is principally insects. + +"I kept a pet animal of _N. trivirgatus_ for many months, a young one +having been given to me by an Indian compadre as a present from my +newly-baptized godson. These Monkeys, although sleeping by day, are aroused +by the least noise, so that, when a person passes by a tree in which a +number of them are concealed, he is startled by the sudden apparition of +{172}a group of little striped faces crowding a hole in a trunk. It was in +this way that my compadre discovered the colony from which the one given to +me was taken. I was obliged to keep my pet chained up; it, therefore, never +became thoroughly familiar. I once saw, however, an individual of the other +species (_N. felinus_) which was most amusingly tame. It was as lively and +nimble as the _Cebi_, but not so mischievous, and far more confiding in its +disposition, delighting to be caressed by all persons who came into the +house. But its owner, the Municipal Judge of Ega, Dr. Carlos Mariana, had +treated it for many weeks with the greatest kindness, allowing it to keep +with him at night in his hammock, and to nestle in his bosom half the day +as he lay reading. It was a great favourite with everyone, from the +cleanliness of its habits and the prettiness of its features and ways. My +own pet was kept in a box in which was placed a broad-mouthed glass jar; +into this it would dive, head foremost, when anyone entered the room, +turning round inside, and thrusting forth its inquisitive face an instant +afterwards to stare at the intruder. It was very active at night, venting +at frequent intervals a hoarse cry like the suppressed barking of a dog, +and scampering about the room, to the length of its tether, after +cockroaches and spiders. In climbing between the box and the wall it +straddled the space, resting its hands on the palms and tips of the +outstretched fingers with the knuckles bent at an acute angle, and thus +mounted to the top with the greatest facility. Although seeming to prefer +insects, it ate all kinds of fruit, but would not touch raw or cooked meat, +and was very seldom thirsty. I was told by persons who had kept these +Monkeys loose about the house, that they cleared the chambers of bats as +well as insect vermin. When approached gently, my Ei-á allowed {173}itself +to be caressed; but when handled roughly it always took alarm, biting +severely, striking with its little hands, and making a hissing noise like a +Cat. + +"I have mentioned the near relationship of the Night-Apes to the Sai-miris +(_Chrysothrix_), which are among the commonest of the ordinary Monkeys of +the American forests. This near relationship is the more necessary to be +borne in mind, as some Zoologists have drawn a comparison between them and +the nocturnal Apes of the Lemur family, inhabiting Ceylon and Java, and it +might be inferred that our American Ei-ás were related more closely to +these Old World forms than they are to the rest of the New World Monkeys. +The large nocturnal eyes and short ears of the Eastern Lemurs are simply +resemblances of analogy, and merely show that a few species, belonging to +utterly dissimilar families, have been made similar by being adapted to +similar modes of life...." + + + + +THE SAKIS. SUB-FAMILY PITHECIINÆ. + + +The Sakis are characterised by having their lower incisor teeth inclined +forward at their summits somewhat as among the Lemurs; and separated from +the long canines by an interspace. The molar teeth are small; the tail, +which in some is long, in others short, is non-prehensile. The nostrils +are, as usual, far apart, and the thumb is well developed. The ears are +large. Great differences in the character of the fur exist in the group: +some species having long hair over the whole body, others on the chin and +cheeks; some are well bearded, while others again are quite bald. + +The Sakis are divided into two genera, a short-tailed group (_Brachyurus_), +containing the Uakarí Monkeys, and a long-tailed {174}section, the Sakis +(_Pithecia_). Their various species are restricted to the great equatorial +forests of South America. + + +THE UAKARÍ MONKEYS. GENUS BRACHYURUS. + + _Brachyurus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 11 (1823); W. A. Forbes, + P. Z. S., 1880, p. 644. + + _Ouakaria_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1849, p. 9. + +The species of this genus are at once recognised by their short tail, being +the only American Monkeys in which this organ is short. The fur is short +and silky; the face short, and often brightly coloured. The mammæ are +situated on the breast. In the skull the lower jaw is dilated behind, and +certain bones, the parietal and the malar, are in contact with each other +for a more or less considerable extent on the side walls of the skull. (Cf. +W. A. Forbes, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 639, figs. 5 and 6.) In Old World Monkeys +this contact _never_ (except slightly in _Hylobates_) takes place. This is +a useful mark for discriminating between the skulls of New and Old World +Monkeys. (_Forbes._) The shortness of the tail is due, not to a reduction +in the number of the vertebræ, which may be 15 to 17, but in their size. + +In the brain the cerebrum exhibits the more important grooves +characterising the brain of the higher Apes (_Simiidæ_) well developed; the +cerebellum (or hind brain) is also well developed. Thus in its general +characters the brain of the Uakarís approaches most nearly to that of the +genera _Cebus_ and _Pithecia_ (next to be described). By reason of its +greater complication and development, it departs widely from that of the +Titis (_Callithrix_) and the Squirrel-Monkeys (_Chrysothrix_). + +A relationship to the Howlers (_Mycetes_), suggested by the external +appearance of the Uakarís and the form of their lower {175}jaw, is not +borne out by their internal anatomy. The caudate lobe of the liver is very +large. This character distinguishes the whole of the _Cebidæ_ from the Old +World families. + +The Uakarís are arboreal Monkeys, very gentle and timid. The distribution +of the various species is singularly restricted, each being confined to a +small and particular district. + + +I. THE BLACK-HEADED UAKARÍ. BRACHYURUS MELANOCEPHALUS. + + _Simia melanocephala_ (Cacajao), Humboldt, Obs. Zool., p. 317, pl. xxix. + (1811). + + _Pithecia melanocephala_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 117 (1812); Schl., + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 227 (1876). + + _Brachyurus ouakary_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 12, pl. viii. + (1823). + + _Ouakaria spixii_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1849, p. 10, cum fig. + + _Ouakaria melanocephala_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 62 (1870). + + _Brachyurus melanocephalus_, W. A. Forbes, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 645, pl. + lxiii. + +CHARACTERS.--Head and nude face-black; back, sides, thighs, upper surface +of tail, and outer and inner sides of legs more or less chestnut-brown; +shoulders, arms, hands, feet, and rest of tail, black. Ears large, naked, +and similar in form to those in Man. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Confined, so far as at present known, to the forests +traversed by the Rio Casiquiare, Rio Negro, and Rio Branco. This is the +most northern form of the three species of the genus, and apparently the +most widespread also (see map, p. 180). This is doubtless the "black-faced, +grey-haired" species, neither white nor red, which Mr. Bates was +{176}assured took the place of _B. calvus_, at 180 miles northward from the +mouth of the Japurá. + +HABITS.--Living in the high trees of the forest, feeding on fruits; and not +differing in habits from those of the other species of the genus, which are +referred to below. + + +II. THE RED UAKARÍ. BRACHYURUS RUBICUNDUS. + + _Brachyurus rubicundus_, Is. Geoffr. and Dev., C. R., xxvii., p. 498 + (1848); Is. Geoffr., Arch. Mus., v., p. 564, pl. 30 (1845); Castelnau, + Expéd. Amér. Sud, Mamm., p. 19, pl. 4, fig. 2 (1855); W. A. Forbes, P. Z. + S., 1880, p. 646, pls. lxi., lxii. + + _Ouakaria rubicunda_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 62 (1870). + + _Pithecia rubicunda_, Schleg., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 228 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Face, chin, lips, forehead, and sides of face, bare (except +for a few superciliary hairs, and scant representatives of moustache and +beard), all bright vermilion red, deepening with emotion. Eyes brown; ears +square in shape, without a lobule; hair on top of head short, silky, and +grey; that on the side of the lower jaw and throat long and rich +chestnut-red, running forward as far as the symphysis, and forming +whiskers. Hair of upper surface of body entirely rich chestnut-red, more or +less black-tipped and long, especially on the shoulders and limbs; hair of +head, nape, and neck paler than on the rest of the body; tail, haired below +at tip, rich chestnut-red; under surface of body rich chestnut-red, and +less hairy. The fur in general colour and texture resembles that of the +Orang, the red hair, continued on to the limbs and tail, being particularly +long on the arms and shoulders (forming a sort of cape), and {177}along the +hind border of the thigh and leg. (_W. A. Forbes_). Between the thigh and +the lower part of the leg there is a wide expansion of the skin behind the +knee. + +The thumb is in the same plane with the other digits and not opposable; +digits with compressed and rather elongated nails; the nail of the thumb +and the great-toe shorter and more "nail"-like; upper surface of the hands +and feet haired, on to the fingers. The cæcum (6 inches) and intestines (22 +inches) are absolutely and relatively longer than in any other New World +Monkey. + +Length of the body, 27-28 inches; of the tail, 6½ + +DISTRIBUTION.--Forests on the north bank of the Amazons, opposite Olivença, +not passing eastwards of Iça on the Iça river. The exact westward extension +of this species still remains unknown. The young specimen seen at Fonteboa +by Bates, and by him referred to this species, was more probably _B. +calvus_, as we know from the account given by Geoffroy St. Hilaire and +Castelnau, that the young of _B. rubicundus_ resembles in coloration the +adult, and is _not_ paler. + +HABITS.--Gregarious and diurnal; living in the high trees, and feeding on +fruits, probably exclusively, the length of its intestines seeming to +indicate that it is more of a vegetarian than its allies. + + +III. THE BALD UAKARÍ. BRACHYURUS CALVUS. + + _Brachyurus calvus_, Is. Geoffr., C. R., xxiv., p. 576 (1847); id., Arch. + Mus., v., p. 560 (1845); Castelnau, Expéd. Amér. Sud, Mammif., p. 17, pl. + 4, fig. 1 (1855); W. A. Forbes, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 646; Beddard, P. Z. + S., 1887, p. 119, pl. xii. + + {178}_Ouakaria calva_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 62 (1870). + + _Pithecia calva_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 228 (1876). + + _Pithecia alba_, Schl., t. c. p. 229. + + (_Plate XVI._) + +CHARACTERS.--Fur very long, straight, and shining from neck to tail. Face +scarlet; top of head nearly bald, greyish, passing into brown anteriorly +and at the sides, with bushy sandy whiskers meeting below the chin; throat +dark brown, mixed with numerous black hairs, the general tint being rich +chestnut-brown; back whitish-grey, with black hairs mixed with white ones, +which are in greater number. Under surface fulvous brown, darker on the +breast, where brown hairs are numerous; the same brown tinge is visible on +the arms, legs, the hinder region of the thighs, at the wrist, and ankle, +and especially on the tail; eyes reddish-yellow. Length, 18 inches. + +Some species are paler than the above description, being pale sandy-white, +slightly rufous below and on the inside of the limbs. + +Cæcum 10 inches long along its greater curvature, and not sacculated. + +According to Mr. Beddard, _B. calvus_ and _B. rubicundus_ agree very +closely in external and in internal characters, while _B. melanocephalus_ +differs more in external characters from the other two than they do from +each other. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Opposite Fonteboa; banks of the Japurá river west of its +mouth. This species appears to be confined to the triangle formed by the +union of the Japurá river and the Amazon. It does not pass east of Ega, nor +does it cross to the south of the Amazon, but keeps to the forests of the +low lands to the north of that boundary and south of the Japurá. + +PLATE XVI. + +[Illustration: THE BALD UAKARI.] + + +{179}HABITS.--"This scarlet-faced monkey," says Mr. Bates, "lives in +forests, which are inundated during the greater part of the year, and is +never known to descend to the ground; the shortness of its tail is, +therefore, no sign of terrestrial habits, as it is in the Macaques and +Baboons of the Old World.... It seems to be found in no other part of +America than the banks of the Japurá near its mouth; and even there it is +confined to the western side of the river. It lives in small troops amongst +the crowns of the lofty trees, living on fruits of various kinds. Hunters +say it is very nimble in its motions, but it is not much given to leaping, +preferring to run up and down the larger boughs in travelling from tree to +tree. The mother, as in other species of the Monkey order, carries her +young on her back. Individuals are obtained alive by shooting them with the +blow-pipe and arrows tipped with diluted Urari poison. They run a +considerable distance after being pierced, and it requires an experienced +hunter to track them. He is considered the most expert who can keep pace +with a wounded one and catch it in his arms when it falls exhausted. A +pinch of salt, the antidote to the poison, is then put in its mouth, and +the creature revives.... Adult Uakarís, caught in the way just described, +very rarely become tame. They are peevish and sulky, resisting all attempts +to coax them, and biting anyone who ventures within reach. They have no +particular cry, even when in their native woods; in captivity they are +quite silent. In the course of a few days or weeks, if not carefully +attended to, they fall into a listless condition, refuse food, and die.... +The bright scarlet of its face is, in health, spread over the features up +to the roots of the hair on the forehead and temples, and down to the neck, +including the flabby cheeks, which hang down below the jaws. {180}The +animal, in this condition, looks at a short distance as though someone had +laid a thick coat of red paint on its countenance.... After seeing much of +the morose disposition of the Uakarí, I was not a little surprised one day, +at a friend's house, to find an extremely lively and familiar individual of +the species. It ran from an inner chamber straight towards me after I had +sat down on a chair, climbed my legs and nestled in my lap, turning round +and looking up with the usual Monkey's grin after it had made itself +comfortable. It was a young animal, which had been taken when its mother +was shot with a poisoned arrow; its teeth were incomplete, and the face was +pale and mottled, the glowing scarlet hue not supervening in these animals +before mature age; it had also a few long black hairs on the eyebrows and +lips. The {181}frisky little fellow had been reared in the house among the +children, and allowed to run about freely...." This species is rare, even +in the limited district which it inhabits. A Government official sent six +of his most skilful Indians, who were absent hunting for three weeks before +they obtained twelve specimens. + +[Illustration: Fig. 8. + +Map of part of the basin of the Amazons to show the distribution of the +Uakarí Monkeys. (Forbes, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 647.) + +Supposed area of ''B. melanocephalus'', ''B. calvus'', and ''B. +rubicundus'' shown by shading.] + +In reference to the singularly restricted range of these Uakarís, Mr. +Wallace's observations in his paper "On the Monkeys of the Amazon," before +the Zoological Society of London, are of great interest. + +"During my residence," he says, "in the Amazon district, I took every +opportunity of determining the limits of species, and I soon found that the +Amazon, the Rio Negro, and the Madeira formed the limits beyond which +certain species never passed. The native hunters are perfectly acquainted +with this fact, and always cross over the river when they want to procure +particular animals, which are found even on the river's bank on one side, +but never by any chance on the other. On approaching the sources of the +rivers, they cease to be a boundary, and most of the species are found on +both sides of them. Thus several Guiana species come up to the Rio Negro +and Amazon, but do not pass them; Brazilian species, on the contrary, reach +but do not pass the Amazon to the north. Several Ecuador species from the +east of the Andes reach down into the tongue of land between the Rio Negro +and Upper Amazon, but pass neither of those rivers, and others from Peru +are bounded on the north by the Upper Amazon, and on the east by the +Madeira. Thus there are four districts whose boundaries on one side are +determined by the rivers I have mentioned. In going up the Rio Negro, the +difference on the two sides of the river is very remarkable. + +{182}"In the lower part of the river you will find on the north the +_Jacchus_ [_Hapale_] _bicolor_, and the _Brachyurus couxui_ [_Pithecia +satanas_], and on the south the red-whiskered Pithecia. Higher up you will +find on the north the _Ateles paniscus_, and on the south a black _Jacchus_ +and the _Lagothrix humboldtii_." + + +THE SAKIS. GENUS PITHECIA. + + _Pithecia_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 115 (1812). + + _Chiropotes_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 60 (1870), in part. + +The Sakis form the second section of the present Sub-family, and are +characterised by their long, thick, and bushy non-prehensile tail. A thick +beard conceals the large chin. Hair on the crown long, divided by a central +line, and hanging over the head, half concealing the pleasing diminutive +face, or confined to the head, cheeks, and chin. The ears are large. The +upper and lower incisor teeth project forward, the upper inner pair being +moderately large, the outer very small; canines strong and conical; first +pre-molar smaller than the others, and one-cusped; molars with square +crowns, grooved in the middle and slightly four-cusped. + +In the brain the whole of the cerebellum and the olfactory lobes are +covered by the cerebrum. In general form the latter resembles that of the +species of _Cebus_. The frontal and occipital regions of the skull +approximate in form to those in Man; the angle of the mandible is expanded, +but less so than among the Howlers (_Mycetes_). The ribs are relatively +broader in this genus than in any other of the American Monkeys. + + +I. THE HAIRY SAKI. PITHECIA MONACHUS. + + _Simia monachus_, Humb. and Bonpl., Obs. Zool., p. 359 (1811). + + {183}_Pithecia monachus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 116 (1812); + Flower, P. Z. S., 1862, p. 326, pl. xxxvii.; Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 59 (1870). + + _Pithecia hirsuta_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 14, pl. 9 (1823). + + _Pithecia inusta_, Spix, t. c. p. 15, pl. x. (1823). + + _Pithecia irrorata_, Gray, Voy. Sulphur, Zool., p. 14, pl. 3 (1844). + + _Pithecia albicans_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1860, p. 231, pl. lxxxi. + + _Pithecia monacha_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 220 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur harsh, long and loose, with a hood of forwardly-directed +hairs on the upper part of the head, neck, and shoulders. Face bare, long, +and narrow; nose large and full; nostrils widely separated and lateral. +Face dark purplish-brown, and black on the nose, paler round the eyes, and +sparingly covered with short coarse whitish hairs; a yellowish-white patch +on the cheeks, terminating in front in a distinct line from the inner +corner of the eye to below the angle of the mouth; margin of upper lips +white; ears large, round, naked, and of the same colour as the face; upper +part and back of head, neck, shoulders, back, arms, thighs, and tail, +black, washed with yellowish-white, becoming yellowish-brown on the hinder +part of the body. Throat, breast, under side of body, and inside of thighs, +pale yellowish-brown, sparingly haired. Tail 18 inches long, cylindrical, +and bushy at the end; the hair long, coarse, curled, black, washed with +pale yellowish-brown. Legs black; fore-arm black, washed with white; upper +surface of hands, feet, and digits, white. Hands small, thumbs short, +parallel to the other fingers; nails black, somewhat compressed, pointed, +that of the thumb flatter; great-toe well developed, standing apart from +the other toes, its nail flat {184}and pointed; nails of the other toes +long, curved, and compressed. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Mr. Bates states that the "Parauacú," as this Monkey is +called by the natives of its own country, is found on the "terra firma" +lands of the north shore of the Solimoens, or Upper Amazon, from Tunantins +to Peru. It exists also on the south side of the river on the banks of the +Teffé, but there under a changed form, which differs from its type in +colours, as much as the red differs from the white Uakarí. This variety is +Dr. Gray's _Pithecia albicans_. + +HABITS.--The Hairy Saki is a very timid and inoffensive animal, and is +also, as Mr. Bates tells us in his well-known book, "very delicate, rarely +living many weeks in captivity; but anyone who succeeds in keeping it alive +for a month or two, gains by it a most affectionate pet. One of the +specimens now in the British Museum was, when living, the property of a +neighbour of mine at Ega. It became so tame in the course of a few weeks +that it followed him about the streets like a dog. My friend was a tailor, +and the little pet used to spend the greater part of the day seated on his +shoulder whilst he was at work on his board. It showed, nevertheless, great +dislike to strangers, and was not on good terms with any other member of my +friend's household than himself.... The eager and passionate _Cebi_ seem to +take the lead of all the South American Monkeys in intelligence and +docility, and the Coaita, one of the Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles paniscus_), +has, perhaps, the most gentle and impressionable disposition; but the +Parauacú, although a dull, cheerless animal, excels all in this quality of +capability of attachment to individuals of our own species, nor is it +wanting in intelligence." + + +{185}II. THE WHITE-HEADED SAKI. PITHECIA PITHECIA. + + _Simia pithecia_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 40 (1766). + + _Simia leucocephala_, Audeb. Singes., Fam, vi., Sect, i., p. 9, fig. 2 + (1797). + + _Pithecia adusta_, Illig., Abh. Berl. Ak., 1804-1811, p. 107; Kuhl, + Beitr. Zool., p. 44 (1820). + + _Pithecia nocturna_, Illig., l. c.; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 217 + (1876; part). + + _Pithecia leucocephala_, Geoffr., Ann. du Mus., xix., p. 117 (1812); + Gray, Voy. Sulphur, Zool., p. 12, pl. 2; id., Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. + 59 (1870; part); Scl., P. Z. S., 1871, p. 228. + + _Pithecia ochrocephala_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 44 (1820, = young). + + _Pithecia rufibarbata_, Kuhl, t. c. p. 44 (1820). + + _Pithecia capillamentosa_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Bras., p. 16, pl. 11 + (1823). + + _Pithecia rufiventer_, Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 55 (1851); Gray, + Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 60 (part, 1870); Wagner, Abhandl. Akad. + Münch., v., pt. 2, p 436 (1848: = [female]). + + _Pithecia chrysocephala_, Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 55 (1851). + + _Pithecia pogonias_, Gray, Voy. Sulphur, p. 13, pl. 2 (1844). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Hair black, very long over the body, and especially on +the tail. Head with short hair, white, washed with yellow and divided by a +central nude black streak; the white hair becoming yellow on the cheeks. + +FEMALE.--Greyish-black, washed with pale yellow, the hairs being tipped +with the latter colour; moustache yellow; belly red. + +YOUNG MALE.--Belly rufous brown. + +{186}DISTRIBUTION.--Interior of Demerara, Kaicteur Falls; Rio Negro, and +Rio Branco in Amazonia; Cayenne; Surinam. + + +III. THE BLACK SAKI. PITHECIA SATANAS. + + _Saki noir_, F. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mammif., pl. 78. + + _Simia satanas_, Hoffm., Mag. Ges. Berl., x., p. 93 (1807); Humb., Obs. + Zool., i., p. 314, pl. xxvii. (1811). + + _Pithecia satanas_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 115 (1812); Scl., P. Z. + S., 1864, p. 712, pl. xli.; id., t. c. p. 138; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, + vii., p. 224 (1876). + + _Chiropotes cuxio_, Lesson, Sp. Mamm. Bimanes et Quadrum., p. 179 (1840). + + _Chiropotes ater_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 61 (1870). + + _Chiropotes satanas_, Gray, t. c. p. 61. + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Fur soft; tail bushy and as long as the body; crown +with long black hair arranged on each side, divided by a central line. "The +hair of the head sits on it like a cap, and looks as if it had been +carefully brushed." (_Bates._) Long whiskers on each side, and the chin +with a moderate beard. Fur black and shining; back sometimes washed with +grey or ashy-brown. + +FEMALE.--Similar to the male, but having a browner back. + +YOUNG.--Beard absent or rudimentary; hair of crown radiating from centre +and projecting forwards. + +The skull in this species is sometimes ossified into one piece. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Lower Amazonia; Para; British Guiana; the River Orinoco, +towards the Rio Negro. + +HABITS.--Little is known of the habits of the Black Saki, which is also +known under the names of "Cuxio" and "Mono {187}Capuchino." It lives in the +most retired parts of the forest, where the ground below it is not +inundated by the river, and feeds on fruits. + +It is said that this animal--unlike the next species--drinks freely, always +bending down on its hands and putting its mouth to the surface of the +water, heedless of wetting its beard and indifferent to the observation of +onlookers. Sir Robert Porter says that he never saw it take up water in the +hollow of its hand, and convey it to its mouth to drink. Its voice is a +weak and chirping whistle, which becomes shrill and loud when the animal is +angry. + +A young male of this species, which died in the Zoological Society's +Gardens in 1882, presented an abnormal condition. The peculiarity +consisted, as Mr. W. A. Forbes, the late distinguished prosector to the +Society, has pointed out in the "Proceedings," in the completely "webbed" +condition of the third and fourth digits of the manus (hand) on each side, +these two fingers being completely connected together, down to their tips, +by a fold of nude skin, and with their nails closely apposed, though not +connected along their contiguous margins. The other digits of the hands, as +well as those of the feet, were quite normal, the webbing not extending +beyond the middle of the first phalanx. Mr. Forbes remarks: "The case is +interesting, partly as affording an excellent instance of an abnormal +condition affecting homologous parts of opposite sides in an exactly +similar way, and partly as showing that the lower Primates are subject, +occasionally, to a condition of things which, as is well known, also occurs +not at all rarely in Man." + + +IV. THE RED-BACKED SAKI. PITHECIA CHIROPOTES. + + _Simia chiropotes_, Humb., Obs. Zool., i., p. 311 (1811). + + {188}_Simia sagulata_, Traill, Mem. Wern. Soc., iii., p. 167 (1821). + + _Brachyurus israelita_, Spix, Bras., Sim. et Vespert., p. II, pl. 7 + (1823). + + _Pithecia chiropotes_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 116 (1812); Scl., P. + Z. S., 1871, p. 228; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 223 (1876). + + _Brachyurus satanas_, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus., p. 13 (1843). + + _Chiropotes sagulata_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 60 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Larger than _P. satanas_; black, with a +reddish-chestnut patch on the back, with a coarse brownish beard, longer +than in _P. satanas_; tail very thick, bushy. + +FEMALE.--Similar to the male, but without the beard. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Amazonia, Rio Negro, and Rio Branco; Upper Orinoco; British +Guiana. + +HABITS.--This species is said to be solitary, or to go about only in pairs. +It derives its scientific name from its habit of drinking by lifting the +water to its head with its hands, instead of stooping down and applying its +mouth to the water. It is difficult to tame, being fierce and +ill-dispositioned. + + +V. THE WHITE-NOSED SAKI. PITHECIA ALBINASA. + + _Pithecia albinasa_, Is. Geoffr. et Dev., C. R., xxvii., p. 498 (1848); + id., Arch. Mus., v., p. 559 (1845); Gervais in Castelnau, Expéd. Am. Sud, + ii., p. 16, fig. 2 (1855); Scl., P. Z. S., 1881, p. 258, pl. xxix. + + _Chiropotes albinasa_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 61 (1870). + + (_Plate XVII._) + + +PLATE XVII. + +[Illustration: THE WHITE-NOSED SAKI.] + + +{189}CHARACTERS.--Uniformly, but rather sparingly, covered with black +hairs. Face black, naked; nose broad and naked, and with a bright scarlet +line down its bridge, broadening out on the latter and on the upper lip; +tip of nose white, from the presence of a few white hairs. + +Long hairs on the head falling to all sides; tail long and clothed to the +tip with long hairs hanging down from its under side, slightly prehensile. +Length of the body, 15 inches; of the tail, 18 inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Amazonia. + +HABITS.--The White-Nosed Saki, which might much more appropriately have +been called the "Red-Nosed Saki," is very rare; its habits are quite +unknown. The type specimen in the Paris Museum remained unique in Europe +from 1848 till 1881, when a living specimen was brought to the Zoological +Gardens in London. + + + + +THE HOWLERS. SUB-FAMILY MYCETINÆ. + + +This sub-family embraces only one genus, which is very distinct from all +the others. The Howlers are the largest of the South American Apes, and are +characterised by their thick unwieldy body, their pyramidal head, and small +facial angle, owing to their long, somewhat Dog-faced muzzle. The angle of +the lower jaw is very large and massive, and their chief characteristic is +the conspicuous thickening of the throat, owing to the great enlargement of +the hyoid bones--which are widely inflated and cavernous--to form the +curious vocal organ which the males of these animals possess, and by which +their voice can be so augmented as to be heard at a distance of several +miles.[11] The skull is truncated behind {190}in the male (less so in the +female) for the reception of the vocal apparatus. Their incisor teeth are +small and equal, the canines are prominent and have an oblique ridge across +the crown from the outer front, to the inner hind, cusp, and the upper +molars are large. The tail is powerful and prehensile, naked towards the +tip, where it is tactile and very sensitive. The thumb is movable, the face +is naked, and the chin bearded. Some have short, and some have long, fur +over their bodies, but it is generally more plentiful about the head. In +appearance they are the most unattractive and repulsive of the American +Monkeys. Their intelligence is also of a very low order. + +The roof of the brain-case is depressed; the plane of the opening for the +passage of the spinal-cord from the brain is almost perpendicular to that +of the base of the skull; the condyles for the articulation of the neck are +situated as far back as possible. Sir William Flower, in his valuable +monograph on the brain of _Mycetes_, has shown that the frontal lobes are +small and the cerebral hemispheres only just cover the cerebellum. In +regard to its grooves and convolutions, the main brain (_cerebrum_) of +_Mycetes_ can be distinguished from that of all other Monkeys. The whole +organ is small as compared with the size of the animal; it wants the +roundness and fulness of that of the Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_) and of the +Capuchins (_Cebus_). Its surface markings are comparatively few and simple, +and depart remarkably from the ordinary type seen in the order. In the Old +World Apes there is a striking similarity in the character of the surface +markings of their cerebral hemispheres. There is a slight ascensive +development from _Cercopithecus_ towards _Hylobates_; and further +complications overlying the same primitive type--such as large +proportionate {191}size, and complexity of convolutions--are observed in +the Chimpanzee and Gorilla, leading up to the brain of Man. Among the New +World genera there is a much greater divergence. Among the Capuchins +(_Cebus_), and among them only, there is a precise repetition of the Old +World type; but in the genus _Mycetes_ we have modifications in which there +is no parallel among the Catarrhine (or Old World) series. There is an +absence in its brain of signs of serial elevation; and it exhibits a great +dissimilarity to all, even the lowest of the Old World forms, and to those +American Monkeys, which in brain-character closely resemble Old World Apes. +It shows an affinity in some of its more striking characters to such low +forms of New World Apes as _Nyctipithecus_. The low type of brain is in +keeping, as Sir William Flower further observes, with their surly and +untameable disposition, and with the observation that their intelligence is +of a very different order from that of their neighbours, the Spider-Monkeys +and Capuchins of higher cerebral organisation. + +"When Howlers are seen in the forest," remarks Mr. Bates, "there are +generally three or four of them mounted on the topmost branches of a tree. +It does not appear that their harrowing roar is emitted from sudden alarm; +at least, it was not so in captive individuals. It is probable, however, +that the noise serves to intimidate their enemies." The muscular power +employed in giving vent to their cavernous roar appears to be small. Their +food consists chiefly of fruits and leaves. + +In colour the Howlers vary very much. The young of both sexes often differ +from their parents, and the females from the males, and there is also great +individual variation. + +The geographical distribution of some of the species is very restricted, +several of them being confined to a special district {192}of the Amazon, +into which no other species intrudes. They are found, however, from Eastern +Guatemala to Paraguay. + + +THE HOWLERS. GENUS ALOUATTA. + + _Alouatta_, Lacép., Mém. Inst., iii., p. 490 (1801). + + _Mycetes_, Illig., Prodr. Syst. Mamm., p. 70 (1811). + + _Stentor_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 107 (1812). + +The characters of the genus _Mycetes_, which is the only one of the +sub-family, are the same as those given above under the sub-family heading. + +The genus contains six well-recognised species. According to Mr. Wallace +the red and black species of the Amazon have females of the same colour as +the males. Humboldt also remarks, speaking of the thousands of Arguatoes +(_M. seniculus_) which he observed in the provinces of Cumana, Caracas, and +in Guiana, that he never saw any change in the reddish-brown fur of the +back and shoulders, either in isolated individuals or whole troops. Many of +the species, however, do have the sexes of quite different colours. + +The Howlers are semi-nocturnal in their habits, uttering their cries late +in the evening and before sunrise, and also on the approach of rain. +(_Wallace._) + +When a _Mycetes_ is shot it always hangs to the tree, even if quite dead, +and does not fall till the muscles of the feet and tail relax. + +The species of this genus range through Central America, Colombia, and the +Amazonian region, to Southern Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. + + + +PLATE XVIII. + +[Illustration: THE RED HOWLER.] + + +{193}I. THE RED HOWLER. ALOUATTA SENICULUS. + + _Simia seniculus_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 37 (1766). + + _Alouatta seniculus_, Lacép., Mém. de l'Inst., iii., p. 489 (1800). + + _Stentor ursina_ (nec fig.), Humb. and Bonpl., Obs. Zool., v., p. 354 + (1811). + + _Mycetes seniculus_, Illig., Prod. Syst. Mamm., p. 70 (1811); Geoffr., + Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 52 (1851); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 156 + (1876); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 39 (1870, part.). + + _Stentor seniculus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 108 (1812). + + _Mycetes stramineus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 45, pl. 31 (1823; + nec Geoffr.). + + _Mycetes chrysurus_, Geoffr., Mém. Mus., xvii., p. 66 (1829). + + _Mycetes auratus_, Gray, Ann. N. H., xvi., p. 220 (1845); id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 40 (1870). + + _Mycetes laniger_, Gray, Ann. N. H., xvi, p. 219 (1845); id. Cat. Monkeys + Brit. Mus., p. 40. + + _Aluatta senicula_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1862, p. 517. + + (_Plate XVIII._) + +CHARACTERS.--Head, neck, limbs and tail, dark chestnut-brown; back and +sides golden-yellow; beard in the full-grown male long, the hair +golden-yellow at the root, otherwise chestnut-brown; face naked, black; +chest naked, the abdomen sparsely covered with long brown hairs. + +The hair of the body is soft. The tail varies in colour in individual +specimens, being sometimes, at its termination, of the same colour as the +back, and sometimes bright golden-yellow. The _mammæ_ are occasionally +situated in the _axillæ_ (or arm-pits). Length of body, 19½ inches; tail, +20 inches. + +YOUNG.--Of the same colour as the parents, only a little darker, the hair +hard and rigid. + +{194}DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil; New Granada; Venezuela; Copataza river, +Ecuador; Eastern Peru, along the Ucayali and Huallaga rivers. + +HABITS.--The Red Howlers always travel in large companies, keeping to the +forests of the low lands and shores of the rivers. "We stopped," writes +Humboldt, "to observe the Howling Monkeys, which, to the number of thirty +or forty, crossed the road by passing in a long file from one tree to +another upon the horizontal and intersecting branches." On another occasion +the same celebrated naturalist records that "on approaching a group of +trees, we perceived numerous bands of Arguatoes going as in a procession +from one tree to another with extreme slowness. A male was followed by a +great number of females, several of which carried their young on their +shoulders. The uniformity with which the Arguatoes execute their movements +is extremely striking. Whenever the branches of neighbouring trees do not +touch, the male that leads the band suspends himself by the callous and +prehensile part of his tail; and letting fall the rest of his body, swings +himself till in one of his oscillations he reaches the neighbouring branch. +The whole file performs the same action on the same spot. It is almost +superfluous to add how dubious is the assertion that the Arguatoes and +other Monkeys with prehensile tails form a sort of chain, in order to reach +the opposite side of a river. We had opportunities, during five years, of +observing thousands of these animals, and for this very reason we place no +confidence in these stories." + +"The Arguatoes are sometimes accused of abandoning their young, that they +may be more free for flight when pursued by Indian hunters. It is said that +mothers have been {195}seen taking off their young from their shoulders and +throwing them down to the foot of the tree. I am inclined to believe that a +movement merely accidental has been mistaken for one that was premeditated. +The Arguatoes, on account of their mournful aspect and their uniform +howlings, are at once detested and calumniated by the Indians." + +Mr. Wallace, in a paper "On the Monkeys of the Amazon," in the "Proceedings +of the Zoological Society," says: "Humboldt observes that the tremendous +noise which these Howlers make can only be accounted for by the great +number of individuals that unite in its production. My own observations, +and the unanimous testimony of the Indians, prove this not to be the case, +one individual alone making the howling, which is certainly of a remarkable +depth and volume and curiously modulated; but on closely remarking the +suddenness with which it ceases and again commences, it is evident that it +is produced by one animal, which is generally a full-grown male." + +The flesh of this species is very good to eat, and furnishes the principal +food of the inhabitants of the regions in which it abounds. + + +II. THE BLACK HOWLER. ALOUATTA NIGRA. + + _Stentor caraya_, Humb. and Bonpl., Obs. Zool., i., p. 355 (1811 ex + Azara). + + _Mycetes barbatus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 46, pls. 32, 33 + (1811). + + _Stentor niger_ (male), _S. stramineus_ (female), Geoffr., Ann. Mus., + xix., p. 108 (1812; nec Spix). + + _Mycetes caraya_, Less., Sp. Mamm. Bimanes et Quadrum., p. 122 (1840); + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 41 (part). + + {196}_Aluatta nigra_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1862, p. 518. + + _Mycetes niger_, Thomas, P. Z. S., 1880, p. 394; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, + vii., p. 149 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Hair rather long and entirely of a deep black; hair on +the back of the head directed forward, meeting at right angles that of the +forehead, which is directed backward, forming a well-marked semi-circular +ridge. Length, 20 inches; tail, 17 inches. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG.--Pale straw-colour washed with black; the tips of the +frontal ridge of hair black; at birth the young are entirely straw-colour. + +Dr. Slack observes that, in the young, about the period of the second +dentition, the hairs upon the mid-line of the back become black at their +bases; soon after, the change takes place upon other parts of the body, the +black gradually taking the place of the straw-colour, until the entire body +in the adult male is of an intense black colour--the adult female having +the coloration of the half-grown male. + +Mr. Oldfield Thomas, who examined a specimen collected by Mr. Buckley, in +Ecuador, points out that it agreed exactly with Humboldt's original +description of the female of his _Simia caraya_, which he describes as +having a black head and back, while the sides and belly are yellow. In all +recent descriptions, however, the male is described as being nearly +uniformly black, and the female uniformly yellow; so that Mr. Buckley's +specimen appears to be just such an intermediate specimen as Humboldt +described. + +According to Prof. Schlegel, adult males sometimes have the black on the +hands and feet mixed with yellow. + +{197}DISTRIBUTION.--This is the species of Howler which ranges furthest to +the south. It occurs most abundantly in Southern Brazil, Paraguay, and +Bolivia, but Mr. Bates records his having obtained a specimen at Villa +Nova, on the Upper Amazons, which had come from above Borba, on the Rio +Madeira. He did not, however, meet with it on any other part of the Amazon +region. Mr. Graham Kerr saw it in troops on the banks of the Pilcomayo +river. + +HABITS.--Like nearly all the Howlers, the present species is of a sulky +disposition, in captivity slinking away out of sight when approached. The +members of this genus are the only Monkeys which the Indians have not +succeeded in taming. They rarely survive their captivity many weeks. + + +III. THE YELLOW-HANDED HOWLER. ALOUATTA BEELZEBUL. + + _Simia beelzebul_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 37 (1766). + + _Mycetes rufimanus_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 31 (1820). + + _Mycetes discolor_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 48, pi. xxxiv. + (1823). + + _? Colobus chrysurus_, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist., xvii., p. 77 (1866). + + _Mycetes beelzebul_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 41 (1870); Schl., + Mus. Pays Bas, p. 150 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Black, slightly washed with yellow on the under side of the +body and inner side of the limbs; hairs of the body soft, brown at the +roots, black at the tips; hands and feet variable, reddish-yellow or +reddish-brown, or grey, or black. Upper surface and tip of the tail, spot +in front of the ears, and on the knees, reddish-yellow. Length of the body, +17½ inches; tail, 18½ inches. + +This species differs from the Black Howler (_A. nigra_) by the {198}brown +colour of the roots of the hair; and from the species next to be +described--the Brown Howler (_A. ursina_)--by the length of the fur and the +absence of the reddish-brown tips to the hairs. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Apparently confined to the Lower Amazon, in the vicinity of +Para. + +HABITS.--The same as those of the species already described. + + +IV. THE BROWN HOWLER. ALOUATTA URSINA. + + _Stentor ursina_, Humb. and Bonpl., Obs. Zool., i., pl. 30 (fig. nec + descr.; 1811). + + _Stentor flavicauda_, Id. t. c. p. 355 (1811). + + _Stentor ursinus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 108 (1812). + + _Stentor fuscus_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 108 (1812). + + _Mycetes fuscus_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 29 (1820); Spix, Sim. et + Vespert., Bras., p. 43, pl. 30 (1823). + + _Mycetes bicolor_, Gray, Ann. N. H., xvi., p. 214 (1845); id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 40 (1870). + + _Mycetes ursinus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 55 (part., 1851); + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 39 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., + p. 155 (1876). + + _Aluatta ursina_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1862, p. 517. + + _Mycetes flavicauda_, Schl., t. c. p. 147 (part., 1876). + +CHARACTERS.--General colour shining yellowish-red, or dark brownish-yellow; +hairs rather rigid, black with yellowish tips; hairs of the shoulder ringed +with black. When half-grown the limbs and tail are very dark brown, nearly +black; tail shorter than the body, olive black, with two yellow lateral +stripes. Length of the body, 23 inches; of the tail, 22 inches. + +{199}YOUNG.--Black, with the tips of the hairs of the body yellowish-brown; +base of the tail and the surrounding region reddish-brown. + +This species is remarkable for great variation in colour. The young at +first sight, as Dr. Slack has pointed out, appear to be of an intense black +colour, but upon a closer examination, the hairs, more especially those of +the back and sides of the head, are found to be tipped with reddish-brown. +As the animal becomes older the black gradually vanishes, a yellowish-brown +colour appearing in its place, until in the adult the only remains of the +black are to be found in a few annulations in the hairs of the shoulders. + +The skins are an article of commerce, for saddle cloths and saddle +coverings. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Rio Negro and Upper Amazonia. Mr. Bates remarks that +this is the only species seen in this region. + + +V. THE GUATEMALAN HOWLER. ALOUATTA VILLOSA. + + _Mycetes villosus_, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist., xvi., p. 220 (1845); id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 41 (1870); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 5, figs, 1 + and 2; Alston, in Godm. and Salvin, Biol. Centr. Amer. Mamm., pp. 3 and + 5, pl. i. + +CHARACTERS.--Differs from _M. niger_ by its abundant, long, and soft hairs, +which below, towards their bases, show a rufescent tinge, and by the +frontal hairs being _sometimes_ directed downwards at the base, instead of +upwards; hair on cheeks under the ears, brownish. + +MALE.--Entirely black. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG.--Also quite black, like the adult male, {200}instead of +being pale yellow, like the corresponding age and sex of _A. nigra_, and +having also the hair shorter and not so glossy. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This Howler is known only from the virgin forests of the +eastern and north-eastern portions of Guatemala. Mr. Osbert Salvin has +given the following account of this species. "The _Mycetes_ of Guatemala is +commonly known as the 'Mono.' It is abundant throughout the virgin forests +of the eastern portion of the Republic, but is unknown on the forest-clad +slopes which stretch towards the Pacific Ocean. In the former region it is +found at various altitudes over a wide expanse of country. I have heard its +cry on the shores of the lake of Yzabal; and all through the denser forests +of the valley of the River Polochic it is very common, from the steep +mountain road which lies between the upland village of Purulá and S. +Miguel-Tucuru, and especially in the wilderness of uninhabited forest, +which stretches from Teleman to the lake of Yzabal. In the unbroken +forest-country which occupies the whole of the northern portion of Vera +Paz, from Coban and Cahabon to the confines of Peten, it is also abundant; +for seldom an hour passes but the discordant cry of the Mono strikes upon +the ear of the traveller, as he threads the lonely path to Peten. The +elevation of this district varies from 700 to 3,000 feet, and the _Mycetes_ +is found at all elevations. When travelling through the forest in 1862, I +was dependent for the animal food, to supply my party of Indians, entirely +upon my gun, and Monos contributed not a little to the larder. The Indians +eat Monkey without demur, but the meat looks dark and untempting. For my +own part I far preferred the delicate Tinamou or Curassow, a sufficient +supply of which never failed for my own consumption. Perhaps there is no +district in Vera Paz where Monos are more abundant than the mountains of +{201}Chilasco, a cold and damp region, elevated at least 6,000 feet above +the sea, but where the forest-growth is of the densest description and +trees of the largest size abound. It was here that the specimens were +obtained that are now in the British Museum." + +HABITS.--These animals are found in small companies of five or six. They +are usually met with on the upper branches of the highest trees, and when +disturbed crawl sluggishly along the boughs. "The wonderful cry whence +_Mycetes_ gets its trivial name of Howling Monkey is certainly most +striking; and I have sometimes endeavoured to ascertain how far this cry +may be heard. It has taken me an hour or more to thread the forest +undergrowth from the time the cry first struck my ear to when, guided by +the cry alone, I stood under the tree where the animals were. It would +certainly not be over estimating the distance to say two miles. When the +sound came over the lake of Yzabal, unhindered by trees, a league would be +more like the distance at which the Mono's cry may be heard." (_O. +Salvin._) + +To this species, we believe, belongs the following description given by +Captain Dampier: "The Monkeys that are in these parts are the ugliest I +ever saw. They are much bigger than a Hare, and have great Tails about two +Foot and a half long. The under side of their Tails is all bare, with a +black hard Skin; but the upper side and all the Body is covered with +coarse, long black staring Hair. These Creatures keep together, twenty or +thirty in a company, and ramble over the Woods, leaping from Tree to Tree. +If they meet with a single Person they will threaten to devour him. When I +have been alone I have been afraid to shoot them, especially the first Time +I met them. They were a great company, dancing {202}from Tree to Tree over +my Head; chattering and making a terrible Noise; and a great many grim +Faces, and shewing antick Gestures. Some broke down dry Sticks and threw at +me; ... at last one bigger than the rest came to a small Limb just over my +Head; and leaping directly at me made me start back, but the Monkey caught +hold of the Bough with the tip of his tail; and there continued swinging to +and fro, and making mouths at me.... The Tails of these Monkeys are as good +to them as one of their hands; and they will hold as fast by them.... The +Females with their young ones are much troubled to leap after the Males; +for they have commonly two: one she carries under one of her Arms, the +other sits on her Back, and clasps her two Fore-Paws about her Neck. These +Monkeys are the most sullen I ever met with, for all the Art we could use +would never tame them.... These Monkeys are very rarely or (as some say) +never on the Ground." + + +VI. THE MANTLED HOWLER. ALOUATTA PALLIATA. + + _Mycetes palliatus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1848, p. 138, pl. vi.; Frantz., + Wiegm. Arch., xxxv., p. 254 (1869); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 40 + (1870); Scl., P. Z. S., 1872, p. 7; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 152 + (1876); Alston, in Godm. and Salvin, Biol. Centr. Am. Mamm., p. 4 (1879). + + _Aluatta palliata_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1862, p. 519. + +CHARACTERS.--Face naked; hair of forehead short, reflexed, forming a slight +crest across the middle of the head; hairs of the back of the head rather +longer; those of the cheeks few, short and grey; those of the fore neck +lengthening into a short beard. General colour brownish-black; middle of +back and {203}upper part of sides, yellowish-brown; lower part of sides +brownish-yellow, lengthened into a mantle; arms, legs, and tail black. +Length, 19½ inches; tail, 20¾. + +The late Mr. Alston, in describing the Mammals of Central America, in +Messrs. Godman and Salvin's monumental work, "Biologia Centrali-Americana," +observes that "this Howler presents considerable variety in the depth of +the black or brown-black ground-colour, and in the extent of the fulvous +tints of the flanks and loins. Dr. v. Frantzius states that the Howlers +which he saw in Costa Rica were darker than is indicated by Dr. Gray's +description; and in several of the Panama examples the light markings are +much reduced, but in others they are quite as conspicuous as in the +Nicaraguan types." Mr. Alston, therefore, agrees with Prof. Schlegel, that +the variation does not depend on locality. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Shores and islands of the lake of Nicaragua; Costa Rica; +Panama; Islet of Hicaron, at the southern extremity of Quibo Island, off +the Coast of Veragua. South of the Isthmus of Panama, the Red Howler (_A. +senicula_) replaces the Mantled Howler. + +HABITS.--The habits of the Mantled Howler do not differ widely from those +of the species already described. It prefers the highest branches of the +trees of the dense forests; and is harmless to the plantations of the +natives. In disposition it is dull and melancholy, and is rarely kept in +confinement. It is said, however, to reconcile itself to captivity more +than some of the others referred to in previous pages. According to Dr. v. +Frantzius, a tame male individual of this species was observed to howl +whenever rain-clouds gathered, and also regularly at five o'clock every +morning. + + + + +{204}THE CAPUCHINS AND SPIDER-MONKEYS. SUB-FAMILY CEBINÆ. + + +We now come to describe the remaining Monkeys of the New World. The +_Cebinæ_ are characterised by having the incisors vertical, not procumbent; +they have no inflated hyoid bone as in the foregoing Sub-family. The tail +in all is long and prehensile, although in some species it is a less +perfect grasping organ, being clothed with hair to the tip, instead of +being there naked and highly sensitive. The thumb may be present or absent. + +This Sub-family contains four genera: the Capuchins (_Cebus_); The Woolly +Monkeys (_Lagothrix_); the Woolly Spider-Monkeys (_Eriodes_); and the +Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_). The species belonging to these genera are very +numerous, and are found over the whole region from Mexico in the north, to +Paraguay and Bolivia in the south, or from about 25° N. lat., to 30° S. +lat. + + +THE CAPUCHINS. GENUS CEBUS. + + _Cebus_, Erxleb., Syst. Regne Anim., p. 44 (1777). + +This is the typical genus of the American Monkeys. They are distinguished +by having a robust body, covered with woolly fur, with a rounded head and a +face which, instead of having a protruding muzzle, is more erect and +Man-like. They are the commonest Monkeys seen in captivity in our streets. +Their tail is long and covered with hair to the tip, and, though +prehensile, it is not the perfect substitute for an additional hand noticed +in several other genera. Their limbs are only moderately long, and are less +slender than in the Spider-Monkeys. The fore-limbs have a well-developed +thumb, which, as compared with the length of the hand, is the most +{205}Man-like of all the Apes; in some species the nails of the digits are +compressed laterally. + +In the skull the cranial portion exceeds the facial. Professor Mivart +observes that in this group the facial part is relatively smaller than in +many of the higher Old-World Apes. The skull has no external bony canal (or +_meatus_) to the ear; and its frontal bones possess large air-cavities. In +the Capuchins the incisor teeth are erect, and are always shorter than the +canines. The molars are four-cusped, and have, on their crowns, two +transverse ridges and the oblique ridge, already described in the +_Lemuroidea_, from the front inner cusp to the hind outer cusp. These +animals have also one milk-molar tooth more than in Man. + +The outer surface of the main brain (_cerebrum_) is almost as much +convoluted as in the Old World Apes. + +The Capuchins range from Costa Rica to Paraguay, and are represented by +about eighteen species. They are very gentle and docile animals. + +F. Cuvier observes in his "Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes," that of all +the Quadrumana--indeed, of all the Mammals--there are none so difficult to +characterise as the Capuchins of America, whose colours vary almost with +every individual. No two authors agree in the number of species the genus +contains. Brisson recognised three, Linnæus four, Gmelin six, Buffon two, +and George Cuvier supposed it possible that they all belonged to but one +species. Two causes help to produce this diversity of opinion; one is, as +remarked above, the natural disposition which these animals have to vary, +and to become lighter or darker in colour according to circumstances, and +the other is the extremely close relationship that exists between the +different species of the genus. Observations, {206}however, are not yet +numerous enough, nor exact enough, to enable those who have only studied +the species alive in Europe, or had skins, to decide with such imperfect +data as to their sex, age, and habitat. Not until some naturalist has made +a prolonged study of these animals in their native country, and watched +their conduct and relations in the living state, can we hope to attain to +any certain knowledge of how many species the genus contains; and of the +differences between the old and young of both sexes at different periods +from youth to age. + + +I. THE WHITE-THROATED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS HYPOLEUCUS. + + _Saï á gorge blanche_, Buffon, Hist. Nat. Mamm., p. 64, pl. 15, fig. 9 + (1767); Fr. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mamm., livr. xvi.; Audeb., Hist. Nat. + Singes, fam. v., sect. 2, pl. 5 (1797). + + _Simia hypoleuca_, Humb., Obs. Zool., i., p. 337 (1811); Pucher., Rev. et + Mag. de Zool. (2), 1857, p. 348. + + _Cebus hypoleucus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 111 (1812); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 50 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 190 + (1876). + + _Cebus leucocephalus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 827, fig. 4; Sclater, P. + Z. S., 1872, p. 4; Alston in Godman and Salvin, Biol. Centr. Am. Mamm., + p. 13 (1879). + +CHARACTERS.--Hair very silky, smooth and stiff, and thicker above than +below. Face and forehead nude, flesh-coloured; hands and feet nude, of a +violet hue, as also the thinly-haired skin of the under side of the body. +The tip of the tail for a short distance being naked, distinguishes this +species from all others. Shoulders, arms, and sides of the head behind the +ears pure white; chest and throat yellowish; rest of the body deep black. + +{207}Older individuals have the head longer than the younger ones, and the +shoulders yellowish instead of white. Length of the body, 13½ inches; of +the tail, 17 inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species was discovered by Humboldt in the low lands of +Colombia. From Colombia its range extends north to Nicaragua. It has been +obtained in Veragua, in Panama, in Costa Rica, and in the north-east of the +country between the Pacuar and Chirripo rivers, and also on the mountains +of Candalaria. + +HABITS.--The White-throated Capuchin feeds partly on fruit, as Mr. Belt has +narrated in his well-known "Naturalist in Nicaragua." He adds:--"It is +incessantly on the look out for insects, examining the crevices in trees +and withered leaves, seizing the largest beetles and munching them up with +the greatest relish. It is also very fond of eggs and young birds, and must +play havoc amongst the nestlings. Probably owing to its carnivorous habits, +its flesh is not considered so good by Monkey-eaters as that of the +fruit-eating Spider-Monkey; but I never myself tried either." + +Mr. Salvin saw a troop of these Monkeys in company with several +Spider-Monkeys by the margin of a watercourse in Nicaragua, and remarked +that the actions of the latter were bolder and more active than those of +the Capuchins, which were slower and more timid. + +According to Cuvier, the cry of this animal in captivity is a continuous +soft whistle until its wants are satisfied; if it wants nothing this +whistle is intermittent, and very soft. When in terror, its cry is a +veritable bark, broken by silent intervals. + +It is extremely docile and very intelligent; the look in its eyes is +remarkably penetrating, and it appears to read in the {208}eyes of its +observer what is passing within him, and to comprehend every motion and +gesture. + +When pleased it utters a reiterated shrill note, and draws back the corners +of its mouth, producing a smile by contracting the same muscles as in the +human face. + + +II. THE WHITE-CHEEKED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS LUNATUS. + + _Cebus lunatus_ (Sajou cornu), male; F. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mamm., pl. 70 + (nec Kuhl). + + _Cebus vellerosus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 44 (1851, pt.). + + _Cebus leucogenys_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 824, pl. xlv.; id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 48 (1870). + + _Cebus frontatus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 206 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur soft, elongate, silky, with thick under-fur. Hair on front +of head elongate and reflexed, forming across the brow a short crest, +higher above each eye; hair on top of head lying flat; that on cheeks short +and adpressed; base of nose large, and corrugated longitudinally; toes +long; tail longer than in other species; under surface of body less haired. + +General colour silky brown, almost black on the head and limbs, paler on +the shoulders and arms; the whiskers forming a white, or sometimes pale +yellow, band, bordering the cheeks from opposite the eyes to the chin. Face +and hands naked, violet; skin below the hair of the same colour. + +The hair of the body is longer in winter than in spring; but the crests, or +"horns," and the white whiskers appear only when the animal is fully adult. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +III. THE SLENDER CAPUCHIN. CEBUS FLAVUS. + + _Cebus barbatus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 110 (1812); Schl,. Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 197 (1876). + + {209}_Cebus albus_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 112 (albino). + + _Cebus flavus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 112 (1812); Kuhl, Beitr. + Zool., p. 33 (1820); d'Orbig., Voy. Amér. Mérid., iv., Mamm., p. 1, pl. 3 + (1847); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 204 (1876). + + _Cebus gracilis_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 8, pl. 5 (1823, + young). + + _Cebus libidinosus_, Spix, t. c. p. 5, pl. 2 (1823). + + _Cebus unicolor_, Spix, t. c. p. 7, pl. 4 (1823). + + _Simia flavia_, Schreb., Säugeth., pl. 31B (1840). + + _Cebus elegans_, Is. Geoffr., C. R., xxxi., p. 875 (1850). + + _Caiarára branca_, Bates, Nat. Amaz., ii., p. 100 (1863). + + _Cebus pallidus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 49 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Hairs of crown short and reflexed, forming a small short +crest, separated by a median furrow on each side of the dark crown patch. +Fur soft; the coronal patch on the back of the head small, black or brown; +crest black. + +General colour golden fulvous or greyish fulvous; limbs and tail dark +brown; beard golden-red. + +Varieties of this species are sometimes entirely fulvous, with the forehead +white; others are entirely albino. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Bolivia. + + +IV. THE SMOOTH-HEADED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS MONACHUS. + + _Cebus monachus_, F. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mammif., livr. xix. (1820). + + _Le Saï a grosse tête_, male, F. Cuvier, _loc. cit._ + + _Cebus xanthocephalus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 6, pl. 3 + (1823); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 50 (1870). + + _Cebus cucullatus_, Spix, t. c. p. 9, pl. 6 (1823). + + {210}_Cebus olivaceus_, Wagner in Schreb. Säugeth., Suppl., v., p, 87, + pl. 8 (1855). + + _Cebus variegatus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 208 (1876). + + (_Plate XIX._) + +CHARACTERS.--Fur soft and stiff. Head large and round covered with short +recumbent hairs. Face naked, pale round the prominent eyes; muzzle sharp, +and of the same colour as that which surrounds the eyes; forehead, temples, +throat, chest, under surface of body, sides of jaws, and front of arms, +pale orange-yellow; outer side of arms, pale orange, washed with white; +fore-arms, rump, hind-limbs, and tail black; a mixture of black and brown, +expanding irregularly into spots on the yellow, covering the back, +shoulders, and sides of body; a spot on the crown, black; a superciliary +ridge forming a band of whiskers extending down the cheeks, and meeting +under the chin, also black. Hands naked, violet, almost black. + +Varieties occur with the shoulders and loins pale yellow, instead of mixed +black and brown, and the outside of the thighs and the base of the tail, +reddish. In some specimens the pale yellow of the back gives place to a +white ground. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Paraguay (?); Guiana. + +HABITS.--Little is known of the habits of this species; but F. Cuvier, who +had one under his care in the "Ménagerie Royale," in Paris, remarks that it +had the confiding disposition characteristic of the Capuchins, although +very timid. It exhibited a great desire to be caressed, was very +affectionate and most intelligent. Its physiognomy, however, he says, was +involuntarily repellent, being one that, among ourselves, would indicate a +person steeped in ignorance and sensuality. + +PLATE XIX. + +[Illustration: SMOOTH-HEADED CAPUCHIN.] + + + +{211}V. THE BROWN CAPUCHIN. CEBUS FATUELLUS. + + _Simia trepida_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 39 (1766). + + _Simia apella_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 42 (1766). + + _Simia fatuellus_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 42 (1766). + + _Cebus fatuellus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 109 (1812). + + _Cebus apella_, Geoffr., t. c. p. 109 (1812); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 48 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 199 (1876). + + _Cebus macrocephalus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 3, pl. 1 (1823). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur thick, harsh; hair of crown short, reflexed; on the sides +of the crown a dark spot, elongated and elevated into two longer or shorter +crests, according to the season and the age of the animal. General colour +reddish-brown, darker on the hind-limbs, tail, and middle of the back; +fore-arms, crown-spot, and whiskers, black; front of shoulders greyish or +yellow; Face naked, purplish flesh-colour. + +This species is subject to great individual variation. Its general colour +is sometimes pale yellowish, with the whiskers yellow. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil; Guiana, near the coast; on the mountains of the +Upper Magdalena Valley; Tolima, U.S. Colombia, from 5,000 to 7,000 ft. + +HABITS.--This species, called "Mico Maizero" by the inhabitants of Tolima, +lives as all the _Cebi_ do, in considerable troops in the forests. When +wild, it is restless and destructive, but in captivity it is docile and +affectionate. + + +VI. THE VARIEGATED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS VARIEGATUS. + + _Cebus variegatus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 111 (1812). + +{212}CHARACTERS.--Head round; muzzle protruding. Fur black, ringed with +golden-yellow; under side of body rufous. Hairs of back brown at base, red +higher up, black at the tips. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +VII. THE TUFTED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS CIRRIFER. + + _Le Sajou negre_, Buffon, Hist. Nat. Mamm. Suppl., p. 109, pl. 28. + + _Cebus cirrifer_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 110 (1812); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 49 (1870). + + _Cebus cucullatus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 9, pl. 6 (1823, + juv.). + + _Macaco prego_, Bates, Nat. Amazon., i., p. 323 (1863). + + _Cebus niger_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 202 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Head round; hairs of crown short and reversed, sometimes +elongated into two retrorsal tufts. Fur short, close, and in general colour +maroon, turning to black, darker on the under surface; face, chin, sides of +forehead and a streak above the eyebrows, yellowish-white. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Lower Amazon region. + +HABITS.--Little is known of this Monkey beyond what Mr. Bates has told us, +viz., that it is a great depredator of the fruit trees. "It is a most +impudent thief; it destroys more than it eats by its random, hasty way of +plucking and breaking the fruits, and when about to return to the forest, +carries away all it can in its hands or under its arms." + + +VIII. THE CRESTED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS ROBUSTUS. + + _Cebus robustus_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 35 (1820, ex Neuwied MSS.); Is. + Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 43 (1851); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 51 (1870). + + {213}_Cebus frontatus_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 34 (1820); Schl., Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 206 (1876, part). + + _Cebus variegatus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 208 (1876, part). + +CHARACTERS.--Crown with hairs elongated into a conical central crest. Fur +bright red; crown bright red like the back, with a black spot. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +IX. THE GRIZZLED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS ANNELLATUS. + + _Cebus annellatus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 827, fig. 3; id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 51. + +CHARACTERS.--Hair of crown long and erect, forming a central conical crest. +Fur brown, reddish-washed, especially on the thighs, the hairs with several +pale rings; a streak on the sides of the neck bent down on the front of the +shoulders, yellow; belly reddish; crown, temples, whiskers, outer and inner +side of the limbs and tail, black; hair of face deep black; crown-spot +broad, with a broad line to the forehead and another, on each side, to the +whiskers. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +X. THE WHITE-FRONTED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS ALBIFRONS. + + _Simia albifrons_, Humb., Obs. Zool., p. 323 (1811). + + _Cebus chrysopes_ (Le Sajou à pieds dorés), Fr. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mammif., + pl. 51 (part.). + + _Cebus albifrons_, Is. Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 111 (1812); Gray, + Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 50 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 195 + (1876, part.) + + _Cebus leucocephalus_, Gray, t. c. p. 50. + + _Cebus versicolor_, Pucher., Rev. Zool., 1845, p. 335 (part). + +{214}CHARACTERS.--Head large in proportion to the body. Hair of crown +short, reflexed, without crest or "horns." Tail with rather long hair. +Face, forehead, throat, shoulders, and crest white. General colour of body +light or reddish-brown; back and outer side of the limbs, brownish-red. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Generally distributed through the forests of the level +country of the Upper Amazon. + +HABITS.--The Caiarara, as the Tupi Indians name this species, lives in +troops in the forests and feeds on fruits. Mr. Bates, who kept one in +captivity for a considerable period during his stay in the Upper Amazon +region, describes it as "a most restless creature, but not playful like +most of the American Monkeys; the restlessness of its disposition seeming +to arise from great nervous irritability and discontent. The anxious, +painful, and changeable expression of its countenance, and the want of +purpose in its movements, betray this. Its actions are like those of a +wayward child; it does not seem happy even when it has plenty of its +favourite food, bananas; but will leave its own meal to snatch the morsels +out of the hands of its companions. It differs in these mental traits from +its nearest kindred, for another common _Cebus_, found in the same parts of +the forest, the Prego Monkey (_C. cirrifer_), is a much quieter and better +tempered animal.... The Caiarara [called Ouavapavi, by Humboldt] is always +making some noise or other, often screwing up its mouth and uttering a +succession of loud notes resembling a whistle." It is the most wonderful +leaper of the whole tribe. Mr. Bates has also recorded:--"The troops +consist of thirty or more individuals which travel in single file. When the +foremost of the flock reaches the outermost branch of an unusually lofty +tree he springs forth {215}into the air without a moment's hesitation and +alights on the dome of yielding foliage belonging to the neighbouring tree, +maybe fifty feet beneath; all the rest following the example. They grasp, +on falling, with hands and tail, right themselves in a moment, and then +away they go along branch and bough to the next tree." Mr. Belt also +mentions having kept a White-fronted Capuchin in captivity for a long time. +Its actions, he tells us, were very human-like. "He had quite an extensive +vocabulary of sounds, varying from a gruff bark to a shrill whistle; and we +could tell by them, without seeing him, when it was he was hungry, eating, +frightened, or menacing; doubtless one of his own species would have +understood various minor shades of intonation and expression that we, not +entering into his feelings and wants, passed over as unintelligible." + + +XI. THE WEEPER CAPUCHIN. CEBUS CAPUCINUS. + + _Simia capucina_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 42 (1766). + + _Cebus capucinus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 111 (1812); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 49 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 19 + (1876). + + _Cebus nigrovittatus_, Wagner, Acad. Münch., v., p. 430 (1847, ex Natt. + MSS.). + + _Cebus olivaceus_, Schomb., Reis. Brit. Guiana, ii., p. 246, et iii., p. + 770 (1848). + + _Cebus castaneus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 46 (1851). + + _Cebus versicolor_, Pucher., Rev. et Mag. Zool., 1857, p. 346 (part). + +CHARACTERS.--Hairs of crown short, reflexed, but not elevated into a crest. +Fur brown, washed with yellow; crown-spot dark brown, narrow, prolonged +down the nose, and expanded {216}backward on to the nape of the neck; sides +of face, throat, chest, and front part of shoulders, greyish-yellow. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Widely distributed in the great forests from Paraguay to the +United States of Colombia. + +HABITS.--This Capuchin wanders about among the high forest trees in small +companies of from ten to a dozen, the larger number being females. It is +very timid, and keeps well out of sight, so that it is difficult to watch +its habits. Rengger, in his "Säugethiere von Paraguay," had more than once +an excellent opportunity of observing these interesting Monkeys, and has +given a capital account of them. He specially mentions the great affection +the mother has for her offspring. "The mother's love," he says, "shows +itself by the great care with which every old one handles her young, by +laying them on the breast, by watching them, by searching their fur, and by +the attacks they make on any intruder." In January the female gives birth +to a single young one, and keeps it at her breast for the first week; later +on she carries it partly on her back, partly under her arm. When sleeping +the Weeping Çai curls itself up, covering its face with its arms and tail. + +The leader of a troop shares his feelings with the others by various +motions, and by giving utterance to certain noises, which are taken up by +the others. Their feelings are also exhibited by a kind of laughing and +crying. Rengger kept some of these Monkeys for several years in captivity +in their own country, and says that, when happy, they uttered a peculiar +tittering sound; they express agreeable sensations by drawing back the +corners of the mouth without uttering any sound; this he supposed to be +laughing, but, as Mr. Darwin remarks, it would be more appropriately called +a smile. When {217}crying, their eyes fill with tears, but never flow down +the cheeks. When in pain or terror, the form of the mouth, as observed by +Mr. Darwin at the Zoological Gardens in London, is quite different from +that expressing pleasure or satisfaction; and high shrieks are uttered. + +Specimens of this species have been kept in captivity in Europe for six and +seven years. + + +XII. THE THICK-FURRED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS VELLEROSUS. + + _Cebus vellerosus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 44 (1851, + part.); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 49 (1870). + + _Cebus frontatus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 206 (1876, part.). + +CHARACTERS.--Hairs of crown short; those on the side of the dark and narrow +crown-spot, produced on the sides into two horns or crests. Fur thick and +long, mingled with still longer glancing hairs; general colour +blackish-brown; top of head, nape of neck, and whiskers black. (_Gray._) + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + +The following species has been described by Dr. Gray, but very little, if +anything, is known of its habits or of the exact locality in which it +lives. + + +XIII. THE PALE CAPUCHIN. CEBUS FLAVESCENS. + + _Cebus unicolor_ (nec Spix), Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 7 pl. 4 + (1823, part). + + _Cebus gracilis_ (nec Spix), Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus., p. 12 (1843). + + _Cebus flavescens_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 827; id. Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 51 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur nearly uniform pale yellowish-fulvous; the {218}cheeks, +whiskers, and hair under the throat, greyish; the crown, nape, and middle +part of the back rather darker; outside of the leg somewhat redder; hair on +top of head and nape rather elongate, directed backward, but not forming a +crest. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +XIV. THE GOLDEN-HANDED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS CHRYSOPUS. + + _Cebus chrysopes_, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm., pl. 51 (part.). + + _Cebus chrysopus_, Fischer, Syn. Mamm., p. 51 (1829); Is. Geoffr., Cat. + Méth. Primates, p. 47 (1851); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 51 + (1870). + + _Cebus albifrons_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 195 (1876, part.). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur soft; hairs of crown of head radiating from a centre, +directed forward in front, forming a transverse crest on the middle of the +crown. Face, throat, chest, and front of shoulders, pale greyish-brown; +back of head and eyebrows blackish. General colour of body pale +sooty-brown, washed with golden; outer side of limbs golden-buff. + +DISTRIBUTION.--United States of Colombia. + + +XV. THE BONNETTED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS SUBCRISTATUS. + + _Cebus subcristatus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 827; id. Cat. Monkeys + Brit. Mus., p. 52 (1870). + + _? Cebus frontatus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 206 (1876, part.). + +CHARACTERS.--Hair of crown elongate, divided by a central line diverging to +the eyebrows, forming an erect transverse crest behind them. Fur +blackish-brown; sides of face pale ashy; {219}front of shoulders and of +arms and outer side of legs, yellowish. Digits long and very slender. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +XVI. THE CAPPED CAPUCHIN. CEBUS CAPILLATUS. + + _Cebus capillatus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 827, fig. 1; id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 52 (1870). + + _? Cebus frontatus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, viii, p. 206 (1876, part.) + +CHARACTERS.--Hairs of head elongate, diverging in all directions; fur long, +brown, slightly washed with yellow, more markedly on the thighs; sides of +forehead paler; sides of neck, outer sides of shoulders and arms, fulvous; +crown and nape of neck, blackish. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Brazil. + + +XVII. AZARA'S CAPUCHIN. CEBUS AZARÆ. + + "_Le Cay_," Azara, Essais Hist. Nat. Quadr. Prov. Paraguay, ii., p. 230 + (1801). + + _Cebus azaræ_, Rengger, Naturg. Säugeth., Paraguay, p. 26 (1830). + +CHARACTERS.--Top of head black, with a band of the same colour passing in +front of the ears, and terminating on the lower jaw; forehead, temples, and +face, white; ear-tufts white; chin, throat, and upper side of feet white; +upper side of tail, anterior part of the fore-feet and ankles, dusky; rest +of body brown, lighter on the sides, becoming yellowish on the rump, the +lower part of the body, and the under side of the tail. Length of the body, +17 inches; of the tail, 19 inches. + +FEMALE.--Paler in colour above than the male; the dark colour of the tail +and of the limbs more extended. + +{220}DISTRIBUTION.--Paraguay. + +HABITS.--This rare Capuchin lives, as Azara relates, in the forests of +Paraguay, and is met with both in single couples and in small troops. They +are very lively little animals, ever in motion, swinging themselves from +tree to tree by means of their tails, the mothers of the company generally +carrying their single young one on their back. When once tamed they become +very affectionate; when angry they can give vent to excruciating screams. +Their ordinary voice resembles that of someone laughing with all their +might, and crying Hu! hu! hu! + +Only once has a specimen of this Capuchin been an inmate of the Zoological +Gardens in London. + + +XVIII. SCHLEGEL'S CAPUCHIN. CEBUS FALLAX. + + _Cebus fallax_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 210 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--In colour closely resembling _C. fatuellus_, but the hair is +longer all over, silky, and of a dusky hue, especially on the hinder part +of the body. The lumbar vertebræ are four in number, and there are also +fourteen pairs of ribs. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Unknown. + + +THE WOOLLY MONKEYS. GENUS LAGOTHRIX. + + _Lagothrix_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 106 (1812). + +The animals grouped under the genus _Lagothrix_ are readily distinguished +by having a heavy body, and a rounded head, with the muzzle much flattened, +and the nostrils nearly circular, but not approximated. More conspicuous +than any other external character is the woolliness of their under-fur. + +The name _Lagothrix_ was given by Humboldt to the first specimen he found, +because of the similarity of its fur to that {221}of the hare, and hence +this name, from [Greek: lagôs], a hare, and [Greek: thrix, trichos], hair, +was adopted for the new genus, which was afterwards established by Geoffroy +St. Hilaire. + +The hair of the crown is short and directed backwards; the tail is long and +perfectly prehensile, being naked and sensitive for a considerable distance +back from the tip. The limbs are moderately long, and the thumb and +great-toe are well developed, the nails of the digits being compressed and +pointed. + +In regard to the skeleton, the skull of _Lagothrix_, as Dr. Slack points +out, can be readily distinguished from that of the Capuchins by a broad, +well-marked, articulation taking place between the pre-maxillary and the +nasal bones at right angles to the suture between the latter, while in the +Capuchins no true articulation takes place between these bones. The lower +jaw is larger than in _Cebus_, approaching the size and form of _Mycetes_. +The incisor teeth are small and unequal, the upper inner incisor being the +largest; the canines are very large and grooved in front. + +The Woolly Monkeys are slow in motion, gregarious, diurnal, and arboreal. +The "Barrigudos," as they are called by the Portuguese colonists, live +exclusively on fruits, and are larger and less active than the Capuchins. +They are confined to the forests of the Ecuador district of the Upper +Amazon Valley, and along the slopes of the Andes, north to Venezuela and +south to Bolivia. + +They are of a mild disposition, and, as Mr. Wallace remarks, they are the +species "most frequently seen in confinement, and are great favourites, +from their grave countenances, which resemble the human face more than +those of any other Monkeys, their quiet manners, and the great affection +and docility they exhibit." + + +{222}I. HUMBOLDT'S WOOLLY MONKEY. LAGOTHRIX LAGOTHRIX. + + _Simia lagothrica_, Humb. and Bonpl., Obs. Zool., i., p. 322 (1811). + + _Lagothrix cana_, Id. tom. cit. i., p. 354 (1811). + + _Lagothrix lagotricha_, Id. tom. cit. p. 354. + + _Lagothrix humboldtii_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 107 (1812); Scl., P. + Z. S., 1863, p. 374, pl. xxxi.; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 162 (1876, + part.). + + _Lagothrix canus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 107 (1812). + + _Gastrimargus olivaceus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 39, pl. 28 + (1823). + + _Lagothrix tschudii_, Pucher., Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1857, p. 296. + + _Lagothrix geoffroyi_, Pucher., t. c. p. 297. + + _Lagothrix cana_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 162 (1876; part.). + + _Lagothrix olivaceus_, Spix, ?; Bates, Nat. River Amazon, ii., p. 320 + (1863). + + (_Plate XX._) + +CHARACTERS.--Body large and heavy; face naked, black, and wrinkled; +forehead low, the eyes projecting; a few scattered white hairs on lips. +Hair of under surface hoary, and longer than that of the upper surface. + +ADULT MALE.--General colour blackish, hoary-grey, the hairs being dark +grey, tipped with black. Head, chest, hands, under surface of body, and tip +of tail, black. Length of the body, from 19 or 20 inches to 27 inches in +very large specimens; tail from 24 to 26 inches. + +YOUNG.--Hoary grey, darker on the belly and inner surface of the limbs; +hands and top of head black. + +PLATE XX. + +[Illustration: HUMBOLDT'S WOOLLY MONKEY.] + + +{223}DISTRIBUTION.--This Monkey was discovered by Humboldt on the Guaviaré, +a branch of the Orinoco river. It occurs in the Upper Magdalena Valley, +Colombia, where it is known as the "Churuco" river. Its true habitat is the +district south-west of the Rio Negro towards the Andes. It is unknown in +the Lower Amazon Region. + +HABITS.--The "Caparro," as the Orinoco Indians named this species to +Humboldt, or "Macaco barrigudo," as the Portuguese settlers call it, is +entirely an arboreal animal, living exclusively on fruits, on which it is a +most voracious feeder. The name of "big-bellied," which _barrigudo_ means, +is probably obtained from the effects of this habit. Its manners in +captivity are grave, and its temper, according to Mr. Bates, is mild and +confiding, like that of the Coaitas, or Spider-Monkeys. Owing to these +traits, the Barrigudo is much sought after as a pet; but it is not hardy +like the Coaitas, and seldom survives a passage down the river to Pará. +Nevertheless, the Zoological Society has had a considerable number of these +Monkeys in confinement during the past twenty years. Mr. Bates also states +that it is much persecuted by the natives on account of the excellence of +its flesh as food. "From information given me," he says, "by a collector of +birds and mammals whom I employed, and who resided a long time among the +Tacuna Indians, near Tabatinga, I calculated that one horde of this tribe, +200 in number, destroyed 1,200 of these Monkeys annually for food. The +species is very numerous in the forests of the higher lands, but, owing to +long persecution, it is now seldom seen in the neighbourhood of the larger +villages." + + +II. THE BROWN LAGOTHRIX. LAGOTHRIX INFUMATUS. + + _Gastrimargus infumatus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 41, pl. 29 + (1823). + + {224}_Lagothrix poeppigii_, Schinz, Synops. Mamm., i., p. 71 (1844); + Pucher., Rev. et Mag de Zool., p. 299 (1857); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., + p. 164 (1876). + + _Lagothrix geoffroyi_, Schinz, Synops. Mamm., i., p. 72 (1844). + + _Lagothrix castelnaui_, Is. Geoffr. et Deville, C.R., xxvii., p. 498 + (1848); Casteln., Voy. Amér. Sud, Zool., p. 5, pl. 1. + + _Lagothrix infumatus_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 46 (1870); Scl., + P. Z. S., 1871, p. 219 (Note). + +CHARACTERS.--Large in size; face naked, black; general colour dark +reddish-grey, the hairs being reddish-brown at the base, and tipped with +grey or black; head, face and hind hands darker brown; chest, upper side of +fore-arms, and under surface of body dark brown, or almost black; sides of +body, base of the tail and perineal region brownish-red; hair of chest and +under surface long and rather rigid. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Brown Lagothrix, also called "Capparo" by Humboldt, is +common in the forests of the low country over the whole of the Valley of +the Peruvian Amazons. It has been recorded from the Valley of the Copataza +river, and also from Macas, both in Cis-Andean Ecuador. + +HABITS.--These Monkeys go about in pairs, in troops of about twelve to +fourteen, and frequent the great forest trees. They are often found in +company with species of other genera, such as the Howlers. They are +exclusively fruit-eaters, and are in great request as food; large numbers, +consequently, are destroyed annually for this purpose. + + +THE WOOLLY SPIDER-MONKEYS. GENUS BRACHYTELES. + + _Brachyteles_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert. Brazil, p. 36 (1823). + + _Eriodes_, Is. Geoffr., Dict. Class., xv., p. 143 (1829). + +The members of this genus resemble in general form the {225}Spider-Monkeys, +to be presently described, and they present also many resemblances to the +foregoing species of the Woolly Monkeys. Their limbs are long and slender, +and their body heavy, and covered with a woolly under-fur. Their head is +rounder than in the Capuchins. The face is flat, and the facial angle +large. The nose has the partition between the nostrils narrower than in the +other species of the family, and the nostrils are themselves more +approximated, circular in form, and directed more downward than outward, +thus showing some approach to the position of the nostrils in the Old World +Apes. Their fore-limbs are long and slender, and the thumb is often +entirely absent (as in the Guerezas of Africa), or there may be a very +rudimentary digit, which sometimes ends in a small nail. The nails of the +digits are, as in _Lagothrix_, very compressed and sharp. The tail is +longer than the body, naked on the under side, and sensitive at its +termination, and therefore prehensile. + +The skull is globular, and the pre-maxillary bones articulate with the +nasal bones by a broad surface. The incisor teeth are equal in size; the +canines are small, and of the same length as the incisors, and the molars, +which are vertically higher than the canines, are thick and quadrangular. +The lower jaw is dilated behind, somewhat less than in _Lagothrix_. + +The Woolly Spider-Monkeys are very rare, and little is known of their +habits. They are confined to the south-eastern coast forests of Brazil, +that region to the south of Cape San Roque, whence, as far as Rio Grande do +Sul, ever-verdant forests, as Mr. Wallace has described, clothe all the +valleys and hills of the lowland region, stretching as far west as the +higher mountain ranges parallel to the coast, and even up the valleys of +the larger rivers a long way into the interior of the country. + + +{226}THE BROWN WOOLLY SPIDER-MONKEY. BRACHYTELES ARACHNOIDES. + + _Ateles arachnoides_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., vii., p. 271 (1806); xiii., p. + 90, pl. 9 (1809); xix., p. 106 (1812); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 184 + (1876, part.). + + _Ateles hypoxanthus_, Desm., Mamm., p. 75 (1820); Neuwied, apud Kuhl, + Beitr. Zool., p. 25 (1820); Schl., t. c. p. 185 (1876, part.). + + _Brachyteles macrotarsus_, Spix, Sim. et Vespert., Bras., p. 36, pl. 17 + (1823). + + _Eriodes hemidactylus_ and _E. tuberifer_, Geoffr., Mém. Mus., xvii., pp. + 161, 163 (1828). + + _Eriodes arachnoides_, Geoffr., Mém. Mus., t. c. p. 160 (1828). + + _Brachyteles arachnoides_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 45 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Size small; face nude, flesh-coloured; general colour +of body yellowish-brown, darker on the back of the head, with a few long +black hairs on the forehead; hairs of head short and directed backward; +buttocks, vent, base of tail and perineal region dark ferruginous-brown; +the thumb wanting or rudimentary. Length of body, 22 inches; tail, 26 +inches. + +FEMALE.--Ashy-brown, instead of yellowish-brown, in appearance. + +YOUNG.--In some young specimens the general colour is dark brown, with the +sides of the face white. + +Dr. Slack observes, in the "Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences +of Philadelphia" for 1862, in reference to this species: "I had long +suspected that the three species of this genus described by Isidore +Geoffroy St. Hilaire, were in reality one and the same; no specific +characters are manifest in their coloration, or skulls, the supposed +differences being {227}based upon the development of the anterior thumbs, +this member being absent in _B. arachnoides_, replaced by a small nailless +tubercle in _B. tuberifer_, and surmounted by a nail in _B. hemidactylus_. +In the "Magazin" of Messrs. Verreaux, in Paris, I found specimens having +upon one hand the tubercle, and upon the other the nailed thumb, others +with the tubercle on one hand, but absent upon the other. St. Hilaire +himself, in his "Catalogue of the Primates," expresses a doubt as to +whether _B. arachnoides_ and _B. hemidactylus_ are really distinct. In +September and October, 1860, I was unable to find _B. hemidactylus_ in the +Paris Museum, all the _Brachyteles_ being labelled _Eriodes arachnoides_." + +DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the wooded region of the south-east of Brazil. + +HABITS.--Arboreal, diurnal, and (it is supposed) gregarious, frequenting +the high forest trees, and subsisting on fruits. + + +THE SPIDER-MONKEYS. GENUS ATELES. + + _Ateles_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., vii., p. 262 (1806). + +This is the fourth remaining genus of the _Cebinæ_, the last Sub-family of +the _Cebidæ_. With the description of the Spider-Monkeys, therefore, we +shall have passed in review all the species of the New World Platyrrhine +section of the _Anthropoidea_. The species of this group derive their +trivial name from their long and slender limbs; the name applied to them, +however, in their native forests by the Indians of Brazil is "Coaita." They +are characterised by their light and slender body, which is narrower across +the loins than across the chest. The head is rounded, the forehead salient, +and the muzzle somewhat projecting. Both pairs of limbs are much elongated, +the {228}hind-limbs being shorter, however, than the fore-, and the thumb +of the fore-limb is sometimes very rudimentary, being only a nailless +tubercle--or, in the majority of the species, entirely absent, rendering +the hand a much less perfect organ for holding or picking up small objects, +such as fruits, &c.; but its absence probably does not affect, if it does +not even benefit, the hand as an organ for climbing and catching hold again +after a long leap. The nails and other digits of both limbs are compressed, +but much less so than in _Brachyteles_ and _Lagothrix_. The tail is very +long, generally exceeding the length of the body and head, and is nude on +the under side, and very sensitive towards its termination. As a prehensile +organ it has reached the summit of strength and perfection. "It even serves +as a fifth hand, as detached objects, otherwise out of reach, can be +grasped by it, and brought towards the hand or mouth." (_Mivart._) The body +is covered with long, rather coarse, generally black, hair, and has no +woolly under-fur, as in _Lagothrix_ and _Brachyteles_. + +With regard to the skeleton of _Ateles_, the lumbar region of the vertebral +column is short, and the dorsal segment attains a greater relative length +than in any other Ape, being over nine-twentieths of the total length of +the spine, without the tail. (_Mivart._) The dorsal and lumbar vertebræ +together number eighteen. In the tail there are twenty-three vertebræ, +flattened on the under side, and exceptionally provided with bony +processes, serving as points for the attachment of muscles for rendering it +as efficient a prehensile organ as possible. The length of the whole arm +and hand in _Ateles_, in proportion to that of the spine, is 174 to 100; +but without the hand it is shorter than the spine, the hand itself being +only slightly shorter than the latter. The proportion of the hind-limb to +the spine is somewhat less, being 169 to 100. The thumb is reduced to a +single metacarpal bone, to {229}which, usually, a single minute nodular +phalanx [finger-bone] is articulated, and is completely hidden beneath the +integument. Although thus rudimentary and functionless, all its +characteristic muscles, except one (the long-flexor) are present. +(_Huxley._) The upper incisors are unequal, the interior being the larger. +There is a space (diastema) between the incisor and the canine teeth (as in +all _Anthropoidea_, except Man); the canines are large and conical; the +upper molars large, and their crowns four-cusped, with transverse ridges +between the outer and inner front cusps and the outer and inner hind cusps, +and also an oblique ridge crossing from the outer front cusp to the inner +hind one. In the larynx of _Ateles_ there is a single median air-sac +opening from the back of the windpipe, but there is no such extension of +the resonating apparatus as is seen in the Howlers (_Alouatta_). In its +brain _Ateles_ exhibits in some respects a higher type than in even the Old +World Apes. + +In regard to this group of Monkeys, the late Mr. H. W. Bates made the +following interesting observations:--"In the Coaitas the tail reaches its +highest perfection as a prehensile organ; and on this account it would +perhaps be correct to consider the Coaitas as the extreme development of +the American type of Apes. As far as we know from living and fossil +species, the New World has progressed no further than the Coaita towards +the production of a higher form of the Quadrumanous order. The tendency of +Nature here has been, to all appearance, simply to perfect these organs, +which adapt the species more and more completely to a purely arboreal life; +and no nearer approach has been made towards the more advanced forms of +Anthropoid Apes, which are the products of the Old World solely. The tail +of the Coaita is endowed with {230}a wonderful degree of flexibility. It is +always in motion, coiling and uncoiling like the trunk of an Elephant, and +grasping whatever comes within reach.... The flesh of the Coaitas is much +esteemed by the natives in this part of the country [Obydos, on the +Amazon].... One day I went on a Coaita hunt. When in the deepest part of a +ravine we heard a rustling sound in the trees overhead, and Manoel [the +guide] pointed out a Coaita to me. There was something human-like in its +appearance [which is very characteristic of them], as the lean, dark, +shaggy creature moved deliberately amongst the branches at a great height. +I fired, but unfortunately only wounded it in the belly. It fell with a +crash headlong about twenty or thirty feet, and then caught a bough with +its tail, which grasped it instantaneously, and then the animal remained +suspended in mid-air. Before I could re-load it recovered itself, and +mounted nimbly to the topmost branches out of the reach of a fowling-piece, +where we could perceive the poor thing, apparently probing the wound with +its fingers. Coaitas are more frequently kept in a tame state than any +other kind of Monkey. The Indians are very fond of them as pets, and the +women often suckle them when young at their breasts.[12] They become +attached to their masters, and will sometimes follow them on the ground to +considerable distances.... The disposition of the Coaita is mild in the +extreme; it has none of the painful, restless vivacity of its kindred, the +_Cebi_, and no trace of the surly, untameable temper of its still nearer +relatives, the _Mycetes_, or Howling-Monkeys. It is, however, an arrant +thief, and shows considerable cunning in pilfering small articles of +clothing, which it conceals in its sleeping place." + +PLATE XXI. + +[Illustration: THE VARIEGATED SPIDER-MONKEY.] + + +{231}The Coaitas are like the rest of the _Cebidæ_, essentially +quadrupedal, but they occasionally assume the erect posture. They are +purely arboreal in habit, living in small companies in the very high trees +of the forest. + +Their geographical distribution is very wide. They extend over the whole +area of the _Cebidæ_, _i.e._, over two of the sub-regions, the Brazilian +and Mexican, of the Neotropical Region. + + +I. THE VARIEGATED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES VARIEGATUS. + + _Ateles marginatus_ (nec Geoffr.), Humb. Obs. Zool., pp. 340, 354 (1811). + + _Ateles variegatus_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth., i., p. 313 (1840); id. + Abhandl. Akad. Münch., v., p. 420 (1847); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1870, p. + 668; 1871, pp. 39, 225; Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. (4), vi. (1870), p. 472. + + _Sapajou geoffroyi_ (nec Kuhl), Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., + 1862, p. 511 [= [male]]. + + _Ateles bartletti_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1867, p. 992, pl. xlvii. + + _Ateles melanochir_, var. Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 43 (1870, in + part). + + _Ateles chuva_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 175 (1876). + + (_Plate XXI._) + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Fur of body abundant, long, and soft; hair of back and +top of head long and directed forwards, and projecting over the forehead; +beneath and behind the cheeks a band of longish hairs, directed forwards. +Top of head, back, front aspect of the entire arms, and of the legs to the +knees, hands, feet, and upper side of tail glossy blue-black; a band +{232}across the forehead rufous-yellow; the hairs directed upwardly, +bordered by a narrower streak of deep black over the eyes; the under side +of the fore-limbs, the posterior aspect of the thighs, and the entire leg, +the buttocks, and the whole of the under side of the tail as far as the +nude portion (which is black), rich orange-yellow; under surface of body +paler. Face naked, black, and bordered by a broad white patch of whiskers, +reaching from the temple nearly to the angle of the mouth. The black part +of the limbs and legs near to the yellow colour, varied with more or fewer +yellow hairs. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG MALE.--Similar to the adult male, but less in size, and +the coloration paler than in the adult male. Elbows and feet black; under +side of the body greyish-yellow. The white stripe on the sides of the face +is wanting in the young female. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Chyavetas, Nauta, and Elvira in the Peruvian Amazons; Upper +Rio Negro, Serra de Cocoi; Upper Cauca river, a southern confluent of the +Orinoco; Venezuela. "This species is found on both sides of the Peruvian +Amazon (or Marañon), on both shores of the Huallaga, and in the interior +forest near the town of Chamicuros. I was told by some of the oldest +Indians that these animals are common in the dense forest on the hills near +the latter town, their range extending between the Huallaga river and +Ucayali river to the head-waters of the Huallaga, between the towns of +Lamas and Sarayaçu.... Then again on the Rio Tigri ... and over the +head-waters of the Rio Napo, Rio Japurâ and Rio Negro, where Natterer first +discovered it." (_Bartlett._) + +HABITS.--This Monkey, the "Chuva de Baracamorros" of {233}Humboldt, which +is the most beautifully coloured of its group, is said to go about in small +parties, passing through the forest at a rapid rate, feeding on different +kinds of berries. + + +II. GEOFFROY'S SPIDER-MONKEY, ATELES GEOFFROYI. + + _Ateles geoffroyi_, Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 26 (1820); Schl., Mus. Pays + Bas, vii., p. 181 (1876); Alston, in Godman and Salvin, Biol. Centr. + Amer. Mamm., p. 8 (1879). + + _Ateles melanochir_, Desmar., Mamm., p. 76 (1820); Gray, Cat. Monkeys + Brit. Mus., p. 43 (1870); Sclater, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 226, pl. xv., 1875, + p. 419, pls. xlviii. and xlix. + + _Eriodes frontatus_, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist., x., p. 256 (1842); id. Voy. + H.M.S. "Sulphur," Zool., p. 9, pl. i.; Scl., P. Z. S., 1882, p. 186; Von + Frantzius, Arch. f. Naturg., xxxv., 1869, pp. 257, 258. + + _Sapajou geoffroyi_, Slack, Pr. Ac. Sc. Philad., 1862, p. 511 (= female). + + _Ateles variegatus_ (nec Wagn.), Von Frantzius, Arch. f. Naturg., xxxv., + 1869, p. 257. + + _Ateles hybridus_, _A. ornatus_ et _A. albifrons_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys + Brit. Mus., pp. 43 and 44 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--Body light greyish-drab all over; hands, elbows, feet, knees, +and the upper side of the extremity of the tail, black; face black, with +the exception of the lips and a ring round the eyes, broad above and narrow +below, flesh-coloured. Hair of forehead reflexed, meeting that of the crown +above the eyes, forming a triangular patch of erect black hairs. Top of the +head and upper part of the tail buff. Length of body, 17 inches; of tail, +21 inches. Thumb entirely wanting. + +This species is remarkably variable. The description given above belongs to +the form described as _A. melanochir_ by {234}Desmarest from the same +specimen in Paris, which Kuhl described under the name of _A. geoffroyi_. +Every gradation is to be met with between this and the form described by +Dr. Gray as _A. ornatus_, in which the face is entirely black, the whiskers +pale reddish-yellow, the patch of erect black hair on the forehead +yellowish at its base; the top of the head, sides, lower back, rump, upper +part of the arms, outer, inner and posterior portion of the thighs and +legs, and under side of the base of the tail, brownish-red; nape, shoulders +and remainder of the tail reddish-brown, washed with black; lower part of +arms, fore-arms, hands, feet, and anterior aspect of thighs and legs, +black. + +In some specimens the grey, or reddish-black colour, merges on the under +surface, into yellowish-cream, or rufous, and the black wash is more or +less distributed. + +Mr. Alston, in speaking of this species, remarks that the best character by +which the darker (_A. ornatus_) forms may be distinguished from our next +species (_A. rufiventris_) is the want of a distinct line of demarcation +between the colours of the upper and lower parts, the tint of the flanks, +whatever it may be, passing almost insensibly into that of the breast and +belly in all the varieties. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The variation in colour described above is not due to local +causes, every variety occurring between the lightest and darkest, in all +the regions which this species is known to inhabit. The localities from +which it has been recorded are on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of +Nicaragua; Costa Rica, where it occurs in large numbers from the coast +forests up to nearly 7,000 feet on the mountains; Panama, and the U.S. of +Colombia. + +HABITS.--Geoffroy's Spider-Monkey is gregarious and arboreal, +{235}frequenting the highest trees of the forest, both in the low country +and at high elevations, and living on fruits and insects, but chiefly on +the former. Mr. Belt relates that on the banks of the Antigua he saw a +valuable tree, the "Nispera" (_Achras sapota_), growing on the dryer +ridges. "It bears a round fruit about the size of an apple, hard and heavy +when green, and at this time it is much frequented by the large +yellowish-brown Spider-Monkey (_Ateles_), which roams over the tops of the +trees in bands of from ten to twenty. Sometimes they lay quite quiet until +I was passing underneath, when, shaking a branch of the Nispera tree, they +would send down a shower of the hard round fruit; but fortunately I was +never struck by them. As soon as I looked up they would commence yelping +and barking and putting on the most threatening gestures, breaking off +pieces of branches and letting them fall, and shaking off more fruit, but +never throwing anything, simply letting it fall.[13] Often when on lower +trees, they would hang from the branches, two or three together, holding on +to each other and to the branch with their fore-feet and long tail, whilst +their hind-feet hung down, all the time making threatening gestures and +cries. Sometimes a female would be seen carrying a young one on its back, +to which it clung with legs and tail, the mother making its way along the +branches, and leaping from tree to tree, apparently but little encumbered +by its baby. A large black and white Eagle is said to prey upon them, but I +never saw one, although I was constantly falling in with troops of the +Monkeys. Don Francisco Velasquez, one of our officers, told me that one day +he heard a Monkey crying out in the forest for more than two hours, and at +last, going to see what was {236}the matter, he saw a Monkey on a branch +and an Eagle beside it trying to frighten it to turn its back, when it +would have seized it. The Monkey, however, kept its face to its foe.... +Velasquez fired at the Eagle, and frightened it away. I think it likely, +from what I have seen of the habits of this Monkey, that they defend +themselves from the Eagle's attack by keeping two or three together, thus +assisting each other, and that it is only when the bird finds one separated +from its companions that it dares to attack it." + +Mr. Osbert Salvin met with several of these Monkeys near the town of San +Juan del Sur, in Nicaragua. He was walking up the course of a half-dry +stream when he came upon a troop of Monkeys which had come to a pool to +drink, and were climbing about the low trees on the bank of the +watercourse. Most of the troop consisted of _Cebus hypoleucus_, but with +them were several _Ateles_ of the present species, of one of which Mr. +Salvin wrote a description as it sat jabbering at him and throwing down +sticks from a branch above his head. Mr. Salvin also told Mr. Alston that +it was not unusual to see Monkeys kept in confinement in the court-yards of +the Spanish houses in Guatemala. Amongst them were occasionally to be seen +specimens of Geoffroy's Spider-Monkey; but he always found that they had +been brought from Nicaragua or Costa Rica, the species not extending into +Guatemala. + + +III. THE RED-BELLIED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES RUFIVENTRIS. + + _Ateles vellerosus_ (_?_) (nec Gray), Scl., P. Z. S., 1871, p. 478. + + _Ateles rufiventris_, Scl., P. Z. S., 1872, p. 688, pl. lvii.; Schlegel, + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 182 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur rough, upstanding less on the tail than on {237}the body, +that on the forehead erect and directed backwards, that on the top of the +head long, projecting forward. Face and muzzle, except a black line from +the side of the nose and inner corners of the eyes to the cheeks, +flesh-coloured. General colour uniform black, but the whole under surface +deep bright rufous, this colour extending but slightly on to the inner +surface of the limbs. Thumbs entirely wanting. + +Differs from _A. geoffroyi_ by its flesh-coloured face and by the two +colours of the upper and under sides being clearly defined. Length of body, +12 inches; of tail, 15½ inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species was first discovered on the Atrato river, in +Northern Colombia, and has since been found in Panama. + +HABITS.--The Red-bellied Spider-Monkey is very rare, only one or two +specimens having yet been obtained. Nothing is, therefore, known of its +habits. + + +IV. THE RED-FACED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES PANISCUS. + + _Simia paniscus_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 27 (1766). + + _Ateles pentadactylus_, Geoff., Ann. Mus., vii., p. 269 (1806); Schl., + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 172 (1876, in part). + + _Ateles paniscus_, Geoff., Ann. Mus., vii., p. 270 (1806); Gray, Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 42 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 169 + (1876, part.). + + _Le coaita_, F. Cuv. et Geoffr., Nat. Hist. Mamm., liv., v. (Avril, + 1819). + + _Sapajou paniscus_, Slack, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 509 (1862). + +CHARACTERS.--Very similar to _A. ater_ in its coarse and entirely black +fur, but differing in the naked and flesh-coloured {238}face. Hairs of +forehead long and projecting anteriorly; tail one-quarter longer than the +body; hands generally entirely lacking the thumbs, though sometimes a +rudimentary thumb is present, and that occasionally on one hand only. Naked +portion of tail covered with sensory papillæ, rendering it more sensitive, +so it is said, than the hand. Length of body, 24 inches; tail, 30 inches. +The skull in some specimens of the thumbed variety is compressed laterally, +and shows a sagittal crest along the top. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species is spread over Guiana, the forests of the +Ucayali and Huallaga rivers in eastern Peru, and the northern part of +Brazil, where it is known as the "Coaita," taking the place of the more +northern _Ateles ater_. "It occurs," says Mr. Bates, "throughout the +lowlands of the Lower and Upper Amazons, but does not range to the south +beyond the limits of the river plains." In the higher part of the Rio Negro +it comes down to the north bank, but does not cross to the south bank of +the river. + +HABITS.--This species is the best known of all the Spider-Monkeys. It is +captured in large numbers, when young, by the natives of Guiana, and as +they bear captivity well, many of them have been brought to Europe. They +live in larger troops than do some of the other members of its genus; +indeed, these companies are said to number as many as a hundred. They are +very easily tamed, and become very affectionate. They live chiefly on +fruits, principally on a species of palm-nut. Dampier, however, says, +apparently of this species of _Ateles_: "The Monkeys come down by the +Sea-side [at low water] and catch them [the Periwinckles and Muscles]; +digging them out of their Shells with their Claws." Large numbers of this +species {239}are also annually killed for food, their flesh being held in +high esteem by the natives. + + +V. THE WHITE-WHISKERED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES MARGINATUS. + + _Ateles marginatus_ (nec Humb.), Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xiii., p. 92, pl. 10 + (1809); Kuhl, Beitr. Zool., p. 24 (1820); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., + p. 43 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 174 (1876). + + _Coaita à front blanc, femelle_, Fr. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mamm., livr. lxii. + (Avril, 1830). + + _Ateles frontalis_, Bennett, P. Z. S., 1831, p. 38. + +CHARACTERS.--Similar in size and coloration to _A. paniscus_. Body lean; +hair moderately long and coarse. Face naked, black, except the skin round +the eyes, which is flesh-coloured; general colour black; under surface of +body and inner sides of limbs, ashy-grey. It differs from _A. paniscus_ by +having the forehead, crown of head, a spot on each side of the nose, and +the whiskers, white. + +A specimen in the British Museum has four pre-molars in each upper jaw, +instead of the normal three of the _Cebidæ_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species was discovered by Humboldt on the banks of the +Santiago river. Mr. Bates says "it is never met with in the alluvial plains +of the Amazons," nor, he believes, on the northern side of the great +river-valley, except towards its head-waters near the Andes. + +HABITS.--According to Von Humboldt, this Spider-Monkey--known as the +"White-Whiskered Coaita"--is very fierce and libidinous. Mr. Bates +encountered this large and handsome species on the Cupari river, a +tributary of the Tapajos, one {240}of the large southern affluents of the +Amazon. Here he could get scarcely anything but fish to eat, and, as this +diet did not agree with him, he was obliged to have recourse to the Coaita +flesh. "I thought," he says, "the meat the best flavoured I have ever +tasted. It resembled beef, but had a richer and sweeter taste.... We +smoke-dried the joints instead of salting them; placing them for several +hours on a framework of sticks arranged over a fire. Nothing but the +hardest necessity could have driven me so near to cannibalism as this, but +we had the greatest difficulty in obtaining here a sufficient supply of +animal food." Von Humboldt has also referred to the cooking of these +Monkeys by the natives of the Upper Orinoko. "The manner of roasting these +anthropomorphous animals," he writes, "contributes singularly to render +their appearance disagreeable in the eyes of civilised Man. A little +grating or lattice of very hard wood is formed, and raised one foot from +the ground. The Monkey is skinned and bent into a sitting posture; the head +generally resting on the arms, which are meagre and long; but sometimes +these are crossed behind the back. When it is tied on the grating a very +clear fire is kindled below.... On seeing the natives devour an arm or leg +of a roasted Monkey, it is difficult not to believe that this habit of +eating animals which so much resemble Man in their physical organisation, +has in a certain degree contributed to diminish the horror of anthropophagy +among savages. Roasted Monkeys, particularly those that have a very round +head, display a hideous resemblance to a child; the Europeans, therefore, +who are obliged to feed on Quadrumanes, prefer separating the head and the +hands, and serve up only the rest of the animal at their tables. The flesh +of Monkeys is so lean and dry that Mr. Bonpland has {241}preserved in his +collections at Paris an arm and hand, which had been boiled over the fire +at Esmeraldas; and no smell arises from them after a great number of +years." + + +VI. THE BLACK-FACED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES ATER. + + _Ateles ater_ (Le Caijou), F. Cuvier, Mamm., i., pl. xxxix. (1823); + Sclater, P. Z. S., 1872, p. 5; Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 42 + (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 170 (1876). + + _Sapajou ater_, Slack, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1862, p. 510. + +CHARACTERS.--Entirely black; fur silky, and longer on the head and tail +than on the body; fur on top of head directed from behind forwards, falling +over the forehead, meeting the backwardly directed hairs of the forehead +and forming a tuft. Face black, the upper part naked; chin with stiff black +hairs mixed with a few white ones. Ears oval and human-like in form, the +upper part movable at will. Thumbs entirely wanting. Length of body, 19 +inches; tail, 26 inches. + +Distinguished from _A. paniscus_, which it closely resembles, by the black +colour of its face, and the direction of the hairs on the forehead. + +YOUNG.--Lighter in colour than the adults; sometimes brown on the back and +the outer side of the limbs. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Black-Faced Spider-Monkey ranges from Panama, through +the United States of Colombia to Eastern Peru. + +HABITS.--Entirely arboreal, living in large troops, and feeding on fruits. + + +{242}VII. THE GRIZZLED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES GRISESCENS + + _Ateles grisescens_, Scl. MSS.; Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 732; id. Cat. + Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 42 (1870); Scl., P. Z. S., 1871, p. 223; Schl., + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 168 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Hair of forehead elongate. Fur in general moderately long, +black, with greyish-white hairs intermingled, giving it a grizzled +appearance; under side of tail grey. Similar to _A. ater_ and _A. +paniscus_, but distinguished by the intermixture of grey hairs, and by the +colour of the under side of the tail. Thumbs absent. + +YOUNG MALE.--Rather lighter in colour, especially on the under side of +body; tail black above, grey beneath. Length of body, 14 inches; tail, 16 +inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The habitat of this species is not certainly known. Dr. +Sclater considers it probable that it will turn up in some part of the +Central American or the Colombian coast. + + +VIII. THE BROWN-HEADED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES FUSCICEPS. + + _Ateles fusciceps_, Fraser MSS.; Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 733; Sclater, + P. Z. S., 1872, p. 663, pl. lv.; Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 42 + (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 173 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Fur thick. Hairs long, shining, crisp, deep black above, the +hairs of the back with brownish tips; the under side of the body and inside +of the limbs black; crown of head deep coffee-brown. Length of body about +20 inches; of the tail, 26 inches, according to the dimensions taken from +the skin of a young animal by Dr. Sclater. Thumbs entirely wanting. + +{243}DISTRIBUTION.--In 1860, when Mr. L. Fraser returned from Ecuador, he +spoke of a large Monkey he had seen, but had not obtained, in the valleys +of Western Ecuador. It remained unknown until it was shot, and brought to +England by Mr. Buckley some ten years later. It was the only Monkey, he +says, except a _Mycetes_, which he saw in Trans-Andean Ecuador. + +HABITS.--These, doubtless, do not differ from those of other +Spider-Monkeys. + + +IX. THE HOODED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES CUCULLATUS. + + _Ateles cucullatus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 733; id. Cat. Monkeys Brit. + Mus., p. 42 (1870); Murie, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 739; Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, + vii., p. 169 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Hairs of body long, but thin on the head, body, limbs and +tail; hair of crown very long and projecting over the face and the sides of +head, forming what has been called a "hood." Face nude, flesh-coloured; +cheeks and lower jaw nearly nude also, but the skin of a blackish hue. Hair +on back black, intermingled with numerous others which are yellowish-grey +in colour; crown and back of head, hands, and feet black--the hairs black +throughout. Nude part of tail flesh-coloured. The hands have a rudiment of +a thumb in the shape of a small tubercle. Length of body, 14½ inches; of +tail, 27½ inches. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Hooded Spider-Monkey is very rare, and very different +from any other member of its group in regard to the hair of its head. Its +native country is still a matter of uncertainty. Dr. Sclater, however, +remarks in the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society" for 1881: "I have +some reason to suppose {244}it may be from the northern coast of Colombia, +as I am told that a black Spider-Monkey, with long hair over its head, is +occasionally brought for sale into Cartagena." + + +X. THE LONG-HAIRED SPIDER-MONKEY. ATELES VELLEROSUS. + + _Ateles belzebuth_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., vii., p. 27, pl. xvi. (1806); + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 44 (1870); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., + p. 178 (1876). + + _Le marimonda_, Humb. Obs. Zool., p. 325 (1811). + + _Ateles frontatus_ (nec Gray), Sclater, Nat. Hist. Rev., 1861, p. 509. + + _Ateles vellerosus_, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 733; Reinh., P. Z. S., + 1872, p. 797; Sclater, P. Z. S., 1873, pp. 5, 798, pl. ii.; Alston, in + Godman and Salvin, Biol. Centr. Amer. Mamm., p. 10 (1879). + + _Ateles fuliginosus_ (nec Kuhl), Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 179 + (1876). + + _Ateles pan_, Schl., t. c. p. 180 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Closely allied to _Ateles geoffroyi_. Hair abundant, long, +soft, and flaccid. Face flesh-coloured, except for a black bar from the +corner of the eye to the cheek; forehead black, its hair short, reflexed, +and uniting, so as to form an erect, crest-like ridge, with the fur on the +top of the head, which is directed forward. General colour above black to +reddish-brown; the head, back, outer side of the entire fore-limb and of +the lower part of the hind-limb, hands, and feet, and upper surface of tail +deep black; sides of body, loins, and thighs yellowish-brown or dull black +washed with rufous; whiskers, throat, whole of under surface of body, +inside of fore- and hind-limbs, and under surface of tail (this sometimes +black) yellowish-cream colour, but very variable, sharply defined from +{245}the dark colour of the upper parts. Thumb entirely wanting. Eyes dark +yellowish-grey. May be distinguished from the dark form of Geoffroy's +Spider-Monkey by the sharp definition of the colours of the upper and under +sides of the body. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species, also spoken of as the Mexican Spider-Monkey, +is known to occur right across Guatemala; it is by no means uncommon, Mr. +Salvin says, in the forest country on the northern part of Vera Paz, and he +also saw a troop at the summit of the ridge of mountains which connects the +Volcan de Fuego with the main Cordillera, at about 8,000 feet above the +sea. + +The late Prof. Liebmann, the Danish botanist, obtained a specimen, +according to Prof. Reinhardt, "in the neighbourhood of the small place +Mirador, situated not far from the volcano of Orizaba, in the State of Vera +Cruz.... He met with it also in the eastern parts of the State of +Oaxaca.... But at the same time he expressly states that he never met with +this _Ateles_, nor, indeed, with any other Monkey, on the Pacific slope of +the Great Cordillera in Oaxaca, and that, as far as he could learn, Monkeys +are to be found on the western coast only south of Tehuantepec." This +species is the only Spider-Monkey certainly known to range as far north as +Mexico. According to M. Sallé, the most northern locality for Monkeys with +which he was acquainted, was in the State of San-Louis Potosi, about 23° N. +latitude, on the upper part of the basin of the Tampico river. (_Alston._) + +HABITS.--The Mexican Spider-Monkey is, like the foregoing members of the +genus, arboreal, consorting together in small troops, and feeding on +fruits. Prof. Liebmann observed it in small troops in the deep barrancas, +up to an elevation of 2,000 {246}feet above the sea, on the Orizaba +volcano, and in the forests of Oaxaca, to 4,000 feet. Mr. Salvin, on the +volcano of Atitlan, in Guatemala, at a height of between 5,000 and 6,000 +feet, met several troops of this species on the tops of the higher trees of +the forest. These parties of Monkeys were usually about twenty in number +and of all ages. On approaching them they did not evince any alarm, but +kept uttering a constant querulous sort of bark, and moved from time to +time so as to get a better view of the intruder. A few days afterwards, +during an excursion to the same volcano, when the summit, 11,800 feet above +the sea, was reached, numerous troops of _Ateles_ were seen in the forest, +from an elevation of 7,000 feet to as low as 2,500 feet on the outskirts of +the coffee plantations of San Agustin. + +Now that we have passed in review the whole of the Anthropoid species +inhabiting the New World, a short account of the regions to which they are +confined will be of some interest. The most northern limit of Monkeys is, +as mentioned above, the State of San-Louis Potosi, about the latitude of +23° North. Their most southern limit attains to nearly 25° of South +latitude. They are now confined to the Mexican and Brazilian sub-regions of +what has been defined as the Neotropical Region, by Dr. A. R. Wallace, in +his great work, "The Geographical Distribution of Animals." The Mexican +sub-region belongs to the Neotropical Region, one of those six great areas +into which the globe has been divided off by Dr. Sclater on the basis of +the geographical distribution of the animals that now inhabit it--the final +product of the slowly-changing features of the earth's surface, and of the +form, structure, and habits of its animal and vegetable life. + +The Mexican sub-region forms the northern part of the {247}Region, and, to +condense Mr. Wallace's account of it, it is of comparatively small extent; +but the whole of its area is mountainous, being, in fact, a continuation of +the great range of the Rocky Mountains. It varies in elevation above the +sea from 6,000 to 18,000 feet. "With the exception of the elevated plateaus +of Mexico and Guatemala, and the extremity of the peninsula of Yucatan, the +whole of Central America is clothed with forests; and as its surface is +much broken up into hill and valley, and the volcanic soil of a large +portion of it is very fertile, it is altogether well adapted to support a +varied fauna, as it does a most luxuriant vegetation." In this region only +species of Spider-Monkeys (_Ateles_), of Howlers (_Alouatta_), of Capuchins +(_Cebus_), of Night-Monkeys (_Nyctipithecus_), and of Squirrel-Monkeys +(_Chrysothrix_) are found. The Spider-Monkeys and the Howlers alone extend +so far North as Mexico, and the Night-Monkeys reach to Nicaragua, while the +Squirrel-Monkeys and Capuchins have penetrated no further than to Costa +Rica. + +The Brazilian Sub-region includes all the open plains and pasture lands, +surrounded by, or intimately associated with, the forests. Its central mass +consists of the great forest plain of the Amazons, from the north-east +coast of Brazil to high up in the Andes on the west, a stretch of more than +2,000 miles; and from the mouth of the Orinoko to near La Paz in the +Bolivian Andes, a distance of 1,900 miles, of continuous forest in both +directions. Within this area are some open "campos" or patches of pasture +lands, along several of the tributaries of the Amazon, and Llanos--open +flat plains generally flooded in the wet season--on the northern bank of +the Orinoko. Unbroken forest also covers the country from Panama southwards +by the Magdalena Valley along the western aspect of the {248}Andes to +Guayaquil. There is a very arid tract on the northeast coast of Brazil; but +south of Cape San Roque the coast forests extend to 30° south latitude, +"clothing all the valleys and hill-sides as far inland as the higher +mountain ranges, and even penetrating up the great valleys far into the +interior. To the south-west the forest country reappears in Paraguay, and +extends in patches and partly wooded country till it almost reaches the +southern extension of the Amazonian forests. The interior of Brazil is thus +in the position of a great island plateau, rising out of, and surrounded +by, a lowland region of ever-verdant forests." Of its Anthropoid life the +Woolly Monkeys (_Lagothrix_), the Sakis (_Pithecia_), and the Uakaris +(_Brachyurus_) are confined to its Amazonian forests. The Woolly +Spider-Monkeys (_Brachyteles_) keep to the wooded coast-regions of +South-east Brazil, while the Titis (_Callithrix_) do not range out of the +tropics of South America. The Howlers (_Alouatta_), the Spider-Monkeys +(_Ateles_), and the Capuchins (_Cebus_) roam nearly over the whole +region--the first and last ranging from Costa Rica to Paraguay as well. The +Spider-Monkeys indeed extend over to the west side of the Equatorial Andes, +and in Guatemala across to the Pacific coast. No species of Monkey, +however, is known to inhabit the western side of the Andes, to the south of +the Gulf of Guayaquil. + + +THE BABOONS, GUEREZAS AND LANGURS. FAMILY CERCOPITHECIDÆ. + +With the following account of the numerous species of the genera of this +family, we come to consider the first section of the Old World, or +Catarrhine[14] Monkeys. These are {249}distinguished from their New World +cousins, described in the previous pages, by many important and obvious +characters. The partition dividing the nostrils is narrow, instead of +broad, and the openings of the nostrils themselves are directed downwards +and outwards. Certain genera possess also sacs formed by distensible folds +of the skin in the cheeks. These "cheek-pouches" serve as a storing-place +by the side of the jaws, for food which they cannot masticate at the +moment. When this store is disposed of, the folds of skin come together +again and give no indication of the presence of the pouch, which, moreover, +when full does not interfere with the mastication of other food in the +mouth, or with the utterance of the animal's usual cries. + +The hind-limbs are never shorter than the fore-; they may be equal in +length, but they are generally somewhat longer, the animal being more or +less quadrupedal, or very partially erect in gait. Their thumb is not +invariably present, but when it is, it is always opposable to its fellow +digits. The great-toe is never rudimentary, and is never, as it is in Man, +the longest, but is the shortest digit of the foot, and it is capable of +free motion to and from the others. All of the digits possess nails. The +length of the foot among this group approximates more to the proportions of +the foot in Man. The hairs on the arms and fore-arms are directed downwards +from the shoulder to the wrist. + +The tail in this family varies very much; it may be long or short, or even +externally absent, but it is never prehensile. All the species, however, +possess "callosities," or hard fleshy pads--often of large size--on the +buttocks or seat, which, like the naked skin of the face, are usually +brilliantly coloured and often of large size. The perineal region and +organs are at certain periods, especially in the females, subject to great +turgescence and brilliant coloration. + +{250}Besides these external characters, we find, on examining their bony +structure, much variation in the skull. Some have a rounded forehead, the +ascending portion of the lower jaw being high, broad, and flat, with a +large facial angle; in others, we have great production of the upper jaw +(the horizontal part of the lower jaw being greater than the ascending +portion), and a low facial angle. The cerebral portion of the skull is long +and flattened, and the palate long and narrow. The dental formula is I2/2, +C1/1, P2/2, M3/3 = 32, that of the milk-teeth I2/2, C1/1, M (the +forerunners of the permanent _pre-molars_) 2/2 = 20, exactly the same as in +a Man. The outer lower incisors are equal to, or sometimes smaller than, +the inner pair. The permanent canines--which are long and sharp--come in +before, or with the posterior molars of both jaws. Between them and the +incisors above, and between the canine and the anterior pre-molar below, +occurs a gap (or diastema). The anterior upper pre-molar has its outer cusp +modified and sharpened; the anterior lower pre-molar has the anterior +margin of its crown so shaped as to work "as a scissors'-blade against the +posterior edge of the upper canines." (_Henley._) The crowns of the molar +teeth are long from before backwards, and their fore and hind cusps are +united by transverse ridges, a third being present in the same genera, on +the posterior lower five-cusped molar. + +The nasal bones are often ossified together to form one bone. The surface +of the skull is in general oval and smooth, but in some of the Baboons +there appear strong ridges over the eyes (hiding the forehead) and along +the top of the head, being stronger, when present, in the male than in the +female. The external orifice to the ear has a considerable bony tube, or +meatus, a distinguishing character which is absent in the New {251}World +Monkeys; their tympanic (or ear) cavity being close to the outer wall of +the skull. The line of junction (or suture) between the upper jaw-bones, +the pre-maxillary and the maxillary, remains unclosed until long after the +permanent teeth have come in. Sometimes it remains unclosed throughout +life. The foramen for the passage of the spinal-cord, and the condyles for +the articulation of the skull with the neck, lie far back. + +In the spinal column there are nineteen dorsal and lumbar vertebræ +together. The number of caudal vertebræ varies greatly; in some there are +as many as thirty-one, in others only three. The posterior ends of the +ischiatic bones of the pelvis are rough, flattened, and broad, for the +attachment of the fleshy callosities mentioned above. + +The bones of the thigh and leg (_femur_ and _tibia_) together, are longer +than those of the arm and fore-arm (_humerus_ and _radius_) together. The +bones of the thumb are modified more for support and progression than for +the actions of a true hand; by these modifications the movements of +rotation (pronation and supination) are much restricted. + +The ankle (_tarsus_) does not exceed one third of the length of the foot. + +The stomach is simple, or but very slightly sacculated, in those genera +which possess cheek-pouches; but is tripartite--the middle compartment +being sacculated--in those that have not store-pockets in their mouths, "a +groove with raised edges leading from the gullet-entrance to this middle +compartment." The intestine has a cæcum, or blind diverticulum. "When +laryngeal air-sacs are developed, they are formed by a single sac, with a +median aperture--immediately beneath the epiglottis. This median air-sac is +very large, extending down {252}over the front of the neck, and sending [in +some genera] processes into the _axillæ_" or arm-pits. (_Huxley._) + +The main brain (or cerebrum) covers the cerebellum in all the members of +the _Cercopithecidæ_; and in them the principal convolutions and fissures +found in the human brain are more or less developed. + +The family _Cercopithecidæ_ includes all the Old World Monkeys except the +Anthropoid or true Apes, and Man, these latter constituting the two +remaining families of the _Anthropoidea_, namely _Simiidæ_ and _Hominidæ_. +The _Cercopithecidæ_ have been again divided into two Sub-families, the +_Cercopithecinæ_ and the _Semnopithecinæ_. The first contains the Baboons +(_Cynocephalus_), the Gelada Baboons (_Theropithecus_), the Mangabeys +(_Cercocebus_) and the Guenons (_Cercopithecus_), all of which inhabit the +African continent; and likewise the Black Apes (_Cynopithecus_) from +Celebes, and the Macaques (_Macacus_), which are almost exclusively +confined to the Asiatic continent. In the second Sub-family are included +the Nosed-Monkeys (_Nasalis_) of Borneo; the Langurs (_Semnopithecus_) of +India, Malaizia, and the Sunda Islands; and the Guerezas (_Colobus_) of +Africa. + + +THE BABOONS, MANGABEYS, AND MACAQUES. SUB-FAMILY CERCOPITHECINÆ. + +This Sub-family is characterised by the presence, in all its members, of +cheek-pouches, and a simple stomach. The tail is variable in length, being +long or externally invisible. The callosities on the ischiatic bones are +large; in many species they become very turgescent at certain seasons, the +enlargement extending sometimes to the tail. The hues of the skin on and +round the face also become more vivid periodically. {253}Many of the +species of this Sub-family are arboreal; some, however, are found only in +barren rocky regions; others in low jungle in the neighbourhood of +villages, water-tanks, and cultivated patches. Fruits and insects form +their principal diet. + + +THE BABOONS. GENUS PAPIO. + + _Papio_, Erxleb., Syst. Regne Anim., p. 15 (1777). + + _Cynocephalus_, Lacép., Mem. de l'Inst. iii., p. 490 (1801). Type, _P. + sphinx_ (Geoffr.). + +The members of this genus may easily be recognised by their very Dog-like +face, their muzzle being greatly elongated and truncated at the end, with +the nostrils set in the truncated termination. Their eyes are directed +downwards along the visage. In form and massiveness of body and in length +of tail they vary very much. Their fore- and hind-limbs are nearly equal in +length, and consequently they progress on all fours, with the palms of the +hands and the soles of the feet flat to the ground. Their "fore-paws" are, +however, very efficient _hands_, which some species use very dexterously in +turning over stones in their search for food. Their feet are long. Their +hair is grizzled or ringed with various colours. + +The facial region of the skull is more developed in this genus relatively +to the flattened brain-case, than in other Monkeys. In several of the +species longitudinal osseous ridges are developed on the bones of the upper +jaws, especially in the adult males, adding to the hideousness of the +countenance of these animals. The neck is elongated. The _radius_ is longer +than the _humerus_ (or arm-bone), and the elbow projection of the _ulna_ +(of the fore-arm), named the _olecranon_ process, is prolonged upwards +beyond what occurs in Man. The thumb, though relatively shorter than in +Man, is much {254}longer proportionately than in other Monkeys, reaching to +the middle of the first joint of the forefinger. + +Both halves of the liver are much sub-divided. + +Gestation lasts seven months, and the young are suckled for six months. + +The Baboons are the lowest of the Catarrhine or Old World Monkeys. Most of +them are large, ferocious, dangerous, and gregarious animals, and when +disturbed or alarmed they give utterance to screams, barks, and guttural +murmurs. + +Both Dr. Emil Holub and Sir Richard Burton have spoken of the ferocity of +the Baboons. "The South African farmers," says the first-named naturalist, +"complain of these animals as a great and perpetual nuisance." They were +always on the look-out, and no sooner was a field or a garden left +unguarded than they would be down at once, breaking through the hedges and +devouring the crops. They were likewise very destructive amongst the Sheep. +If a shepherd happened to leave his post for ever so short a time, or even +to fall asleep, the Baboons, who had been watching their chance from the +heights, would be down upon the flock in the valley, and, seizing the Lambs +and ripping up their stomachs with their teeth, would feast upon the milk +they contained, then leaving the poor mangled victim writhing on the +ground. Then they would lose no time in repeating the terrible operation +upon another. "About the middle of the morning," says Dr. Holub, "we +started eastwards in the hope of catching the herd at their +drinking-place.... When we had advanced some distance along the hill we +found ourselves approaching the pool ... and could distinctly hear the +hoarse barking of the Baboons. Looking across to the opposite side, about +300 yards away, we caught sight of a herd of seven, only four of them +full-grown; {255}they seemed to pause and scan us carefully before they +decamped to a glen on the right. With all speed we followed them.... As one +of our party had only small shot, and the other nothing but a stick, I +insisted upon their remaining close at my side, knowing that a full-grown +Baboon, when infuriated, is as dangerous a foe as a Leopard.... Behind one +of the embankments we took our position. Only a few minutes had elapsed +when we could distinctly recognise them as a herd of Baboons. The boy said +he was quite sure that they were on their way to the water; but to our +surprise they did not make any further advance. A quarter of an hour +passed--half an hour--still no symptom of their approach. All at once, as +if they had started from the earth by magic, at the open end of the pond, +not sixty yards from our place of ambush, stood two huge males.... Being +anxious to watch the movements of the animals I refrained from firing, and +determined to see what would follow next. Both Baboons sprang towards the +water, and leaning down, drank till they were satisfied; then, having +gravely stretched themselves, they stalked away solemnly on all fours in +the direction of the herd. There was little doubt, therefore, that they had +been sent forward to reconnoitre; for as soon as they got back, the entire +herd put itself in motion, and made its way towards the pond. There were +mothers taking care of their little ones; there were the half-grown +animals, the boys and girls of the company; but there did not seem to be +more than three or four full-grown males. At first only one Baboon at a +time came to the water's edge, and having taken its draught retired to the +rest; but when about ten of them had thus ventured separately, they began +to come in small groups, leaving the others rolling and jumping on the +sand.... It was not {256}long before two males--the same, I had no doubt, +which we had noticed before--came and squatted themselves one on each side +of the little creek.... Crack went my rifle. But instead of either of them +dropping, the two Baboons started up; by a mutual instinct they both +clutched their noses, gave a ringing bark and scampered off. The whole herd +took the alarm, and joining in the shrieking clamour were soon lost to +sight." + +On another occasion Dr. Holub and his servant had a _rencontre_ with a herd +of Baboons. He writes:--"We caught sight of them in one of the glens. They +were on the further side, and being anxious to obtain a specimen of their +skulls, I fired and killed one Baboon; but unfortunately for me, the +creature fell into the river. At my second shot I wounded two more. This +induced the right wing of the herd to retreat; but the main body kept their +ground, and the left flank, moreover, assumed the aggressive, and commenced +pelting us so vigorously with stones, that, remembering that I had only one +cartridge, I considered it far more prudent to withdraw than to run the +risk of a hand-to-hand encounter." On a still further occasion the same +well-known traveller says: "I was turning to leave the ravine when some +stones came pattering down the rocks in my direction. I soon became aware +that the stones were being designedly aimed at me; and, looking up, I saw a +herd of Baboons." + +"The Nyanyi or Cynocephalus," writes Sir Richard Burton in his "Lake +Regions of Central Africa," "in the jungles of Usukuma attains the size of +a Greyhound, and, according to the natives, there are three varieties of +colour--red, black and yellow. They are the terror of the neighbouring +districts; women never dare to approach their haunts; they set the +{257}Leopard at defiance, and when in a large body, they do not, it is +said, fear the Lion." + +"Baboons often show their passion," as Mr. Darwin has related, "and +threaten their enemies in a very odd manner, namely, by opening their +mouths widely, as in the act of yawning. Mr. Bartlett has often seen two +Baboons, when first placed in the same compartment, sitting opposite to +each other, and then alternately opening their mouths; and this action +seems frequently to end in a real yawn. Mr. Bartlett believes that both +animals wish to show to each other that they are provided with a formidable +set of teeth, as is undoubtedly the case. As I could hardly credit the +reality of this yawning gesture, Mr. Bartlett insulted an old Baboon and +put him into a violent passion; and he almost immediately thus acted.... +Baboons likewise show their anger, as was observed by Brehm with those +which he kept alive in Abyssinia, in another manner, namely, by striking +the ground with one hand, 'like an angry man striking the table with his +fist.' I have seen this movement with the Baboons in the Zoological +Gardens; but sometimes the action seems rather to represent the searching +for a stone or other object in their beds of straw.... With several species +of Baboons, the ridge of the forehead projects much over the eyes, and is +studded with a few long hairs, representing our eyebrows. These animals are +always looking about them, and in order to look upwards they raise their +eyebrows. They have thus, as it would appear, acquired the habit of +frequently moving the latter. However this may be, many kinds of Monkeys, +especially the Baboons, when angered, or in any way excited, rapidly and +incessantly move their eyebrows up and down, as well as the hairy skin of +their foreheads." + +{258}Baboons are confined to the African continent and to Arabia, to the +region, indeed, termed Ethiopian, as defined by Sclater and Wallace. They +live chiefly on the ground, especially in rocky and barren hills, and less +frequently among trees, for which their equally long front and hind limbs +are not so well adapted. Mr. H. H. Johnson, C.B., now H.M. Commissioner in +Nyasa-land, found, however, on his Kilimanjaro Expedition, that Baboons +were singularly abundant in the big trees at Taveita, on the rise to that +mountain. Their food consists of fruits and Lizards, but principally of +insects, which they search for under stones, turning these over with their +hands. They are, indeed, nearly omnivorous, as the reader will have +gathered from Dr. Holub's observations. + + +I. THE MANDRILL. PAPIO MAIMON. + + _Simia maimon_, Linn., Syst. Nat., p. 35 (1766). + + _Simia mormon_, Altstr., Acta. Noem., p. 144, pl. 3 (1766). + + _Papio maimon_, Erxl., Syst. Regne Anim., p. 17 (1777); Schl., Mus. Pays + Bas, vii., p. 130 (1876). + + _Cynocephalus mormon_, Fr. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mammif., pp. 143, 146, pls. + 52, 53 (1807). + + _Papio mormon_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 104 (1812). + + _Mormon maimon_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus., p. 36 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Body massive and strong; trunk declining backwards; +head disproportionately large; muzzle much elongated and protruding, with +large longitudinal rugose swellings along each side when full grown; mouth +large, and with very animal-like lips; brows strongly projecting over the +base of the nose and the small, approximated, deep-set eyes; {259}ears +black, naked, and pointed; under-jaw heavy; tail carried erect, very short, +two inches long, and naked beneath; limbs short and powerful; the Dog-like +nose shorter than the upper lip; nostrils large. Hair rising from the ridge +on the lower edge of the brow to a crest on the top of the head, descending +into a mane on the back of the head and neck; hair of the body bristly; +chin bearded; whiskers proceeding from over the cheek-bones and from under +the outer corner of the eyes, long, and directed from the face; the very +large callosities, parts of the rump in their neighbourhood, and the inside +of the thighs naked. Hands and feet naked. + +Skull very massive, having numerous strong muscular crests; the jaws and +teeth very powerful, especially the canines, which are huge; the forehead +flat and the brain-case small, and further reduced by the great projection +backward of the orbits. The cheek-bones enormously swollen along the side +of the nose; in the neck a large air-sac. The back-bone has to some extent +the peculiar double curve characteristic of the human vertebral column but +in the conformation of certain of their vertebræ a similarity to the lower +quadrupeds, especially to the Carnivora, is seen in the Mandrill, in +accordance with their quadrupedal mode of progression. The metacarpal +bones, except that of the thumb, are all of the same length, while in the +Man-like Apes they are unequal. The thumb is much restricted in its motions +on account of the disposition of certain of the muscles of the hand. The +pectoral and pelvic muscles are strongly developed. + +Face-ridges bright blue, with purple in the intervening furrows. The bridge +of the nose (after the development of the permanent teeth) red, the tip +scarlet; lips greyish-black. {260}General colour of fur black, fringed with +yellow; centre of the crown of head, crest, nape (extending down the back), +and sides of the body black; beard citron-yellow; callosities and +surrounding naked skin violet; genital and anal regions scarlet. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG MALE.--Facial rugosities less marked outwardly, as well as +on the skull, than in the adult male, and the purple colour of the grooves +wanting. The nose is black, not scarlet. + +A hybrid between a female of this species and a male Macaque (_M. +cynomologus_) was born in the Zoological Gardens of London in October, +1878. + +DISTRIBUTION.--West Africa, from Senegambia to the Congo. + +HABITS.--These hideous and extraordinary animals live together in large +companies, and are a terror to the natives. They are less ill-dispositioned +when young, but when adult, they are very savage. They are nearly +omnivorous, but fruits and insects form their chief food. When the Mandrill +is in any way excited, the brilliantly-coloured naked parts of the skin are +said to become still more vividly coloured. + + +II. THE DRILL. PAPIO LEUCOPHÆUS. + + _Simia leucophæa_, F. Cuvier, Ann. Mus., ix., p. 477, pl. 37 (1807); id. + Hist. Nat. Mamm., livr. iv., p. 637 (1807). + + _Papio leucophæa_, Gray, List Mamm., Brit. Mus., p. 10 (1843). + + _Chæropithecus leucophæus_, Gray, Cat. Mamm., Brit. Mus., p. 35 (1870). + + _Papio leucophæus_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 131 (1876). + + (_Plate XXII._) + +PLATE XXII. + +[Illustration: THE DRILL.] + + +{261}CHARACTERS.--Somewhat similar to _C. maimon_, but body less robust, +the limbs more slender. Face-swellings with only two furrows; crest and +mane less prominent; whiskers encroaching on the face less than in the +Mandrill; beard slightly shorter; ears naked, pointed; tail very short, +erect, covered with hair all round; the hair round the head, shoulders and +sides of body, in a band below the chin, on the under surface of the body, +and the outer surface of the limbs, long and fine; muzzle long and +truncated, the nostrils placed at its extremity, and somewhat tubular; +fingers and toes naked. + +Face entirely black, without bright coloration; general colour of fur +brown, approaching that of the Mandrill, but washed with greenish on the +upper parts, and the shoulders darker. The hairs on the top of the head, on +the back, and wherever the greenish colour appears, are grey at the base, +alternating with black and yellow, thus producing the greenish coloration; +a band from the throat to behind the ear greyish; the whole of the under +surface and inner side of the limbs greyish-white; beard and whiskers +greyish-white, washed with greenish; hands and feet reddish-purple; +callosities bright scarlet. + +YOUNG MALE.--Smaller; face-swellings less marked; fur and beard more washed +with greenish; neck-band paler grey; whiskers paler; callosities not +scarlet. + +FEMALE.--Like the young male, but the head shorter, and the callosities +scarlet; the head and shoulders less haired; the grey neck-band absent; fur +in general paler; the greenish hue less marked except on the head and +limbs; the fur predominating on the lower part of the back and flanks. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Drill is confined to West Africa. + +HABITS.--Little is known of the habits of the Drill. It has {262}the +reputation of being good-tempered when young, and of being, when old, +ferocious, like the Mandrill. + + +III. THE DOGUERA BABOON. PAPIO DOGUERA. + + _Cynocephalus babouin_, Rüpp., Neue Wirb. Säugeth., i., p. 7 (1835, in + part). + + _Cynocephalus doguera_, Pucher. et Schimp., Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1856, + p. 96, 1857, p. 57. + + _Cynocephalus porcarius_, Fitz. et Heugl., Syst. Uebers., 1866, p. 6; + var. Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 64 (1870). + + _Papio doguera_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 126 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Face naked; tail moderately long, terminating in a tuft of +hairs. General colour of fur olive-brown, or yellowish-olive, the hairs +being ringed alternately with black and orange, or brownish-yellow, bars, +for their outer third; body and outer surface of hind-limbs and tail +olive-brown, the brown predominating; sides of head, under surface of body, +and inner surface of limbs pale yellow; hands and feet dark brown or +black--Length of body, 38 inches; of tail, 20 inches. + +The canine teeth are very large, and the lower jaw very heavy. +Distinguished from _C. porcarius_ by its much lighter colour. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The interior of Abyssinia. + +HABITS.--This very rare Baboon, of which only a very few specimens are +known, was brought by Schimper from Central Abyssinia. He states, according +to Dr. Slack, that these animals are gregarious, as he met with them in +troops of from one to two thousand individuals. They hunt their prey, which +consists mainly of small Ruminants, in a manner similar to that of a pack +of Hounds, following the quarry till it is exhausted by fatigue, and then +capturing and devouring it. It {263}is also stated that the Lion and the +Leopard are unknown in the region inhabited by this Baboon. A glance at the +animal under consideration would convince anyone that it is of a most +ferocious disposition. Mr. Schimper also informs us that it wages continual +war against the Gelada Baboon (_Theropithecus gelada_) which inhabits the +same locality. + + +IV. THE CHACMA BABOON. PAPIO PORCARIUS. + + _Simia porcaria_, Bodd., Naturf., xxii., p. 17, figs. 1, 2 (1787). + + _Cynocephalus porcarius_ (Le Chacma), F. Cuv., Hist. Nat. Mamm., p. 132, + pl. 47 (? 1807); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 34 (1870). + + _Papio comatus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 103 (1812). + + _Papio porcarius_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 102 (1812); Schl., Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 124 (1876). + + _Cynocephalus ursinus_, Schinz, Synops. Mamm., i., p. 64 (1844). + +CHARACTERS.--Face and ears naked; muzzle protruding, the nose extending +beyond the upper lip; the hair of the body long and shaggy, lengthening on +the shoulders and the neck, but not forming a conspicuous mane; whiskers +small and directed backwards; tail slightly exceeding half the length of +the body, elevated at its base, and then descending perpendicularly; +callosities small; hands and feet naked. Sense of smell acute. + +Skull flattened, the cranial portion smaller than the facial; ridges above +and at the sides of the close-set orbits very large; nasal bones long and +prominent; canine teeth very large and triangular. + +General colour dark brown or nearly black, washed with green, especially on +the forehead, the hairs being grey at the base, then ringed alternately +with black and green; some of {264}them, however, lighter. Head, arms, and +legs black; face, hands, feet, and ears dark blue; a white ring encircling +each eye; upper eyelids white; whiskers grey. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG MALE.--Similar to the adult male in wanting a conspicuous +mane; head rounder; nose less protuberant; cranial portion of skull less +conspicuously disproportionate to the facial portion. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species inhabits South Africa; and in the Cape Colony +it is found in large troops. + +HABITS.--The Chacma, which is the largest of all the Baboons, lives, like +the others, in troops, consisting of nearly a hundred individuals. They +inhabit rocky places, and apparently prefer country broken into steep +cliffs and rocky crags, very often in the neighbourhood of the sea. The +Chacmas are very ferocious and dangerous, and in captivity, when fully +adult, extremely jealous, but when young they are said to be playful and +well-dispositioned. They are, moreover, very intelligent. Their sense of +smell, especially for hidden water-springs in dry and arid districts, is +said to be remarkable. "An animal," says Le Vaillant, in his "Travels in +Africa," "that rendered me more effectual services; which, by its useful +presence, suspended and even dissipated certain bitter and disagreeable +reflections that occurred to my mind; which, by its simple and striking +instinct, seemed to anticipate my efforts; and which comforted me in my +languor--was an Ape, of that kind so common at the Cape, under the name of +_Cawiars_. As it was extremely familiar, and attached itself to me in a +particular manner, I made it my taster. When we found any fruit or roots +unknown to my Hottentots, we never touched them until my dear Kees [the +Chacma] had first tasted them; if it refused them, we {265}judged them to +be either disagreeable or dangerous, and threw them away." The food of the +"Chacma," an Anglicised form of the Hottentot name for this Baboon, +consists of Lizards, Scorpions, Centipedes, and all manner of insects; +birds' eggs, gum, and honey are particularly relished by it. When these are +difficult to find, it searches for the bulbous roots of certain liliaceous +plants, of which it is very fond, and which it very ingeniously disinters. +As Le Vaillant has recorded of the same individual to which we have just +referred: "He laid hold of the tuft of leaves with his teeth, and pressing +his four paws firmly against the earth, and drawing his head backwards, the +root generally followed; when this method did not succeed, he seized the +tuft as before, as close to the earth as he could, then throwing his heels +over his head, the root always yielded to the jerk he gave it." + + +V. THE YELLOW BABOON. PAPIO BABUIN. + + _Le petit papion_, Buffon, Hist. Nat. Mamm., xiv., pl. 14 (1766). + + _Papio cynocephalus_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 102 (1812); Schl., + Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 127 (1876). + + _Cynocephalus babouin_, Desm., Mamm., p. 68 (1820); (Le babouin), F. + Cuvier, Mem. du Mus., iv., p. 419, pl. 19 (1818); id. Hist. Nat. Mamm., + livr. iv. (1819); Is. Geoffr., Arch. Mus., ii., p. 579, pl. 34 (1841); + Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 35 (1870). + + _Simia cynocephala_, Fischer, Synop. Mamm., p. 33 (1829). + + _Cynocephalus anubis_, var. Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth., Suppl., v., p. + 63 (1855). + +CHARACTERS.--ADULT MALE.--Snout elongate, not surpassing the upper lip; +nostrils large, round, separated by a longitudinal furrow above; tail +shorter than the body, haired throughout its {266}length; curved upwards at +the root, and then descending straightly; no mane; hair of crown elongated, +a large tuft directed backwards on each cheek, forming large whiskers. + +General colour of fur brownish-yellow; ears nude, coloured like the face; +face livid flesh-colour, deeper round the eyes; upper side of body uniform +brownish-yellow, the hairs being ringed alternately with broader yellow and +narrower black bars; sides of body somewhat darker; throat and under side +paler yellow than above; whisker-tufts pale citron-yellow; hands and feet +like the back in colour, their naked parts like the face. + +YOUNG MALE.--Coloration of upper parts similar to that of the adult male, +but paler underneath; the snout less protuberant. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species inhabits Western Abyssinia, Nubia (Dongola), +and the Soudan (Sennaar), at elevations of from 2,000 to 5,000 feet. It +also occurs on the West Coast of Africa--having been brought from the +Coanza river by the late Captain Cameron, R.N.; in East Africa Mr. H. H. +Johnston has observed it on Mount Kilimanjaro; while from the remarks of +Sir John Kirk given below it would seem to extend also as far south as the +Zambesi (Tete). + +HABITS.--Very little is known of the habits of the Baboons in a state of +nature; but it is probable that this species does not differ materially in +its ways and manners of life from those of its near relations described in +the preceding pages. Sir John Kirk says that in some parts of Africa, such +as Tete, Batoko, and Rovuma it is considered to be a sacred animal by the +natives, and is thus unmolested. + + +VI. THE ANUBIS BABOON. PAPIO ANUBIS. + + _Cynocephalus anubis_, F. Cuvier et Geoffr., Hist. Nat. Mammif., vol. + iii., livr. 50 (1825). + + {267}_Cynocephalus anubis_, Waterh., Mamm., Zool. Soc. Lond. (2), p. 8 + (1838); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 34 (1870). + + _Cynocephalus olivaceus_, Is. Geoffr., Cat. Méth. Primates, p. 34 (1851); + id. Arch. Mus., v., p. 543, note (1848). + + _Papio anubis_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 125 (1876). + +CHARACTERS.--Snout very elongated; nape of the neck crested. Face black; +general colour uniform olive-green; the hairs being grey at the base and +ringed higher up with bars of black and yellow; arms and legs like the +back; the naked hands and feet flesh-colour. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Interior of West Africa. Lagos, in the Bight of Benin, is +the port from which this species is generally shipped to Europe. + +HABITS.--The Anubis Baboon is not a common species in captivity, as the +natives are terribly afraid of its strength and ferocity. The animals +wander about in companies, inhabiting chiefly the dry, rocky, mountainous +regions in the interior of West Africa, feeding on the peculiar vegetation +that they find there; digging up the roots of grasses, and gnawing with +their strong jaws the roots and stems of an extraordinary short, woody, +top-shaped plant, known as _Welwitschia_, which produces in its youth two +leaves, and never more in its lifetime, though attaining to a great age. +They feed also on the _Scytonema_, a moisture-storing plant, which grows +only on rocks. Though affecting dry, rocky regions from choice, the Anubis +Baboons often descend in large hordes to the cultivated country, and ravage +the gardens of the natives. + +Mr. Darwin, in describing the expression of pleasure, joy, and affection in +Monkeys, observed that, when they were pleased, the form of the lips +differed a little from that when they were angered. In the case of an +Anubis Baboon which was first {268}insulted and put into a furious rage by +his keeper, who afterwards made friends with him, Mr. Darwin relates that, +"as the reconciliation was effected, the Baboon rapidly moved up and down +his jaws and lips, and looked pleased. When we laugh heartily, a similar +movement or quiver may be observed more or less distinctly in our jaws; but +with Man the muscles of the chest are more particularly acted on; whilst +with this Baboon, and with some other Monkeys, it is the muscles of the +jaws and lips which are spasmodically affected." + + +VII. THE THOTH BABOON. PAPIO THOTH. + + _Cynocephalus thoth_, Ogilby, P. Z. S., 1843, p. 11; Frazer, Zool. + Typica, pl. 5; Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 35 (1870). + + _Cynocephalus babuin_ (nec Desm.), Rüpp., Neue Wirbelth. Säugeth., p. 7 + (1835-1840). + + _? Papio hamadryas_, Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 129, 1876, in part. + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Body massive, thick-set; face broad; cheekbones +protuberant; the nostrils placed at the extremity of the truncated snout; +nose as long as, but not exceeding, the upper lip. Hair of head and neck +longer and thicker than on the rest of the body, but not forming a +mantle-like mane as in _C. hamadryas_; the hair of the legs and outer +portion of the thighs and of the toes long; whiskers not intruding far on +the face, and directed backwards, less copious than in the Arabian Baboon; +ears naked, pointed; soles and palms also naked; callosities large, hips +naked. Tail nearly the length of the body, not tufted at the termination. + +In colour somewhat similar to _C. sphinx_, and closely allied to _C. +babuin_. Face livid flesh-colour, lighter on the ridge of {269}the nose. +General colour of fur on back, sides of body, and outer side of limbs +olive-green; on the under side of the body and inner side of the limbs +light yellowish-green; breast, throat, and under part of chin silvery-grey; +whiskers silvery-grey; ears, palms of hands, and soles of feet dark brown; +callosities flesh-coloured; the surrounding naked parts purple-brown. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Abyssinia. + +HABITS.--Little or nothing is known of this species. It was obtained in +Abyssinia by Dr. Rüppell. A specimen was exhibited alive, however, in the +Zoological Gardens of London in 1843. + + +VIII. THE EAST AFRICAN BABOON. PAPIO IBEANUS. + + _Papio thoth ibeanus_, Oldfield Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., xi., p. + 46 (1893). + +DISTRIBUTION.--Lamu, East Africa. + +Mr. Oldfield Thomas has described this sub-species, which has remarkably +coarse and shaggy fur all over the body, longer than in the typical form, +and of a blackish and dull tawny white, without any of its brighter yellow; +the hairs on the crown of the head broadly ringed with black; the chin and +throat whitish; hairs of the chest ringed with black and white; the belly +black and dull fawn; the inner side of the fore-limbs like the chest, and +of the hind-limbs clearer and less ringed fawn-colour. Length of the body, +33½ inches; of the tail 24 inches. + + +IX. THE GUINEA BABOON. PAPIO SPHINX. + + _Le papion_, F. Cuvier, Mamm., vol. i., livr. 6 ([male]); livr. 7 + ([female]), Hist. Nat. (1819). + + _Papio sphinx_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 103 (1812); Schl., Mus. Pays + Bas, vii., p. 127 (1876). + + {270}_Cynocephalus papio_, Desmar., Mamm., p. 69 (1820). + + _Cynocephalus choras_, Ogilby, P. Z. S., 1843, p. 12. + + _Papio rubescens_, Temm., Esquisses Zool., p. 39 (1853); Schl., t. c. p. + 28. + + _Cynocephalus sphinx_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys, Brit. Mus., p. 35 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Snout tapering, longer than the upper lip; face, ears, +palms and soles of feet naked; whiskers bushy, directed backwards, nearly +hiding the quadrangular ears; tail of the form usual in this genus, shorter +than the body. Hair on back of the neck longer than on the body; facial +ridges present, but not very prominent; hinder part of belly, inside of +limbs, and chin, throat, and breast very scantily haired. + +Face, ears, naked parts of hands and feet, black; upper eyelids white; fur +of head, back, and limbs in general brownish-yellow--the hairs being ringed +with alternate bars of black and light-brown; cheeks and whiskers +fawn-coloured; throat and under side of body paler. Scrotum, callosities, +and naked parts of buttocks bright flesh-coloured, but not so bright as in +_C. hamadryas_. Length of body (in young male), 27 inches; of tail, 20 +inches. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG MALE.--Similar to adult males in coloration; but less +thick-set, and with a shorter muzzle. + +DISTRIBUTION.--The Guinea Baboon inhabits West Africa from Senegal and the +Niger to Central Africa. In East Africa, Mr. H. H. Johnston observed it in +the inhabited region of Kilimanjaro. + +HABITS.--Little is known of the habits of this species; but it is +improbable that it departs widely from those of the other {271}members of +the genus. In regard to the bright coloration of the callosities and +posterior parts of this and other Baboons, Mr. Darwin remarks: "In the +discussion on sexual selection in my 'Descent of Man,' no case interested +and perplexed me so much as the highly-coloured hinder ends and adjoining +parts of certain Monkeys. As these parts are more brightly coloured in one +sex than the other, and as they become more brilliant during the season of +love, I concluded that the colours had been gained as a sexual +attraction.... I had, however, at that time no evidence of Monkeys +exhibiting this part of their bodies during their courtship.... I have +lately read [in an article by J. von Fischer, of Gotha, published in April, +1876] an account of the behaviour of a young male Mandrill when he first +beheld himself in a looking-glass, and it is added, that after a time he +turned round and presented his red hinder end to the glass. Accordingly I +wrote to Herr J. von Fischer to ask what he supposed was the meaning of +this strange action. He says that he was himself at first perplexed ... and +was thus led carefully to observe several individuals of various other +species of Monkeys, which he has long kept in his house. He finds that not +only the Mandrill (_C. mormon_) but the Drill (_C. leucophæus_) and three +other kinds of Baboons (_C. hamadryas_, _C. sphinx_, and _C. babuin_) ... +turn this part of their bodies, which in all these species is more or less +brightly coloured, to him when they are pleased, and to other persons as a +sort of greeting.... From these facts von Fischer concludes that the +Monkeys which behaved in this manner before a looking-glass ... acted as if +their reflection were a new acquaintance.... It deserves especial attention +that von Fischer has never seen any species purposely exhibit the hinder +part of its body, if not at all {272}coloured.... With respect to the +origin of the habit, it seems to me probable that the bright colours, +whether on the face or hinder end, or as in the Mandrill, on both, serve as +a sexual ornament and attraction.... The fact that it is only the Monkeys +(with those parts brightly coloured), which as far as at present known, act +in this manner as a greeting towards other Monkeys, renders it doubtful +whether the habit was first acquired from some independent cause, and that +afterwards the parts in question were coloured as a sexual ornament; or +whether the colouring and the habit of turning round were first acquired +through variation and sexual selection, and that afterwards the habit was +retained as a sign of pleasure, or as a greeting, through the principle of +inherited association." + + +X. THE ARABIAN BABOON. PAPIO HAMADRYAS. + + _Simia hamadryas_, Linn., Syst. Nat., i., p. 36 (1766). + + _Le tartarin_, F. Cuvier and Geoffr., Mamm., vol. i., livr. 5 (1819). + + _Cynocephalus hamadryas_, Fr. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mammif., p. 129, pl. 46 + ([male]). + + _Papio hamadryas_, Geoffr., Ann. Mus., xix., p. 103 (1812); Schl., Mus. + Pays Bas, vii., p. 129 (1876, in part). + + _Hamadryas ægyptiaca_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 34 (1870). + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Size of a large Pointer Dog; muzzle long; nose slightly +longer than the upper lip; nostrils terminal, separated by a furrow above +and in front; face naked, the ridges parallel to the nose, and far less +prominent than in the Mandrill or Drill; eyes deep-set; brows overhanging; +ears naked; a large mane, mantle-like, on the throat, neck, {273}shoulders +and middle of the back; whiskers long, directed backwards, almost +concealing the ears; hair on the lower back, arms, thighs and legs short; +callosities large, and the surrounding part of the buttocks nude; tail +slightly shorter than the body, arched at the basal third, then descending +perpendicularly to its termination, which is tufted; under surface of body +and inner aspect of limbs thinly haired; fourth finger and second toe +strongly clawed. + +Face flesh-coloured, darker round the margins of the mouth, lighter round +the eyes; snout, chin, eyebrows, ears, and naked parts of the hands and +feet, dark flesh-colour; general colour of the fur over the body ashy-grey, +lightly washed with greenish--the hairs being ringed with alternate bars of +black and greyish-green; the head, the mane on neck and shoulders, and the +front part of the body ashy-grey, washed with greenish; whiskers +greyish-white; hind part of body paler than the fore; forearms and legs +greyish-black or almost black; under side of body greyish-white; tip of +tail darker; callosities and neighbouring nude parts bright scarlet. Length +of body, 26 inches; of tail, 15 inches; height, when standing erect, 4 +feet; when sitting, 2½ feet. + +FEMALES AND YOUNG MALES.--Similar to adult males in coloration, but having +no mane; the females of the same size as the males. + +Both sexes possess laryngeal pouches or air-sacs, extending down the neck +nearly to the arm-pits, and connecting with the windpipe by a single +opening above the larynx. + +Facial portion of skull proportionately larger than the cranial. Top of +skull and forehead flattened; brain-case and front of cerebrum small and +intruded on by the orbits; the latter directed forwards and outwards. + +{274}DISTRIBUTION.--Arabia, from the plains up to 9,000 feet; Abyssinia, +and the Soudan. + +HABITS.--The Arabian Baboon, or "Tartarin," as it is often called, is +gregarious like its allies, occurring in troops of from two hundred and +fifty to three hundred individuals. When full-grown, they are very bold and +ferocious. They feed on fruits, berries, and the tubers of an edible grass; +but their chief food consists of insects, and such small animals as they +find under stones, or among the rocky cliffs and ravines, where they +usually dwell, for they seem to avoid the wooded country. + +They have a loud voice, uttered as a grunting bark. They are said to be +extremely intelligent, "astonishingly clever fellows," as one traveller +records:--having chiefs whom they obey implicitly, and possessing a regular +system of tactics in war, with the posting of sentinels on pillaging +expeditions. They have variously modulated cries, to warn, to indicate +safety or false alarm, or to direct the general movements or conduct of the +troop. "The old males," as Mr. Blanford narrates, "are always most +conspicuous animals, all the fore part of their body being covered with +long hair. They usually take the lead when the troop is moving; some of +them also bringing up the rear; others placing themselves on high rocks or +bushes and keeping a sharp look-out after enemies. A troop collected on a +rocky crag presents a most singular appearance. I several times saw large +numbers assembled around springs in the evening in the thirsty Shoho +country.... On such occasions every jutting rock, every little stone more +prominent than the rest, was occupied by a patriarch of the herd, with the +gravity and watchfulness befitting his grizzled hair, waiting patiently +until the last of his human rivals had slaked his thirst and that of his +cattle. Around, the females were mainly occupied in taking {275}care of the +young, the smaller Monkeys amusing themselves by gambolling about." The +Arabian Baboon climbs heavily, but when moving quickly on the ground has a +regular steady gallop. + +This is the Sacred Monkey of the ancient Egyptians, and its likeness is +often found engraved on their various temples and monoliths. "The +Cynocephalus Ape," as Sir Gardner Wilkinson writes, "which was particularly +sacred to Thoth, held a conspicuous place among the sacred animals of +Egypt, being worshipped as the type of the God of Letters, and of the Moon, +which was one of the characters of Thoth.... Sometimes a Cynocephalus +placed on a throne as a god, holds a sacred Ibis in his hand; and in the +judgment-scenes of the dead it frequently occurs, seated on the summit of a +balance, as the emblem of Thoth, who had an important office on that +occasion, and registered the account of the actions of the deceased. The +place where this animal was particularly sacred was Hermopolis, the city of +Thoth. In the necropolis of the capital of Upper Egypt, a particular spot +was set apart as the cemetery of the Sacred Apes." + + +XI. LANGHELD'S BABOON. PAPIO LANGHELDI. + + _Cynocephalus langheldi_, Matschie, S. B. Ges. Nat. Freunde, Berlin, + 1892, p. 233. + +CHARACTERS.--Hair of back long and coarse; that of the hinder quarters +shorter. Length of body, 29½ inches; of tail, 18 inches. + +General colour, dirty olive-grey--the hairs brown at the base, then +yellowish-grey, ringed further up with black and yellowish-grey and tipped +with black; the long and coarse hair {276}of the back lighter; chin +greyish-white; the hind-limbs externally washed with brownish-yellow; the +upper side of the hands and feet olive-yellow; tail brownish-grey; under +side of body and inside of limbs silvery-grey. + +The bright olive-grey of the upper side and the silver-grey under side +distinguish this species from all others; it is most nearly related to _C. +babuin_. + +DISTRIBUTION.--East Africa, from the Rovuma river to the Pangani, and +extending to the Victoria Nyanza. + + +THE GELADA BABOONS. GENUS THEROPITHECUS. + + _Theropithecus_, Is. Geoffr., Arch. Mus., ii., p. 576 (1841). + +This genus has been established for the reception of two species which +differ from the true Baboons (_Cynocephalus_) in having the nostrils placed +on the side of the snout, instead of being terminal and opening, Dog-like, +on the blunt face of the truncated nose. + + +I. THE GELADA BABOON. THEROPITHECUS GELADA. + + _Macacus gelada_, Rüpp., Neue Wirbelth. Säugeth., p. 5, pl. 2 (1835); + Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 107 (1876). + + _Theropithecus gelada_, Is. Geoffr., Arch. Mus., ii., p. 576 (1841). + + _Theropithecus senex_, Schimp. et Puch., Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1857, p. + 51. + + _Gelada rüppellii_, Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 33 (1870); Garrod, + P. Z. S., 1879, p. 451. + +CHARACTERS.--MALE.--Body large and massive; head oblong; face produced, +rounded, and nude below the superciliary ridge; nose long and depressed in +its middle region, but elevated at {277}the tip upon the deep upper lip; +head crested, with long hair, rising from the superciliary ridge, and +descending to a long and mantle-like mane on the back of the neck and +shoulders, where the hair is longest, down to the loins behind, and as far +as the elbow joints in front; whiskers very long, directed backwards over +the ears, and downwards from the corners of the mouth; no beard; chin nude; +a patch on the chest and one on the throat naked, separated from each other +by a haired bar 1½ inches broad; tail long, round, erect for its basal +third, then falling straight down as in other Baboons, and terminating in a +long thick tuft. + +Face, hands, feet and callosities deep black; nude chest-spaces florid; +hair of whiskers, neck-portion of mane, sides, arms, and lower margins of +the mantle-like mane dark sooty chocolate-brown; breast, chest, shoulders, +fore-arms, hind quarters and tail (except the terminal tuft) black; +tail-tuft brownish-black, with a few white hairs; abdomen paler brown than +the hair generally, though still dark; hair bordering the nude chest-spaces +iron-grey from the presence of numerous short grey and white hairs; nipples +close together on the lower nude chest-space; nails of hands longer than +those of the feet. Length of the body, 29 inches; of tail, 24¾ inches; to +tip of terminal tuft, 32 inches. + +Skull shorter than in _Cynocephalus_; canine teeth very large; posterior +lower molars with a large fifth cusp; upper molars with a large front +talon; cranial crests strongly developed; nasal bones high, narrow, +separate, and not fused together. + +The affinities of _T. gelada_ are more with _Cercopithecus_ than with +_Cynocephalus_, and still less with _Macacus_. + +{278}YOUNG MALE.--Similar to the adult, but the mane shorter, and more +curly; and the brown colour, wherever it occurs in the male, is lighter in +colour. + +FEMALE.--Coloured like the young male, but smaller than the adult male, and +with shorter hair, darker at the tips; hair longest between the shoulders; +loins paler than in the male; nude chest and throat-spaces united into one, +which is carunculated along its borders, and without white hairs along the +margins; callosities carunculated. + +DISTRIBUTION.--Southern Abyssinia; in the provinces of Heremat and Godjan. + +HABITS.--The habits of the "Gelada," as it is named by the natives of its +own country, are similar to those of the Baboons (_Cynocephalus_). They +live in large companies, and when full-grown--the males especially--are +very ferocious, pugnacious, and dangerous. It is a common habit of these +animals to roll down stones from the rocky cliffs amid which they live, +upon any approaching animal--the Arabian Baboon being an especial object of +their animosity. Their food consists of all sorts of fruits, as well as +grass, and the cultivated crops of the natives. They are chiefly found in +barren rocky regions, ascending the mountains to an altitude of from 7,000 +to 8,000 feet above the sea. + + +II. THE DUSKY GELADA. THEROPITHECUS OBSCURUS. + + _Theropithecus obscurus_, Heuglin, Act. Acad. Leop., xxx., Nachtrag, p. + 10 (1863); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 107 (1876). + + _? Theropithecus senex_, Schimper et Puch., Rev. Zool., 1857, p. 244. + +{279}CHARACTERS.--Nearly allied to _T. gelada_, but distinguished by its +darker colour, the flesh-coloured ring round the eyes, and the two naked +spots on the chest at the base of the neck, surrounded by white hairs, +extending to the inner side of the arm. + +Face naked, the chin thinly haired, the nose-pad situated behind the blunt +and broad end of the muzzle; eyes small, set close together, deep sunk +beneath the prominent overhanging frontal ridges; ears small; sides of the +head entirely covered with woolly hair; mane long, soft, and thick. Length +of body, 53 inches; tail, 26 inches. + +Face black, but with a broad flesh-coloured ring round each eye; scanty +hairs on the chin white; top of head and back dark brown; mane on fore-neck +and shoulders, arms, and hind part of the hands pure black; sides of head +and neck, rump, and tail dirty ochre; naked spots on breast dark +flesh-coloured, more vivid in passion; breast and inner side of fore-arm, +and middle of chest white; rest of under surface pale brown. Callosities +bluish-grey. + +FEMALE AND YOUNG.--Almost uniform fulvous, but the mane less marked. + +DISTRIBUTION.--North-east Africa; on the eastern boundary of Abyssinia, +near the sources of the Takazze river, on the confines of the Galla +country. Dr. Blanford observed it also near Magdala. + +HABITS.--This large and "stately" Baboon, known to the natives as +"Tokur-Sinjero" (or Black Baboon), lives in large troops in the high +mountains of Abyssinia, at an altitude of from 6,000 to 10,000 feet. It is +seldom seen among trees, but generally in open plains, or in inaccessible +rocky cliffs, from which it hurls stones on anyone who dares to approach. +{280}During the night these Baboons hide together in holes in the rocks, +whence, on the return of the morning sun, they emerge and sit warming +themselves, before starting on their marauding expeditions in the +cultivated fields, or in the vegetation which clothes the sides of the deep +valleys, where they feed largely on the leaves of the trees. Their +disposition is, among themselves, harmless. As a rule two to six year old +males lead with grave strides a herd of twenty to thirty females and young, +the latter now playing with each other, and scampering about the troop, now +carried by their mothers, and sometimes pinched and boxed on the ears by +them. As soon as, but not before, the leader has assured himself of any +danger, he utters a gentle bark, to which the whole troop responds and +retreats back into safety among the rocks. The old males then stand on +their hind-feet barking and displaying to the intruder their long white +teeth. On their marauding expeditions, or when in flight, they do not +usually exhibit great haste, the whole troop generally going in single file +with an old Sultan bringing up the rear. Often several troops mingle +together during the day, but at nightfall each returns to its own +headquarters. + +Their cry is a sharp bark, but that of the old males is very hoarse. One of +their great enemies is the Lämmergeier or Bearded Vulture. + +These observations have been extracted from the account given of this +species by von Heuglin, who discovered it during his Abyssinian expedition +in 1853. + + +THE MALAYAN BABOONS. GENUS CYNOPITHECUS. + + _Cynopithecus_, Is. Geoffr., in Belanger's Voyage, p. 66 (1834). + +This genus has been constituted to include the single species +{281}described below; the characters of the genus being thus, perforce, the +same as those of the species. + + +THE CELEBEAN BLACK BABOON. CYNOPITHECUS NIGER. + + _Cynocephalus niger_, Desm., Mamm., p. 534 (1820). + + _Macacus niger_, Bennett, Gard, and Menag. Zool. Soc., p. 189, with + figure (1830); Schl., Mus. Pays Bas, vii., p. 119 (1876). + + _Cynopithecus niger_, Is. Geoffr., in Bélanger's Voyage, p. 66 (1834); + Lesson, Quadrum., p. 101 (1840); Gray, Cat. Monkeys Brit. Mus., p. 33 + (1870). + + _Papio niger_ et _P. nigrescens_, Temm., Possess. Néerl. Ind., iii., p. + 111 (1847). + + _Cynopithecus niger_, vel _nigrescens_, Wagner in Schreb., Säugeth. + Suppl., v., p. 61, tab. 6 (1855). + + _Cynopithecus nigrescens_, Wallace, Malay Arch., i., p. 432 (1869). + +CHARACTERS.--About the size of a Spaniel; head oblong; face very elongated, +naked; neck, hands, and feet also naked; nose triangular, the sides erect, +flattened behind nearly to the eyes, not extending to the end of the +muzzle, but leaving a broad upper lip; nostrils, with a long and broad +partition between them, directed downwards and outwards--a character seen +in the genus _Macacus_, and distinguishing this genus from the true Baboons +(_Cynocephalus_); cheek-swellings parallel to the nose, distinct, but not +conspicuously large; supra-orbital ridges very conspicuous; cheek-pouches +large; tail rudimentary, reduced to a fleshy tubercle, one inch long, and +hardly visible. Length, 24 inches. + +Fur long and woolly over the body; especially long on the top of the head, +forming a crest; hair of the limbs shorter. + +{282}Face, neck, hands, and feet black; fur all over the body and limbs +jet-black; callosities bright flesh-colour. + +In the skull the maxillary bones are developed into strong lateral ridges +corresponding in structure to those of the most typical Baboons. + +DISTRIBUTION.--This species is found far away from the habitat of the true +Baboons, whose home is in the Ethiopian Region. The Black Baboon is an +inhabitant of Celebes, one of the islands of the eastern portion of the +Malay Archipelago. It is found, however, also in the neighbouring island of +Batchian, further to the east--indeed the most easterly range of the +Quadrumana--as well as in some of the Philippine Islands to the west. In +both of these regions it is supposed to have been accidentally introduced +by the Malays. In Batchian, Mr. Wallace remarks, "it seems so much out of +place that it is difficult to imagine how it could have reached the island +by any natural means of dispersal, and yet not have passed by the same +means over the narrow strait to Gilolo--so that it seems more likely to +have originated from some individuals which had escaped from confinement, +these and similar animals being often kept as pets by the Malays and +carried about in their praus." Analogous to the distribution of this animal +in the Philippines and Celebes is that of a genus of +Parrots--_Prioniturus_--with racquet-shaped tails. The species of the +latter genus are divided between Celebes and its small adjacent islands and +the Philippines and the small islands adjacent to that archipelago, and +present a curious case of the restricted range of a well-marked group. + +HABITS.--This interesting animal, geographically so isolated, lives in the +luxuriant forests in small companies, and feeds chiefly on the abundant +fruits which these forests provide. In its {283}disposition it appears to +be more amiable and docile than the African Baboons. Some kinds of Monkeys, +as Mr. Darwin observes, which have moveable ears, and fight with their +teeth, draw back their ears when irritated just like Dogs, and then they +have a very spiteful appearance.... Other kinds--and this is a great +anomaly in comparison with most other animals--retract their ears, "and +utter a slight jabbering noise when they are pleased by being caressed. I +observed this in the _Cynopithecus niger_.... With the _Cynopithecus_ the +corners of the mouth are at the same time drawn backwards and upwards, so +that the teeth are exposed. Hence this expression would never be recognised +by a stranger as one of pleasure. The crest of long hairs on the forehead +is depressed, and apparently the whole skin of the head is drawn backwards. +The eyebrows are thus raised a little, and the eyes assume a staring +appearance. The lower eyelids also become slightly wrinkled; but this +wrinkling is not conspicuous, owing to the permanent transverse furrows on +the face." When enraged, the _Cynopithecus niger_ depresses the crest of +hair on its forehead, and shows its teeth; "so that," as Mr. Darwin +continues, "the movements of the features from anger are nearly the same as +those from pleasure; and the two expressions can be distinguished only by +those familiar with the animal." See the figures in Mr. Darwin's "Emotions +in Man," &c., p. 136. + + + + +{285}APPENDIX. + + +While this volume was passing through the press, a valuable paper by +Messrs. Oldfield Thomas and Ernst Hartert has appeared in the Hon. Walter +Rothschild's Journal "Novitates Zoologicæ." It deals with the Mammalia +collected in the Natuna Islands by Mr. Alfred Everett, and the following +additional notes must be recorded. + + +p. 20. TARSIUS TARSIUS. + + _Tarsius spectrum_, Oldfield Thomas and Hartert, Nov. Zool., i., p. 655 + (1894). + +Mr. Everett says that on Banguran Island he could hear nothing of the +existence of the Tarsier, but on Sirhassen Island the Malays described it +to him unmistakably under the name of "Imbing." + + +p. 33. NYCTICEBUS TARDIGRADUS. + +Mr. Everett procured specimens of the Javan Slow-Loris on the island of +Banguran, where, he says, it is probably not rare, though not often +captured; the native name is "Kukáng." The natives of Banguran did not +appear to know the animal. + + +p. 100 _et sequent._ PROPITHECUS MAJORI. + + _Propithecus majori_, Rothschild, Nov. Zool., i., p. 666, pi. xiv. + (1894). + +{286}ADULT.--Head and neck black. Face, snout, and ears naked, and of a +blackish colour, encircled by a broad band of long white hairs, joining +under the throat, slightly mixed with darker hairs. Rest of fur, including +the tail, white on the upper surface; back and upper rump dark brown. The +large white patch on and between the shoulders much grizzled with brown +hairs. Under side of hind-limbs, to just below the knees, blackish-brown. +Inside of hind-limbs down to the heel also brown, joining the colour of the +upper surface, thus forming a continuous dark stripe along the legs. Inner +and upper surface of arms, thumb, and two following fingers, deep +blackish-brown; throat, chest, and greater part of abdomen, deep brown. +Size perceptibly larger than that of _Propithecus verreauxi_, with the tail +longer. + +This species of _Propithecus_ is nearest to the typical _P. verreauxi_ of +Grandidier, which is white, with the top of the head black, and the lower +back and rump greyish-brown, but is no doubt an entirely different species. +(_Rothschild_, _l.c._) + +DISTRIBUTION.--Antimosy country, S.W. Madagascar. + + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + +PRESS OPINIONS. + + +"The 'Naturalist's Library' has all the signs of earning and keeping a wide +popularity."--_Scotsman._ + +"They are carefully compiled from the most authentic sources of +information, and are embellished with cleverly-executed coloured +plates."--_Daily News._ + +"Admirable in every way, and should be highly popular."--_Public Opinion._ + +"Really good handbooks, well arranged, concise, carefully printed, and +handsomely illustrated with full-page coloured plates."--_Science Gossip._ + +"Eminently readable, the information being given in an interesting +manner."--_Field._ + +"A most valuable feature of these volumes is the plates, which have been +coloured from specimens in the British Museum, and are by far the finest +that have ever appeared in any work at the price, or anything near it. +Altogether the character and general get-up of 'Allen's Naturalist's +Library' leave nothing to be desired. We trust these volumes, and those +that may come after them, will be widely welcomed."--_Westminster Gazette._ + +"Should prove most instructive to every student of natural history."--_Rod +and Gun._ + +"Abounds in interesting matter, and can be read through with +pleasure."--_Saturday Review._ + +"May be heartily recommended."--_St. James's Budget._ + + +LONDON: +W. H. ALLEN & CO., Limited, 13, Waterloo Place, S.W. + + + + +TENTATIVE SCHEME OF VOLUMES. + + + _The following list will give an outline of the General Scheme, but it + may be varied if, in the opinion of the Editor and Publishers, an + alteration would improve the Series._ + + MONKEYS, Vol. I. By HENRY O. FORBES, F.L.S., &c. + " Vol. II. " + CETACEA " + CATS By R. LYDEKKER, B.A., &c. + DOGS " + RUMINANTS " + BRITISH MAMMALS " + MARSUPIALS " Ready. + HORSES " + PACHYDERMS " + BRITISH BIRDS, Vol. I. By R. BOWDLER SHARPE, LL.D. Ready. + " " II. " + " " III. " + " " IV. " + SUN-BIRDS " + HUMMING-BIRDS " + BIRDS OF WEST AFRICA " + PARROTS By HENRY O. FORBES, F.L.S., &c. + PIGEONS " + GAME BIRDS By W. R. OGILVIE GRANT. + BUTTERFLIES (with special } By W. F. KIRBY, F.L.S. + reference to British Species) } + BUTTERFLIES, Vol. II. " + MOTHS (with special reference to } " + British Species) } + BEETLES, CRICKETS, &c. " + BEES " + FISHES, Vol. I. By Professor R. H. TRAQUAIR, F.R.S. + " " II. " + " " III. " + +LONDON: +W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED, 13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. + +Notes. + + [1] [Greek: anthrôpos]--Man. + + [2] [Greek: heteros], different, [Greek: odous], a tooth. + + [3] [Greek: homos], the same, [Greek: odous], a tooth. + + [4] [Greek: diphuês], double, [Greek: odous], a tooth. + + [5] N.B.--These descriptions of new species have been kindly supplied by + Dr. Forsyth Major from his MSS., and I am much indebted to him for + allowing them to be first published in the present work. + + [6] N.B.--The white feet should have been more pronounced in the plate. + + [7] [Greek: Kata], down; [Greek: rhis, rhinos], nose. + + [8] [Greek: platys], flat; [Greek: rhis, rhinos], nose. + + [9] Vide anteà, p. 145. + +[10] "Red-footed Night-Monkey," on plate. + +[11] See the figures in Flower and Lydekker, Mammals, p. 711. + +[12] This curious custom, of women suckling animals, was also observed by + the present writer in New Guinea, where the native women suckle + puppies and young pigs. + +[13] Humboldt and Stedman both state that these Monkeys _threw_ pieces of + branches towards them. + +[14] [Greek: kata], down; [Greek: rhis, rhinos], nose or nostril. + + * * * * * + +Corrections made to printed text + +P. 15. 'long vacuity between incisors and pre-molar' corrected from '... +canines and pre-molar' (canines are absent!) + +P. 147 (ears) 'exposed' corrected from 'ex-exposed' (line break). + +P. 182 'Jacchus [Hapale] bicolor' corrected from 'facchus...' + +P. 262 'terminating' (in a tuft of hairs) corrected from 'teminating'. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Hand-book to the Primates, Volume 1 +(of 2), by Henry O. Forbes + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43991 *** |