568 



SACRED MONKEY OF THE HINDUS 



CHAP. 



inevitable, carefully tears the latter, that its captors may not 

 profit by it. The species of this genus are most abundant on 

 the west coast of Africa. It is interesting that one species, 

 0. kirki, is limited to the Island of Zanzibar, where, however, it 

 is nearly extinct. 



The " Holy Apes," or Langurs, genus Semnopithecus, are allied 

 to the last, but they are Asiatic in range. The thumb is better 

 developed, but still shorter than in other Cercopithecidae ; the 

 callosities are small, and the cheek pouches are absent. There is 

 a single large laryngeal sac, and the stomach is complex. 



This genus is, like the Tiger, often quoted as an example of a 

 race supposed to be characteristically tropical, existing habitually 

 in the coldest climate. A species of Semnopithecus has been 

 observed climbing snow-laden branches at a height of 11,000 

 feet in the Himalayas. There are some thirty species, which 

 extend as far east as Borneo. 



The name Semnopithecus is derived from the fact that 

 the Hanuman is regarded as sacred by the Hindus. The best- 



FIG. 271. Entellus Monkey or Haiiuman. Semnopithecus entellus. x J. 



known species of Semnopithecus is this Langur or Hanuman, 

 8. entellus. Being regarded as a sacred animal, and with the 

 advantage thus gained, it has become a fell nuisance in gardens 

 and to crops. Though the veneration with which the Hindoos 

 regard these animals will not allow them to slay them, they are 

 exceedingly thankful to a European who will enable them to 



