( 666 .) 



PJROPITHECUS MAJOBI sp. nov. 



By the HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD. 



(PI. XIV.) 



Advlt. — Heiul iiiid ucck black. Face, suout, and cars naked, and of a blackish 

 colour, encircled by a broad band of long white hairs, joining' nntler the throat, 

 slightly interiui.xed with darker hairs. Rest of fiir, 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. Upper surface 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 percei)tibly larger than that of PrOpithecuH verrcauxi, with the 

 tail longer. 



This species of Propitliecus is nearest to the typical P. terreauxi Ciraudid., 

 which is white, with the top of the head black, and the lower back and rump greyish 

 brown, but no doubt an entirely distinct species. 



The result of an examination of the skulls of the two species b}- Dr. Forsyth 

 Major, which, owing to his departure for Madagascar, will be published in a later 

 number of this periodical, confirms my opinion about the distinctness of the 

 two species. 



I have named the animal in honour of Dr. Forsyth Major and his knowledge of 

 the mammalian fauna of Madagascar. 



A nnmber of specimens, all perfectly alike in colour, were sent to m(^ by 

 Mr. Last from the Antinosij coitntnj in south-west Madayascur. The collector also 

 found Propithi'cus verreauxi Grandid. m the same country, some with the back 

 much darker than others, but no specimens in any way intermediate between it and 

 P. nmjori. 



