122 LLOYDS NATURAL TTLSTORY. 



XIV. THE URSINE LANGUR. SEMXOPITHECUS URSINUS. 



Preshytis ursmus, Blyth, J. A. S. Beng., xx., pp. 155, 182 (1851 ; 



id., Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. Mus., p. 13 (1S63); Kelaart, Prod. 



Faun. Zeylan., p. 2 (1852). 

 Sefnnopithecus tirsiniis, Anderson, Rep. Zool. Res. Exped. 



Yun-nan, p. 24 (1878) ; Blanford, Faun. Brit. Ind. 



Mamm., p. 36 (1891). 



Characters. — Very nearly allied to S. cephaloptents^ but larger; 

 hair on the sides very long. Flair more rufous on the top of 

 the head ; the back of tb.e head greyish ; the lower back and 

 thighs wanting the grey colour ; whiskers, beard, throat, and 

 chest, whitish ; beneath, of the same colour as the back. 



Distribution. — The island of Ceylon, where it is confined to 

 the mountains. 



Habits — For an account of the habits of this species, we 

 have again recourse to the pages of that delightful historian, 

 Sir E. Tennent : — 



" The low-country Wanderoo," he records, " is replaced in 

 the hills by the larger species, P. ursmus, which inhabits the 

 mountain zone. The natives, who designate the latter the 

 'Maha,' or Great Wanderoo, to distinguish it from the ' Kaloo,' 

 or black one, with which they are familiar, describe it as much 

 wilder and more powerful than its congener of the lowland 

 forests. It is rarely seen by Europeans, this portion of the 

 country having, till very recently, been but partially opened; 

 and even now it is difficult to observe its habits, as it seldom 

 approaches the few roads which wind through these deep 

 solitudes. At early morning, ere the day begins to dawn, its 

 loud and peculiar howl, which consists of a quick repetition of 

 the sounds ^ How^ how T may be frequently heard in the 



