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Cercopithecus ascanius Audebert. 



Lekana (Maes), ii" 223S ; Mpa (Maes), n° 2567; Erobo (Maes), 

 11° 2568; Tua (Maes), n°' 2234, 2236; Lekana (Maes), n°' 2240, 

 2241 ; Atene, Kwango (Chareiers), n°' 1006, 1008, loog, loio. 



Eastern race? : Lake Alb. Edward (Pieetïe), n" 1794. 



Tne tvpe localitv of C. ascauiiis is unknown, and it prevails 

 tlius some uncertainty what is to be understood under this name. 

 It is qnite évident, that at différent opportunities différent subspe- 

 cies hâve been made known under tliis narae. Ttie autliors appear 

 to agrée tliat follovving ciiaracteristics belong to the typical form : 

 a white nasal spot; a well developed black brow-band; yellowish 

 white cheeks bordered below bv a broad black band ; tail above 

 red or maroon, proximallv like the back, but beneath white or whi- 

 tish grev at the base, and red on the outer parts. So far the above 

 recorded spécimens are correct, but what is the colour of the 

 limbs ? PococK says (') : « Fore leg blackish only sparsely and 

 faintlv speckled. Hindleg also blacker than in C. petaitrista •». 

 Elliot (") States : « Limbs black ; arms above elbows and hind 

 limbs sparselv speckled with ochraceous ». As far as the arms are 

 concerned this mav hâve its application on the présent spécimens, 

 but what is the colour of the hind legs? Ought they also to be black, 

 then thèse spécimens cannot be referred to the typical ascanius, 

 because thes^ hâve the hind limbs dark grey, and especiallv the 

 thighs much speckled with yellow or buff rings as the back. Until 

 better knowledge is won, and an ascanius is found, which more 

 tully agrées with the original description I prefer to regard the 

 above quoted spécimens as representing C. ascanius ascanitis. 



This species as hère understood appears to be at home chieily 

 to the south of the Kasai river, but two of the localities viz. Mpa 

 and Erobo are strange enough situated to the north of the same 

 river, and thus within the same district as the much différent 

 C. ascanius kassaicus. The colour of the back is somewhat variable. 



(') Pr. Zool. Soc. London, 1907, p. 720. 

 (', Rev. Primates, vol. II, p. 303. 



