192 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



Quite recently a third species has been described from north- 

 eastern Kweichou under the name of R. hrelichi. This is 

 apparently the finest of its family, and is one of the largest 

 Monkeys known apart from the anthropoid Apes. It is only 

 known from a fiat skin of a female animal, in which the head 

 and body measures about 29 inches and the tail nearly 39 

 inches. In colour the back is slaty-grey, with a white patch 

 between the shoulders ; crown suffused with yellowish hairs, 

 having black tips ; ears, white ; front of shoulders and inner 

 sides of forearms, deep yellow ; tail, dark with white tip, and 

 longer than in any other known species. The type-specimen 

 is said to have come from " Van Gin shan, about lat. 29° N., 

 long. 108° E." If this is correct the region is several days' 

 journey to the south-south-east of Chungking. Sportsmen- 

 naturalists sojourning at this port would do well to interest 

 themselves in this remarkable animal, for, since only a flat 

 skin is known, it is obvious that specimens (skuUs and skins) 

 are much needed. 



It is probable that this species is the famous Hai-tuh of 

 Chinese literature of which the following account is given : 

 " Its nose is turned upward, and the tail very long and forked 

 at the end ; whenever it rains, the animal thrusts the forks 

 into its nose. It goes in herds and lives in friendship ; when 

 one dies the rest accompany it to burial. Its activity is so 

 great that it runs its head against the trees ; its fur is soft and 

 grey and the face black." 



Several species of short-tailed Baboons (Macacus) are found 

 in Western China. L' Abbe David secured in Mupin specimens of 

 M. tibetanus, and this is probably the same Monkey common on 

 the middle slopes of Mount Omei and in the region of Wa shan. 

 In the valley of the Upper Yangtsze, near Batang, M. vestitus 

 was discovered by M. Bonvalot and Prince Henri d'Orleans. 

 In the valley of the Yalung River, near Hokou (Na-chu-ka), 

 between 9000 and 11,000 feet altitude, M. lasiotis is quite 

 common. A female specimen, secured by my companion Mr. 

 Zappey, measured 20I inches, the tail being 61 inches long. 

 The fur is soft and silky, of an olivaceous tint on the head, 

 brightening to nearly clear pale orange-ochraceous on the hips ; 

 feet and fore-Umbs greyish. 



