GRIVET, GREEN MONKEY, AND VERVET. 45 
The GrIvEtT, or Tora, as it is called by some writers, is of a sombre green colour; the 
green being produced, as has been already mentioned, by the black and yellow hair. The 
limbs and tail are of a ereyer tint than the rest of the body, the yellow portion of 
the hair being changed to a dull white. The inside of the limbs and the abdomen 
are shehtly tinged w ith white. In the male animal the canine teeth are rather protuberant, 
showing themselves beyond the lips. The naked skin of the face, ears, and palms, is 
black, dashed with that deep violet hue that is found in so many of the monkeys. At 
each side of the head, the white hairs stand out boldly, whisker fashion, and give a 
very lively character to the head. It is an African animal, and common in Abyssinia. 
The centre of the group is occupied by the GREEN MONKEY, sometimes called the 
Callithrix, or Beautiful-haired Monkey, on account of the exquisitely delicate marking of 
each separate hair. The inside of the limbs is nearly white, as is the under surface of 
the body, and the outer side of the limbs takes a greyish tinge. The hairy fringe that 
grows over the side of the face is of a delicate golden yellow. 
This monkey is a native of Senegal and the neighbouring parts, and is frequently 
brought to this country. 
The VERVET is the last of the figures. This is rather a variable animal in point of 
colour, some specimens being decidedly pale, while others assume a blackish hue. In 
general, the colour of the animal is as follows. The prevailing tint of the fur is much 
the same as that of the Grivet, to which animal the Vervet bears a strong resemblance. 
The head, the throat, and breast, are of a light dun, the paws being very ‘dark. In the 
male Vervet the canines are rather long, and show their points beyond the lips. 
These little animals are extremely abundant in their native land, and in Senegal 
especially are seen among the branches in immense troops. They seem to feel their own 
dignity as masters of the wood, and are agerieved by the intrusion of human beings into 
their special domains. They are so agile and swift in their movements, and withal so 
quick of sight, that they almost invariably descry an intruder before themselves are 
visible. There may be hundreds of little heads peering through the branches of the 
very tree under which the traveller is seated, and double the number of sharp little eyes 
glittering among the foliage; but their owners are so lithe and cautious, that their 
presence remains undiscovered until they choose to announce themselves in their own 
fashion. 
Monkeys have their code of etiquette as well as men; and, as they do not possess 
cards, the correct mode in which a monkey announces its presence to a human visitor is 
by dropping a piece of stick upon him. Perhaps he may consider the stick to be only a 
twig fallen in the course of nature, and so take no notice of it. Down comes another 
stick, and if that does not cause him to look up, several more are let fall upon him until 
his attention is drawn to the assembly in the branches. 
This point having been gained, the next object is to let the intruder know that his 
company is undesirable, and that the sooner he takes his departure the more agreeable 
it will be for all parties. 
That the long-tailed party are averse to so big an animal without an inch of tail, is 
clearly shown by the angry chattering that is set up, and the double rows of white and 
sharp teeth that are freely exhibited ; and that the position of the objectionable individual 
will become anything but agreeable, js practically proved by the riot among the branches, 
which are shaken with noisy violence, the constant cries and chattering, and the shower 
of sticks and various missiles that pour upon him from above. Whether the object of 
their dislike be armed or not, seems to make but little difference to these tetchy animals. 
Should he retreat from so unpleasant a proximity, well and good—they have achieved their 
point, and satisfied their pride of place. Should he retaliate, and hurl deadly leaden 
missiles among his persecutors in exchange for the harmless but disagreeable assaults com- 
mitted on himself, they sullenly receive his fire, unterrified by the fall of their slaughtered 
companions, and, even when wounded, continue the unequal conflict. They evidently 
feel themselves in the right, and refuse to abandon their position. One traveller who 
had been thus treated by the monkeys, killed twenty-three of the poor animals in less 
than an hour—not much to his credit. 
