THE DIANA MONKEY. 49 
It is a very graceful little creature, playful, but petulant and coquettish, disliking to 
be touched, but fond of notice and nuts, and often balanced in curious perplexity between 
its coy shyness and the charms of an offered dainty. When in perfect health, it is seldom 
still, but flits with light grace from one spot to another, performing the most difficult 
muscular efforts with exquisite ease, and profoundly sensible of the admiration which its 
pretty antics never fail to excite in the spectators. 
It is by no means a large animal, its head and body only measuring fifteen or sixteen 
inches, the tail being little short of two feet in length. 
The central figure of the group is the PATAS, sometimes called the Red Monkey, on 
account of the ruddy colour of the hair. The general tint of the fur is a bright chestnut, 
or fawn colour, with a deep shading of red. This hue is shown very decidedly on the 
sides and on the outer portions of the hind legs, the legs themselves being of a darkish 
cream colour. The breast and the fore-limbs are covered with hair, which much resembles 
that of the Green Monkey. 
It is an inhabitant of Western Africa, being found very commonly in Senegal. In size 
it is much superior to the last-mentioned animal, reaching more than three feet in length. 
When left to an undisturbed life, these creatures are playful and inquisitive, but 
mischievous and spiteful withal. They display great courage when engaged in a fray, 
and if their size and streneth were proportionate to their bravery and endurance, would 
be truly formidable antagonists. Even the fall of their comrades only seems to redouble 
their rage, and to stimulate them to increased exertions. 
Too crafty to venture upon close combat, these monkeys retain their posts of vantage 
on the tree-tops, and hurling from thence every kind of offensive missile that can be 
procured, render their attack a matter of exceeding inconvenience, even to armed men. 
During the skirmish, the monkeys distort their features into strange grimaces, and rend 
the air with their cries of rage. They have been known to follow boats up the course of 
a river, keeping pace upon the overhanging trees, and becoming so troublesome from the 
constant shower of sticks, fruits, and other missiles, that the occupants of the boats were 
forced to fire at their assailants, and to kill many of the number before they could be 
freed from the annoyance. 
This, as well as the foregoing long-tailed monkeys, belongs to that large group of 
quadrumanous animals called the GUENONS, nearly all of which possess similar character- 
istics of disposition. They are amusing and playful creatures, very active, and move with 
much grace of deportment. In captivity they are remarkable for their mercurial tem- 
perament, their ingenuity in devising and executing small malevolent pranks, and their 
insatiable appetite for nuts, and other similar dainties. They are curiously sensitive to 
ridicule, being thrown into furious excitement by any mocking gestures or sounds. 
Nothing seems to irritate a monkey more than a grin and a chatter, in imitation of its 
own habits, It will fly at the offender with furious looks and screams of rage, and, unless 
restrained by chains or bars, would be likely to inflict some damage by its sharp teeth. It 
will remember the person of its torméntor with singular tenacity of memory, and will be 
thrown into a state of angry agitation even by the sound of the hated voice. 
Although rather tetchy ‘and hot- tempered, and too apt to resent any supposed slight or 
injury, the Guenons are very capable of education, and in the hands of a kind and gentle 
teacher can be trained to perform many curious feats. Severity defeats its own aim, and 
only makes the creature fall back upon the innate obstinacy which is inherent in most 
animals, and of which the monkey has a large share. But a kind instructor, and one who 
will never lose his own temper, may take in hand even a savage monkey and reduce it to 
gentle obedience. As a general rule, the male monkeys are less open to higher influences 
than the females, and are therefore more difficult subjects for the tramer. 
Nearly all the long-tailed monkeys that come to England belong to the Guenons, and 
the many anecdotes that are related of them may be safely attributed to this group of 
animals. 
The monkey which is known by the name of the DIANA is remarkable not only for its 
quaint aspect, but for the richly variegated tints with which its fur is adorned. The most 
conspicuous feature in the Diana Monkey, is the long and sharply pointed beard which 
ur E 
& 
