94 APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



grizzled with black ; a distinct band on the forehead, as well as the whiskers, 

 throat, the under parts, and the inner surface of the limbs being whitish. 



The first specimen of this monkey exhibited alive in England is described as 

 having an unusually mild and gentle expression of countenance, and was calm, 

 circumspect, and inactive in its general habits. It did not, however, appear anxious 

 to become at all familiar either with its keepers or with strangers, and was always 

 ready to resent any interference with its liberty. 



THE VERVET MONKEY (Cercopithecus lalandi) 



Still better known than the malbrouck is the South African vervet monkey, 

 or black-chinned vervet, as it has been called, in which, as in all other members 

 of this group of guenons, the rather small and narrow face is entirely black or 

 blackish. 



The fur of the vervet is of a grayish-green color, finely speckled with black on 

 the greater part of the body. The face, hands, and feet, and the terminal third of 

 the tail, are of a deep black ; while the cheek, throat, and under parts of the body 

 are reddish- white, and the root of the tail and adjacent regions red. The band on 

 the forehead is distinct, and yellowish. The red root and black tip of the tail and 

 chin are absolutely distinctive of this species. 



In size the vervet is somewhat smaller than the mona mentioned hereafter. 

 With the exception of the samango monkey, it is the sole South African repre- 

 sentative of the guenons. It is common in forest districts throughout the Cape 

 Colony and adjacent regions, more particularly along the tract of coast extending 

 from Cape Town to Algoa Bay, and thence through Kaffraria and Natal. It is said 

 to feed chiefly on the gum from the acacias known to the Boers as camel-doorn 

 and rhinaster-bosh, and its habits appear to be similar to those of the green 

 monkey. 



THE GRIVET MONKEY {Cercopithecus griseoviridis) 



As the vervet is one of two of South African representatives of the guenons, so 

 the grivet is one of two members of the group found in Northeastern Africa. In 

 color the fur of this species is olive-green, speckled with yellow and black, while 

 the chin, whiskers, and under parts of the body are white, and the root of the tail 

 and adjacent regions gray. The forehead has a broad whitish band, but faintly 

 marked. The white chin and gray root to the tail serve to distinguish this monkey 

 from the vervet, with which it agrees in size. 



Writing of the grivets in Abyssinia, Mr. Blanford observes that they are but 

 rarely seen, and then only in forest. " On the highlands," he states, " I only once 

 saw a flock this was near Dildi, south of L,ake Ashangi. I met with large num- 

 bers on the Anseba, where they inhabited the high trees on the banks of the stream. 

 The flocks seen were small, not exceeding twenty to thirty individuals. I had but 



