102 APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



THE HOCHKUR MONKEY {Cercopithecus nictitans) 



The hocheur monkey is one of several species belonging to this subgroup of 

 guenons, collectively known as white-nosed monkeys, from the circumstance that 

 the nose in all of them is covered with white hairs. This particular species is dis- 

 tinguished by the blackness of the fur on both the upper and lower surfaces of the 

 body, that of the back being finely speckled with yellow. The naked part of the 

 face is of a bluish-black color ; the upper eyelids are flesh colored, and the hands 

 and feet jet black. 



This species, sometimes known as the larger white-nosed monkey, may be 

 readily distinguished from the next, not only by its superior size, but also by its 

 more prominent nose. It has been described as lively and good natured, but not so 

 gentle and familiar as the next species, and more resembling in its temper and 

 general character the mona monkey. It has been obtained both from Fernando Po 

 and Guinea. 



THE LESSER WHITE-NOSED MONKEY ( Cercopithecus petaurista) 



This elegant monkey, which comes from Guinea and Sierra L,eone, is one of the 

 smallest of the guenons. It was described in the works of the French naturalist 

 Buffon under the well-chosen name of Blanc-nez; and is readily distinguished, as 

 we have said, from the hocheur by its smaller size and the flatness of its nose, as 

 well as by the lighter tint of the under parts. In color the fur of the back is olive- 

 green, speckled with yellow ; the face black ; the white spot on the nose small and 

 nearly triangular ; and the cheeks, chin, under parts of the body, the inner sides 

 of the limbs, and the under side of the tail, white. 



The following account of the habits of this species in confinement is taken from 

 an anonymous writer, who states that the manners of this monkey "are playful and 

 engaging beyond any other species we have ever observed, and it has an amiability 

 and innocence in its conduct and expression which, united to its lively and familiar 

 disposition, never fail to make it a prime favorite with its visitors. An individual 

 of this species, which formerly lived in the Garden of the Zoological Society, was 

 confined in the same cage with a young hanuman, whose gravity was sorely dis- 

 turbed by the unwearied activity and playfulness of its mercurial companion. 

 Whilst the white-nose was frolicking round the cage or playing with the spectators, 

 the hanuman would sit upon the perch, the very picture of melancholy and apathy, 

 with his long tail hanging down to the bottom ; but his attention was roused and 

 his security endangered every moment by the tricks of the restless little creature, 

 which in its sports and gambols continually caught the hanuman's tail, either to 

 swing itself out of the reach of the spectators, or, like a boy at his gymnastic exer- 

 cises, to assist it in climbing up to the perch. All this, however, was done with 

 great good nature on both sides, and it was highly diverting to see the playful inno- 

 cence of the one, and the gravity with which the other regarded it, like a fond parent 

 enjoying the innocent follies of a favorite child." 



