8EMXOPITHECU3. 



BKMNOPITHECU8- 



711 



Teeth of Scmuopitkenu. (P. CUT.) 



This gencu Is remarkable for the large size and complication of its 

 Stomach. This was first pointed out by Professor Otto. 



In 1833 the dissection of two species from the collection of the 

 Zoological Society of London (ft. EnteUtu and ,S'. fatciculari*) enabled 

 Professor Owen to lay before that society an account of the structure 

 of this genus of animals, which was published in the first volume of 

 the ' Zoological Transactions.' 



Professor Owen remarks that the genus Semnopithectu, which in the 

 system of Cuvier ranks only fifth in the descending scale from man, 

 is of late formation, and not entirely the result of newly-discovered 

 material*. On the contrary, several species were for a long time 

 ranked with the Ouenons, in which tbe stomach is of the usual simple 

 construction. 



The larger of the two stomachs which formed tbe subjects of 

 Professor Owen's examination was taken from a full-grown female 

 Enttllus Monkey (X Entelliu, F. Cuvier), which measured from the 

 end of the nose to the root of the tail 1 foot 8 inches. The admeasure- 

 ments of the stomach, distended and dried, were 



Ft. In. Lin. 



Length along the greater curvature . . . .270 



Length along tbe lesser curvature . . . ..100 



Qreatent circumference, a little to the right of the 

 eardia 10G 



Smallest circumference (at about two inches from the 



pylorus) 038 



Professor Owen states that this stomach may bo regarded as consisting 

 of three divisions : 1st, a cardiac pouch, with smooth and simple 

 parietes, slightly bifid at the extremity ; 2nd, a middle very wide and 

 sacculated portion ; anil 3rd, a narrow elongated canal, sacculatcd at 

 its commencement, and of simple structure towards its termination. 

 The latter division, from its greater vasctilaritv, and the more abundant 

 distribution of the nerves of the eighth pmr upon it, is regarded by 

 tbe Professor as the true digestive stomach. The preceding divisions 

 appeared to him to be preparatory receptacle* or reservoirs. 



Professor Owen guards against the inference that. In considering 

 this stomach as being made up of three principal divisions, he is to 

 b understood as supposing them to be equally distinct with the 

 different cavities of a ruminant or cetaceous stomach. They were not 

 characterised by any essential difference of structure, for none of them 

 possessed a cuticular lining. The three divisions were however suffi- 

 ciently obvious to justify their separate consideration for the facility 

 of the description of so complicated an organ. 



In the other species (& ftucicularii, the Croo of Sumatra, and 

 H, romatiu, Desin.) examined by Professor Owen, the stomach prc- 

 Mtitcd precisely the same structure as the preceding. Its dimensions 

 however were not quite so large in proportion to the size of the animal. 

 The individual examined was younger than the KnltUut. 



Professor Owen remarks that iu consequence of tbe disproportionate 

 site of the stomach in the*e animals, some differences are met with iu 

 the disposition of the other viscera of the abdominal cavity. The 



liver, instead of crossing the epigastric to the left hypochondriac 

 region, extends downwards from the right hypochondriac to the right 

 lumbar region, the whole of the opposite side of the abdomen, with 

 the epigastric region being occupied by the enormous stomach. Tbe 

 liver is proportionately smaller iu .^tmnopitktou than in Cereopilluctu 

 or .Vacant*. The spleen is of a more triangular shape, and is attached 

 to tbe omentum continued from the left side of the stomach. The 

 pancreas, on the contrary, is proportionately larger than in those 

 genera. Both the biliary and pancreatic secretions enter the duodenum 

 together, about three inches from the pylorus. Were it not for tint 

 insertion of these ducts, Professor Owen observes that one might 

 almost suppose that what has been regarded as the true stomach was 

 a portion of the intestinal canal. 



" What then," asks Professor Owen, " are the natural habits and 

 food of this genus ? Will future observers of these Slow Monkeys, as 

 F. Cuvier denominates them, be able to ascertain that their natural 

 food is more strictly vegetable than that of the Ccrcopitkeci, tc. 1 And 

 that, like the Sloths of the New Continent, so remarkable for t heir 

 complex stomachs, they also crop the tender shoots and leaves of the 

 trees in which they habitually reside ? C'trcopitiuci and Maeaci are 

 provided by nature with lyceptacles (the cheek-pouches) for storing 

 away ill-gotten food, hastily plucked from the cultivated grounds 

 which they invade, and which they are thus enabled to carry off in 

 sufficient quantity, and masticate and prepare for digestion in a place 

 of safety. The complicated stomachs of tbe timid Ruminants are 

 adapted to a similar end, allowing them to accumulate their requisite 

 quantity of herbage from exposed pastures, which they then carry off 

 to more secure situations, and remasticate at leisure. Now, in the 

 Semnopilheci it is remarkable that the cheek-pouches ore very small, 

 or ore wanting altogether. I have often fed the Kn tell UK Monkey with 

 nuts, and have observed that, while his more fortunate neighbours the 

 Green Monkey (Cercopithecui SaJMtut, Geoff.) and Chinese Bonneted 

 Monkey (Macacut Sinicut, Luc<5p.) were stowing them quickly away 

 by the dozen into their cheek-pouches, he could not cram more than 

 two in the same situation, and was equally averse to swallowing any- 

 thing but the kernel. In this case the complicated stomach did not 

 serve him as a substitute ; but I think it very probable that it may 

 compensate for the want of cheek-pouches when be is in a situation 

 to collect together a quantity of soft fruits or herbs. In the gardens 

 of the Society the Semnopilheci which have been there exhibited are 

 fed exactly in the same manner as tha other monkeys; and the 

 keepers have not observed anything like rumination in them. In both 

 the species which 1 have dissected, where illness and gradual decay 

 preceded death, the stomachs were almost empty." (1833.) 



Mr. Ogilby, in his ' Natural History of Monkeys,' alludes to the 

 bezoars reported by many travellers to exist iu the stomachs and 

 intestines of the Asiatic monkeys, as confirmatory of Professor Owen's 

 views ; and adds that the bezoars produced by the monkeys of the 

 Malay peninsula, and which can scarcely belong to a genus different 

 from the Semnopilheci, are described as being smaller, rounder, and 

 more powerful iu their qualities than those obtained from ruminating 

 animals. 



Tbe other zoological characters of this genus are thus graphically 

 given by Mr. Ogilby in the same work : " The extremities of the 

 Semnopitheca are of great length, compared with the dimensions 

 of the body. This is another instance in which the Semnopithecs 

 resemble the Gibbons, as well ax iu the slender and elongated form of 

 the body itself ; but there is this remarkable distinction, that, whil-t 

 the anterior pair of extremities in the Gibbons is beyond all pro- 

 portion longer than the posterior, the proportions are reversed in the 

 Semnopithecs, and it is tho posterior extremities which exceed the 

 anterior in length. Still the disproportion is by no means so great 

 as that which exists in the Gibbous, nor does it in the slightest degree 

 impede the quadruped motion of the animals, when they are forced to 

 resort to that mode of progression ; but it becomes an additional 

 evidence, particularly when taken iu conjunction with other traits, of 

 the superior development of the abdominal over the pectoral members, 

 and the consequent degradation of the animals in tho scale of exist- 

 ence. This evidence is still further strengthened by the very limited 

 development of the thumb on the anterior extremities, whirh, as has 

 been already observed, scarcely exceeds the tuberculous form, and 

 enters but slightly into the functions of prehension and manipulation : 

 thus, as it were, preparing the way for its entire disappearance in the 

 Colobs. The organ consists neverthclens of the ordinary number of 

 phalanges of which it is composed in other cases ; but they are greatly 

 abridged iu their dimensions, both a* regards thickness and length, 

 and form a remarkable contrast to the rather immoderate develop- 

 ment which marks the rest of the members. The tails likewise are 

 much longer in the Semnopithecs than in any of the ordinary monkeys. 

 Though slender however, they possess a very considerable degree of 

 muscular power, and enter as a very important constituent into the 

 motions and progression of the animals. \V hen at rest and unemployed 

 they are allowed to bang down perpendicularly, and, from their great 

 length, which considerably exceeds that of tho animal's body, have a 

 very droll effect, which is heightened by tho natural apathy and imper- 

 turbable gravity of tbe creatures themselves. This, when unemployed, 

 i tlu-ir natural position. They exhibit tho very picture of sadness 

 and melancholy, and appear as if perfectly regardless of everything 



