745 



SEMNOPITHECUS. 



SEMNOPITHECUS. 



746 



that passes around them ; but when roused or excited they are never- 

 theless capable of the most surprising exertions, and astonish the 

 spectator by a rapidity, variety, and precision of movements, which 

 could scarcely be anticipated from creatures apparently so apathetic 

 in mind and delicate iu body. They are in reality far from meriting 

 the name of Slow Monkeys, which some zoologists have given them ; 

 their slowness is exhibited in disposition rather than in action, and is 

 an attribute of character rather than of structure. When young they 

 are readily domesticated ; but being less petulant, curious, and restless 

 than the Cercopithecs and Baboons, are supposed to exhibit less 

 intelligence, though their mental qualities, as well as their physical 

 structure, closely assimilate them to the real Apes : the old males 

 become morose, sullen, and mischievous." 



& Mauriu, the Undent* of the Javanese, Lutun; itam Maure of the 

 Malays and Europeans, Lotong of the natives of Sumatra. 



Skull and canine tooth of Semttopithecm Itaurus. (Ilorsf.) 



Dr. Horsfield describes this species as being on the whole of a stouter 

 make than S. melalophof, and as bavin? more robust extremities. One 

 of the specimens in the museum at the India House measures 2 feet 

 3 inches from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail The face is 

 regularly circumscribed by hairs, which are long, and closely applied 

 to the head ; the forehead, which is gradually sloping, is entirely con- 

 cealed by them. The general facial character is a flatness above, and 

 a protrusion of the maxillae; but the appearance of the face differs 

 greatly in old and young subjects. The maxillae become extended as 

 the animal advances in age, and in young subjects the facial angle 

 is proportionally greater. The orbits of the eyea are rather prominent, 

 and the bones of the nose short. The nose consists of an angular 

 ridge, which is considerably elevated between the eyes, and terminates, 

 without any fleshy protuberance, by a membrane which is gradually 

 attenuated below, and on each side of which the nostrils are placed. 

 From the termination of the nose to the mouth a considerable space 

 intervenes : the lips are small and thin. The chin is short and small ; 

 a circle of gray hairs incloses the mouth in the adult animal ; and on 

 the chin the hairs have a disposition downward, so as to exhibit the 

 appearance of a beard. The upper part of the face is nearly naked ; 

 a few straggling stiff hairs are scattered on the cheeks and the upper 

 lip, and on the more prominent part of the nose an interrupted series 

 is observed. Irides of the eye dark brown. Ears concealed from view 

 by the long hairs which cover the lateral parts of the head ; they are 

 margined, and both in form and disposition of external parts closely 

 resemble those of man. The neck is short and considerably contracted. 

 The trunk is of great length, broad and robust about the shoulders 

 and the breast, and gradually of smaller dimensions towards the loins. 

 Buttocks with very large rough callosities. Mamma; of the adult 

 female lengthened and cylindrical. Tail as long as the body and head 

 taken together : in some individuals, and particularly in young sub- 

 jects, it exceeds those parts in length : it is cylindrical for the greatest 

 portion of its length ; the base tap rs gradually, and the tip is 

 thickened and terminated by a close tuft of long baira of an ovate 

 form. 



Colour of Adult Intensely black, except the breast, the abdomen, 

 the inner side of the extremities, and the root of the tail, which are 

 gray. On the crown of the head the black hairs are slightly tipped 

 with gray ; and as age advances the gray portion becomes more oxten- 

 ive, and also ihows itself on the upper parts of the body ; but the 

 extremities externally, and the tail, even in the oldest subjects, retain 

 their blackness. The hairs are remarkably long, delicate, soft, and silky. 



Colour of Young. Immediately after birth, of a fulvous or reddish 

 colour ; with advancing age, a gray discolouration first appears on the 

 binds, the forehead, and the tip of the tail; from these parts it 



gradually extends to the neck, the shoulders, and the flanks, assuming 

 from time to time a darker hue, until the coat of tho animal is jet 

 black above and gray beueath. (Horsf.) 



Budeng (Semnopithecus Haurus) ; adult and young:. (Horsf.) 



Dr. Horsfield states that the Budeng, or black species, is much more 

 abundant than the red species, or Lutung of the Javanese (S. Pyrrhus) ; 

 but the latter, both on account of its variety and comparative beauty, 

 is a favourite among the natives. " Wlieuever an individual is 

 obtained," says Dr. Horsfield, " care is taken to domesticate it, and it 

 is treated with kindness and attention. The Budtug, on the contrary, 

 is neglected and despised. It requires much patience in any degree 

 to improve the natural sullenuess of its temper. In confinement it 

 remains during many mouths grave and morose; and as it contributes 

 nothing to the amusement of the natives, it is rarely found in the 

 villages or about the dwellings. This does not arise from any aversion 

 on the part of the Javanese to the monkey race. The most common 

 species of the island, Cercocebus Aygvla of Geotfroy, the Egret Monkey 

 of Pennant, is very generally domesticated ; and a favourite custom 

 of the natives is to associate it with the horse. In every stable, from 

 that of a prince to that of a mantry, or chief of a village, one of 

 these monkeys is found; but I never observed the Eudeug thus 

 distinguished. 



" The Semnopithecus Maurus," he continues, " is found in abundance 

 in the extensive forests of Java ; it forms its dwellings on trees, and 

 associates in numerous societies. Troops, consisting of more than 

 fifty individuals, are often found together. In meeting them in the 

 forests it is prudent to observe them at a distance. They emit loud 

 screams on the approach of man, and by the violent bustle and com- 

 motion excited by their movements, branches of decaying trees are 

 not unfrequently detached, and precipitated on the spectators. They 

 are often chased by the natives for the purpose of obtaining their fur ; 

 in these pursuits, which are generally ordered and attended by the 

 chiefs, the animals are attacked with cudgels and stones, and cruelly 

 destroyed in great numbers. The skins are prepared by a simple 

 process which the natives have acquired from the Europeans, and they 

 conduct it at present with great skill. It affords a fur of a jet-black 

 colour, covered with long silky hairs, which is usefully employed both 

 by the natives and Europeans in preparing riding equipages and 

 military decorations. The Budeug, during its young state, feeds on 

 tender leaves of plants and trees ; and when adult, ou wild fruits of 

 every description, which are found in great abundance in the forests 

 which it inhabits." (' Zoological Researches in Java.') 



S. melalophos. Brilliant yellow-red above, whitish below; a tuft cf 

 black hairs on the forehead in form of a baudeau ; face blue. 



This is the Simpai of the Malays; and in this species the great 

 length of body and slenderness of the extremities, so characteristic of 

 the Semnopitheci, are manifested in the highest degree. It is found in 

 the forests of Sumatra. 



S.Entellus, the Hoonumau (Houlmau of M.Duvaucel) of the Hindoos, 

 Lungar of the Hill Tribes. 



