138 EASTERN ETHIOPIA xi 



fingered, but the thumb is sometimes indicated in adult 

 monkeys by a nail. In one species, the red Colobus, 

 which lives in the forests of Western Toro to the east 

 of Ruwenzori, the thumb is present in the young 

 monkeys, but as they become adult it dwindles till only 

 a small nail is left : in very old animals even this 

 disappears. 



The Guereza or Colobus Monkey. 



This conspicuously coloured animal is seen with difficulty when 

 sitting on a tree-top whose branches are covered with the long 

 beard moss. When the monkey jumps from one tree to 

 another the long hair spreads out, and it looks like moss 

 suddenly come to life. 



Colobus monkeys are peculiar to Africa. The 

 common species are remarkable for their peculiar 

 coloration and the length of their hair. The long 

 white hair which looks like a mane on the sides of the 

 body and the long tail with the fluffy white plume at 

 its end are very striking. Both sexes have stiff white 



