62 THE MONKEY TRIBE 



possesses the white eyelids and also a frill or ruff of 

 long white hair. Active and amusing in captivity, the 

 Mangabeys are full of pranks, and at making faces they 

 have no equal. They walk on all fours, bending the tail 

 backwards until the tip quite overhangs the head. 



PATAS OR BED MONKEY (Cercopithecus patas). 

 Plate II. Fig. 2. 



The Patas, or Red Monkey, is common to West Africa, 

 especially in the Senegal region. It is a pretty animal with 

 yellowish-red fur, becoming lighter on the under parts ; on 

 the forehead is a black band with white crosses. It is 

 violent and malicious, and by no means a favourable 

 specimen of its race. That it is curious, mischievous, 

 and possessed of a determined spirit of retaliation, is 

 well shown in the account of a traveller who passed 

 through the forest wilds which the Red Monkey makes 

 its home. 



When the explorer and his party passed along the river 

 in boats, the creatures descended from the tops of the trees 

 to the extremities of the branches the better to investigate 

 closer the novel spectacle. Not satisfied with this, they 

 commenced offensive operations and threw pieces of wood 

 and other missiles at the invaders. At first the travellers 

 were amused, but the flight of missiles developed into a 

 perfect bombardment that made progress well-nigh impos- 

 sible. When fired upon, the creatures uttered frightful 

 cries ; and although many fell, the survivors returned again 

 and again to the attack with the utmost perseverance and 

 resolution. At length the monkeys realised the inequality 

 of the contest and retired to allow the travellers to continue 

 their journey in peace. 



The genus Semnopithecus is not nearly so numerous in 

 species as the Cercopithecus, nor are any of its represen- 

 tatives so well known in our country as are many of the 

 latter. If the Semnopithecus tribe only knew it, they might 

 congratulate themselves upon the fact that they are so little 



