144 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



character, and, accordingly, they thrive well in captivity. 

 They display no undue fear of man, and many species 

 are most destructive to grain and fruit. Though trees 

 are used for rest and refuge, they spend much of their 

 time on the ground searching for food, and are not 

 confined to the neighbourhood of tall forest, or even 

 dense bush. They are noisy, and in their movements 

 quick and restless, in such respects contrasting with the 

 Guerezas. 



The Vervet is the best known of the genus south of the 

 Zambezi. Until recently it was divided into two species 

 which are now believed to be identical. It is distributed 

 throughout the bush country of the eastern Transvaal, 

 and becomes very numerous in Portuguese territory 

 'south of Delagoa Bay, whence it spreads into Zululand, 

 Natal, and the Cape Province. Northwards, it extends 

 up the east side of Africa. 



In colour it is grizzled grey, with a tinge of yellow, and 

 is yellowish white underneath. The face is black, and 

 there are rufous patches at the base of the tail. 



Vervets inhabit forest and bush country, and are 

 usually found fairly close to water. In the dry, low 

 country of the eastern Transvaal solitary individuals and 

 pairs, or small family parties, are most usually met with ; 

 but a little farther south, on the Maputa River of Portu- 

 guese East Africa, I have come across troops composed 

 of at least forty individuals. These monkeys eat fruit 

 and seeds, and are very fond of eggs ; they also seem 

 partial to the gum which oozes from the bark of some 

 of the acacias. They are particularly fond of millet, 

 and when the crops are ripening may be found collected 

 in considerable numbers in the neighbourhood of the 

 native lands. When surprised on the ground at a dis- 

 tance from covert they can easily be caught by dogs. 



