82 



APES AND MONKEYS. 



above the level of the sea; and this explorer states that the species is fairly 

 common in certain patches of forest on the mountain and in its neighbourhood. 



The reader might well be excused for thinking that with this he had reached 

 the end of the already long list of langurs; but there are several other species 

 more or less closely related to those we have mentioned. As, however, even the 

 enumeration of these might be wearisome, we pass on to the consideration of 



THE Douc (Semnopiihecus nemceus). 



The douc, or variegated langur, is an inhabitant of the forests of Cochin-China, 

 where it is found near the coast, as well as in the interior, and is remarkable for its 

 brilliant coloration. There seems to be great doubt as to the origin of the name 

 Douc, which was applied to this monkey by Buffon, and it is stated to be unknown 



in Cochin-China; it has, however, 

 been so long in use that there would 

 be no advantage gained by chang- 

 ing it. 



The general form of the douc 

 is so different from that of other 

 langurs, that the late Dr. Gray pro- 

 posed to make it the type of a 

 distinct genus. Thus the general 

 build is more robust, and the limbs 

 are stouter, and of nearly equal 

 lengths; whereas in the typical 

 langurs the arms are considerably 

 shorter than the legs. . 



The hair on the top of the 

 head is directed backwards, with- 

 out any crest ; and the brilliant 



white whiskers have likewise the same direction, and are closely pressed to 

 the face. The general colour of the head is brown, but there is a narrow 

 band of bright chestnut passing backwards under the ears; and the naked 

 face is of a brilliant yellow, which makes a bold contrast to the pure white 

 whiskers. Owing to the hairs of the body having alternate dark and light 

 rings of colour, the general tint of the body is a mottled, grizzled grey, darker 

 on the upper than on the under parts. The upper parts of the arms and legs, as 

 well as the hands and feet, are of a deep black ; but the lower legs are of a full 

 chestnut, and the fore-arms white. A large patch on the rump near the root of 

 the tail, as well as the tail itself, are likewise white. All these colours are 

 extremely brilliant, and sharply denned, without any tendency to blend with one 

 another at their junctions, so that this monkey is one of the most gorgeously 

 coloured Mammals known. 



We have very little information as to the habits of the douc in a state of 

 nature, and it does not appear that it has been exhibited alive (at least of late 

 years) in this country. M. Key, a French captain, who visited Cochin-China in the 



THE DOUC. 



