94 APES AND MONKEYS. 



belli. Indeed, this principle of territorial rights appears to be so deeply implanted 

 in the guenon nature that it persists even in captivity, when it is no uncommon 

 sight to see two or more of these creatures religiously guarding one portion of the 

 cage from all intruders. 



As being the common monkeys of Africa the guenons would 

 Egypt 'naturally be well known to the ancient Egyptians ; and it is probable 

 that most of the long-tailed monkeys we see on their old sculptures are either 

 guenons, or mangabeys, as the members of the next group are called. The thumb- 

 less monkeys, as being almost exclusively West African, would be less likely to be 

 intimately known to the inhabitants of Egypt. Not only were the guenons 

 familiar to the Egyptians, but they appear to have been likewise imported into 

 classic Greece and Rome ; and it is believed that the Greek and Latin term Cebus 

 was used to designate them, although the name is now applied to a South American 

 genus. 



THE TALAPOIN MONKEY (Cercopithecus talapoiri). 



The somewhat rare and tiny monkey from the Gabun and other regions of 

 the West Coast of Africa is taken as our first example of the guenons, on account of 

 the possession of a peculiarity which led Dr. Gray to separate it from all the others 

 as the representative of a distinct genus (Myopithecus). This peculiarity is to be 

 found in the circumstance that the last molar in the lower jaw has only three, in 

 lieu of the ordinary four tubercles on its crown. Another distinctive feature, which 

 can be observed in the living animal or in stuffed specimens, is the relative shortness 

 of the hands as compared with those of the other guenons, and also the presence of 

 a web uniting the bases of the fingers. The talapoin, which is scarcely larger 

 than a squirrel, is the smallest of the guenons. In colour it is olive-green above 

 and whitish beneath, with short whiskers of a pale golden yellow tint, forming a 

 striking contrast to the face, which is black, with the exception of the upper lip 

 and rings round the eyes, which are yellow or orange. 



THE MALBROUCK MONKEY (Cercopithecus cynosurus). 



With the malbrouck monkey of Western Africa we come to the first of a 

 group of guenons characterised by their oval heads and somewhat long muzzles, as 

 well as by their stiff and backwardly-directed whiskers. The fur is invariably 

 grizzled, each hair being marked with greenish or reddish rings. 



The malbrouck is distinguished from the other members of this group by the 

 large and broad face being flesh-coloured. The general hue of the fur is yellow, 

 grizzled with black ; a distinct band on the forehead, as well as the whiskers, 

 throat, the under parts, and the inner surface of the limbs being whitish. 



The first specimen of this monkey exhibited alive in England is described as 

 having an unusually mild and gentle expression of countenance, and was calm, 

 circumspect, and inactive in its general habits. It did not, however, appear anxious 

 to become at all familiar either with its keepers or with strangers, and was always 

 ready to resent any interference with its liberty. 



